1. How to Research Your
Family History?
Cypress Historical Society
Cypress, Texas

3. Where to Start?
• Your Immediate Family
1. Interviews
2. Collect documents (Birth, Death, Marriage,
Deeds, Citizenship papers)
3. The Family Bible
4. The family “Hoarder” or fellow Genealogist
• The “Family Group Sheet”

4. The Family Group Sheet
• Fill One Out for Each Family
• Use “Abt”, “Bef”, and “Aft”
• Make “Source” notes

5. The Family Group Sheet
An Example of making entries to a Family Group Sheet:
1910 Census-Harris County, Texas

6. Quality of your Information Source
•
Primary Sources: “an artifact, a document, a recording, or
other source of information that was created at the time
under study, for which the writer has personal knowledge”.
(Examples – A Birth Date written on a Birth Certificate, filled
out by the Mother)
•
Secondary Source: “accounts written after the fact with
the benefit of hindsight, which cite, comment on, or build
upon primary sources”.
(Examples – A Birth Date put on a Death Certificate or grave
stone)

7. Pedigree Chart

8. U.S. Census Records
• Available 1790-1940 (No 1890!)
• 1850 is oldest census available for Texas
residents
• Different information recorded each year
• Location, Location, Location!
1.
2.
•
Thank goodness for Indexes
Precincts and Enumeration Districts (EDs)
Don’t believe everything you see!

9. 1850 Federal Census

10. 1850 Non-Population Schedules - Agriculture
•
Available between 1850 & 1880 for Agriculture, Industry,
Mortality, and Social Statistics

11. 1850 Federal Census
Slave Schedules
•
Avail for 1850 & 1860

12. 1900 Federal Census
Month/Year of Birth
Years Married
# Children
Year Immigrated
# Years in U.S.

13. How Do I Find Someone in
the U.S. Census?
• Computer index
• Microfilm Index Cards (by Soundex)
• Find their Location
•
Enumeration Districts (EDs)

14. Enumeration Districts (EDs)
www.Ancestry.com

15. Pitfalls Using
Census
Records
• Miss-spelled
Names
• False or Wrong
Information
• Bad Memory

16. Church Records
Salem Lutheran
Church of Rosehill
•
•
•
Good Primary Source (Until Transcribed!)
Births, Marriages, Deaths, Confirmation
Usually better than Civil Records

17. Cemetery Records
• Good Primary Source for Death Date
• Often contains Birth Date, Maiden
Name, Relationship info, Military info,
Church affiliation.
• Contact Local Societies to do “Look-Ups”
• Transcribed sources:
•
Local Society Publications (Example: Chaparral’s
“Cemeteries of Northwest Harris County and
Southwest Montgomery County” ).
•
Internet: www.Findagrave.com

18. Cemetery Records
Salem Lutheran
Church of Rosehill
Visit and Take Photographs . . .

19. Cemetery Records
Salem Lutheran
Church of Rosehill
. . . Before it is Too Late.

20. Deterioration of Grave Stones
Same stone April, 2009
Headstone before 1989

21. What’s Available at the CHS Library?
Cypress Historical Society
Genealogy and History
Research Library
Tuesday
9am – 4pm
Wednesday 9am – 4pm
Thursday
9am – 4pm
3rd Saturday 11am – 2pm
281-758-0083
cypresshistsociety@att.net
www.cypresshistoricalsociety.com

22. Available at the CHS Library
Local Census Records (Printed)
and access to Ancestry.com
Local Church Records:
•
•
•
•
•
Salem Lutheran
St John Lutheran
St Lucas Lutheran
Trinity Lutheran
Hockley Catholic (early St. Ann’s)

23. Available at the CHS Library
Darline Roth’s Cypress
area Genealogy
Donated Family
History Books

24. Available at the CHS Library
Scrapbooks of Local
Newspaper Articles,
Obituaries, & Wedding
Announcements
Donated Picture
Collections

25. Available at the CHS Library
Reference Maps
Roads & Homes in 1915
(with Modern Road Overlay in Red)
Land Ownership in 1965

26. Available at the CHS Library
Local Cemetery Map
Obituary
Scrapbooks

27. Available at the CHS Library
Local and Texas History
Books and Articles
Local Magazine Articles

28. Internet Resources
• Pay Sites:
•
www.ancestry.com (U.S. $239/yr; World $359/yr)
•
www.genealogybank.com ($70/yr)
•
www.fold3.com (Military Records) ($80/yr)
•
newspaperarchive.com ($144/yr)
• Free Sites:
•
•
•
•
www.findagrave.com
usgenweb.orgwww.cyndislist.com
www.cyndislist.com
www.familysearch.org (Must Register)