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Reading, Genealogically Speaking

Often when I hear a program by a professional genealogist, I learn that I should try to familiarize myself with the history of a place before I begin doing research for that locality. This is good advice.

The study of what we consider history was current events for our ancestors. They lived in a time and place affected by the politics and economics going on around them. Events such as wars, natural disasters, and financial panics can explain their actions.

Nearly every day I make time to do some genealogy reading. This summer I am enjoying a well-told tale about the peopling of British North America by Edward Bailyn, The Barbarous Years: the Conflict of Civilizations 1600-1675,. I have numerous Colonial lines, so I need to know about the relationships between colonists and Native Americans and about the relationship of the colonies with England. I need to know about the laws of the time for things like licensing and indentures. I need to know about the importance and activities of religious groups. Bailyn describes it all.

I often take notes as I read. Anecdotes from specific times or places can add interest to my family stories.

I also update a handy timeline of American economic crises. From this I can tell at a glance whether a sudden move could be explained by widespread financial trouble. The list includes:

  • 1764, England prevented the colonies from making paper money,
  • 1819, a recession after the War of 1812,
  • 1837-43, a prolonged recession,
  • 1873, a banking collapse,
  • 1893, a railroad collapse,
  • 1907, the panic of 1907,
  • 1929, stock market crash and beginning of the Great Depression.

Reading enhances my understanding of the time periods when my ancestors lived. Good background knowledge makes me a better researcher. Those genealogists who advise us to do this have the right idea.

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