Did you know that religion was an essential part of most of our ancestors’ lives? Did you know their religion or denomination is crucial to finding more records? Religious records are some of the most important family history records. Yet, in some cases they can be the hardest to get to.
Religious records are some of the most important family history records.
Many brick walls in genealogy can be broken down with religious documents. Why? Churches kept some of the best records long before governments mandated records be kept. However, there are many church records that are not published on the internet. Some are in repositories on microfilm. But, for others the only way to get them is to find the correct church and go to it, call them, or email them.
First
The first step is to find religious records. But, what if you don’t have any? You can first use the country of origin or area of the United States for clues on what religion they may have been. For instance, Spain and its territories were mainly Catholics. Many Christian Germans were Protestant; Lutheran and/or Reformed. The Dutch were often Reformed Protestant, and they settled primarily in New York and New Jersey. Of course, there are always exceptions but generally these can help.
Second
Secondly, pay attention to other documents like the obituary, if you have one. Does it give the name and title of the person presiding over the funeral? The name of the cemetery? Maybe it even tells you different organizations that the person belonged to? All these can be clues to look into while trying to figure out ancestor religious affiliation.
Seek clues from documents you have.
The key to breaking down many brick walls in genealogy is your ancestor’s religion. Remember that you cannot always take the easy road for these brick walls. Sometimes you have to read between the lines, make phone calls, send emails, and even go to the place your ancestors lived. But if you are willing to put in the time and effort the brick walls will fall. Of course, if you need our help, just let us know.
