RLP 429: Writing a Case Study for Publication - 7 Tips for Success

Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer discuss how to prove an ancestral marriage when no direct marriage record exists, using Diana's research on John Dawson and Elizabeth "Betsy" Cessna. They break down the steps of the proof argument, including bracketing the marriage window between 1811 and 1816, conducting negative searches in regional county records, and uncovering extensive financial and legal associations between Dawson and the Cessna family over twenty years. They also examine a key 1830 marriage settlement naming Betsy Ann Dawson alongside her brother Robert Cessna and John Dawson, as well as census data and migration patterns that confirm the relationship. Listeners learn how to build a solid proof argument using indirect evidence, association networks, and thorough research logs when direct vital records are missing. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links No Marriage Record, No Problem: Proving the Marriage of John Dawson and Elizabeth "Betsy" Cessna - https://familylocket.com/no-marriage-record-no-problem-proving-the-marriage-of-john-dawson-and-elizabeth-betsy-cessna/ Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

Diana and Nicole open the episode by discussing Nicole's recent genealogical work at the Dallas Public Library and a Dyer family Bible. They then explore the benefits of adding research to the collaborative FamilySearch Family Tree, highlighting its free access, vast record collections, and permanent archiving. Diana shares a detailed case study illustrating how to merge separate identities on FamilySearch using the example of Angeline Weatherford and Susan Louisa Algeline Weatherford. Listeners learn how to independently construct research, correlate census and DNA evidence, and navigate the FamilySearch merge tool when algorithms flag a potential mismatch. Diana explains how she connected an 8-year-old girl in an 1860 census with a later adult record through geographic, naming, and genetic connections. Finally, they discuss the necessary clean-up steps after a merge, including removing incorrect sources, adding detailed reasoning statements, and setting alert notes for other researchers. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Dallas County Public Library - https://www.dallaslibrary.org/research/genealogy Tips for Merging Identities on FamilySearch: Angeline or Algeline? - https://familylocket.com/tips-for-merging-identities-on-familysearch-angeline-or-algeline/ View Algeline's FS profile and sources here: Susan Louisa Algeline Weatherford (FamilySearch ID K2N9-T68) Merging and Separating Institute Course - https://familylocket.com/product/merging-and-separating-identities/ Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Faceb

In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer explore the process of finding naturalization records in territorial Utah through a real-life case study. Nicole shares the story of her immigrant ancestor, William Henry Kelsey, who arrived in Utah from England in 1861 and became a citizen in 1877. She details finding his naturalization entry in a Utah County district court minute book presided over by Judge Philip H. Emerson. Diana and Nicole explain how naturalization procedures changed over time, specifically detailing how the Poland Act of 1874 shifted naturalization jurisdiction from local probate courts to federal district courts. They also examine how political rivalries and polygamy laws affected LDS immigrants seeking citizenship during the territorial period. The hosts discuss strategies for locating surviving records and address common research hurdles. Nicole highlights a situation where full-text search indexed her ancestor's declaration of intention, but a digitization error skipped the actual page on FamilySearch, demonstrating why researchers must verify page numbers and consider visiting county repositories directly. Listeners will learn how to navigate gaps in digitized collections, check general court minute books for hidden naturalization entries, locate both declarations of intention and final admission orders, and search territorial court records effectively. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Finding William Henry Kelsey's Naturalization in a Utah County Minute Book - https://familylocket.com/finding-william-henry-kelseys-naturalization-in-a-utah-county-minute-book/ Utah Naturalization and Citizenship - https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Naturalization_and_Citizenship Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Appl

In this episode, Nicole and Diana discuss Phase 5, Part 5 of Diana's ongoing research project to identify the biological father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston. Diana evaluates three specific candidates who drew land in Cass County, Georgia, during the 1832 Gold Lottery: James Dillard of Pulaski County, Joseph B. Dillard of Oglethorpe County, and Tolliver Dillard of Burke County. Nicole outlines the project scope and historical context, highlighting significant record destruction caused by courthouse fires in Cass and Burke counties. Diana explains how she organizes her research report using her Airtable log entries. She eliminates James Dillard because 1830 census records show he was single at the time, and she rules out Joseph B. Dillard because he was only thirteen years old when Cynthia was born. Tolliver Dillard becomes the primary candidate based on census placeholder analysis, tax digests, headright grants, and land lottery draws that align with Cynthia's timeline. The hosts also examine genetic evidence to support the documentary findings. Diana re-annotates an autosomal DNA network graph, demonstrating that matches across multiple branches of Cynthia's descendants share DNA with descendants of Elijah Dillard, pointing to a sibling relationship. She also explains her Y-DNA testing initiative, which recruits male Dillard descendants to trace Elijah's patriline and compare results against the Dillard Surname Project. Listeners learn how to correlate indirect evidence in burned counties, structure a comprehensive research report, use AI tools to assist in drafting report summaries, and integrate autosomal and Y-DNA evidence to solve complex genealogical brick walls. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 5: Report Writing – Analysis & Correlation - https://familylocket.com/finding-a-father-for-cynthia-phase-5-part-5-report-writing-analysis-correlation/ Report: Cynthia Dillard Father Candidate Phase 5 August 2026 - https://familylocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Cynthia-Dillard-Father-Candidate-Phase-5-Report-August-2026.pdf Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com

In this episode, Diana and Nicole discuss a challenging search for an Oklahoma death certificate. Nicole shares her experience trying to find the 1928 death record for Margaret Cinderella (Harris) Bone to complete her Kinship Determination Project. Despite knowing Margaret's birth date, death date, and county, Nicole's initial searches on the OK2Explore database fail. She explains how she eventually finds the record by removing the name entirely and searching only by gender, county, and the month and year of death. The index lists the name as "Margotte C. Bane" due to an indexing error. Diana and Nicole analyze the physical certificate to show how cramped forms and overlapping cursive handwriting lead to these indexing mistakes. Listeners learn valuable strategies for overcoming difficult database searches. Nicole and Diana outline several practical lessons, such as reading database search tips and using wildcards like asterisks. They explain why researchers should not assume that databases use phonetic matching. Listeners also learn how to use name-free searches with basic demographic details to bypass transcription errors. Finally, they explain how to analyze date discrepancies between headstones, family Bibles, and official records. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Unearthing an Oklahoma Death Certificate Buried Under Tricky Handwriting - https://familylocket.com/unearthing-an-oklahoma-death-certificate-buried-under-tricky-handwriting/ Other Harris episode: RLP 346: The Mystery of Claude "Dock" Harris' Nickname - https://familylocket.com/rlp-346-the-mystery-of-claude-dock-harris-nickname/ Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review