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Education, Family History, Genealogy, Skillbuilding, Uncategorized

Researching Across Borders

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By Trish Melander, AG®

This file is a map highlighting Switzerland as well as it's cantons and capital cities. This map also shows surrounding countries and capital cities if present. This map has text labels for the countries, cantons, capital cities and major bodies of water. ZOOM IN on this highly detailed map, it is a great addition to the collection. This file will work well for your print or web based project. This file is layered and grouped (labeled in ai v10 file), making it a very easy file to work with. This download contains an editable ai v10 and eps file, as well as a large JPG file.
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Sometimes we reach a point in our research where we just stop finding the family in all the right places; where the expected searches yield no results. Sometimes it’s the decade of time we’re working in, sometimes the records must still be accessed in person at the archive, and in other cases, it’s because we find that we’re working in a border county, a border state, or right next to a big river.

Years ago I traveled to the city of Sion, Switzerland, in the Canton of Valais, to research at the archives there. I was in French-speaking territory, at the Valais State Archives or Archives de l’État du Valais. Looking through the records at the archive helped me to better understand that the area was currently French-speaking, but one of Switzerland’s oldest cities was also impacted by German and Italian languages and historical movements. In Switzerland, there is often an overlap in the languages needed for research, the historical canton boundaries, and the need to open your search more broadly to find those you are seeking. I’ve written here about some of the general techniques you may need to help identify ancestors who lived close to borders, which can make their records more difficult to find and their unique identities a little more elusive. A family in the records of a border town in Canton Valais may also be in France to the west, Italy to the south, or in another Swiss Canton.

Tools to Use

The first two tools that should often be used side by side in research are a gazetteer and a jurisdiction map. When I’m working with U.S. records, I consult the wall map of counties across the entire United States so I can see state borders and bordering counties quickly. Using gazetteers can help us understand many facets of a historical place, including: the size designation (like village vs. metropolitan area), the names of corresponding districts or other levels of jurisdiction, other related places, connections the place may have with ecclesiastical or church boundaries (like parish, diocese, or synagogue), and current naming of the same village. Some gazetteers have their own website, or are scanned through Google Books, FamilySearch Books, or Internet Archive. Jurisdiction maps may be different from common online road atlas maps; seek out a jurisdiction map that shows county and state boundaries for the state or province you are working in.

High detailed North Carolina physical map with labeling.
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If you are working in either a library catalog or a large database website (FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, etc), most catalogs have a geographical hierarchy. This has been easy to spot in the FamilySearch catalog using the “See” feature at the top of a catalog entry.

FamilySearch Catalog Hierarchy

This current example from Onslow County, North Carolina offers more information about Onslow through the “Place Information” link to FamilySearch Standardized Places, information about the higher-level locality using “See: Part of North Carolina” and smaller-level localities using “See: Places within North Carolina, Onslow.” Using this tool to go to larger or smaller localities in the same place (all within North Carolina) can help you better understand which record sets are available for two neighboring localities.

Details to Notice

Pay attention to the type of jurisdictions listed in the record collection. As an example, the decennial censuses for England and Wales use Enumeration Districts, and Town and Township jurisdictions, while continued research on a family from England or Wales often also requires the ecclesiastical jurisdiction (Anglican or non-conformist parish) in order to continue the research. Using a gazetteer and map together can help ensure that the town named in census records and the parish named in church records point to the same family because the boundaries of the two are interchangeable or partially overlapping.

Large elements that are part of the place’s geography may be more of a factor in where the ancestor’s events were recorded than the name of the county or boundaries of the state. Recently, I’ve been working in a Catholic parish in Michoacán (state), Mexico that has a river running through the town. Closer inspection of a map indicates the River Lerma running through town is the boundary line between Michoacán (state) to the south and Jalisco (state) to the north. I observed residents of the town recorded in the parish in Michoacán more than in the parish church in Jalisco, which is more than 35 kilometers to the north, likely because the proximity of the church makes a big difference when it’s time to travel. 

Similarly, a family of farmers went back and forth between Gallia County, Ohio and Greenup County, Kentucky throughout their lives, and it took me quite a while to discover that there were additional records on the family in Greenup County, Kentucky across the Ohio River. Mountain ranges, rivers, swamps, dense forests, small island chains, impassable cliffs, lakes, deserts and other geographical features can all be reasons ancestors would go to a nearer or less hazardous location to register, be married, or declare the death of a relative. When bidding out research projects for clients, it may even be wise to note that it can take additional research time to work on families living in border localities because there may be more than one state’s indexes to search to locate the next set of records.

ChatGPT Composite of Google Maps images

Final Thoughts

Using detailed timelines and careful source calendaring while researching can help the researcher see gaps in the frequency of a family in the records. While being attentive to avoid the pitfall of grouping together unrelated people of a common surname, reviewing research notes to spot periods of time where no records have been found can often point to travel across borders or land features we may not have initially thought of.

Family History, Genealogical Proof Standard, Genealogical Writing, Genealogy, Genealogy Foundations, Skillbuilding

Foundations: Why Every Genealogist Needs a Research Plan – A Guide with Case Study

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By Esther Melander, AG®

Goal checklist and step to success with wooden blocks arranged as stairs, check marks, and target progress, achievement, and business planning.
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There is nothing more fun than jumping into the research and making discoveries. However, professional genealogists are more methodical. The first step of a research project is to define a research objective. A research objective states the goals of the project along with some basic background information. The next step after defining an objective is to develop a research plan. A research plan is a bridge between defining a research objective and research. A well-structured plan offers several key benefits:

  • A list of record collections to be searched that are most likely to contain information that will achieve the objective.
  • Locations where record collections can be searched (online, archives, libraries) and any access limitations.
  • A focused list of record collections or sources, to hopefully avoid being sidetracked or derailed by other interesting discoveries.

Effective and efficient plans require preparation. They include researching locations, historical events, and the types of records that would have been created during the life of the individual being researched. There are many sources available to jump-start a research plan. Here are a few recommended starting points:

Experienced researchers will already know about many specific collections, but there is always more to learn as new record collections become available. While U.S. research practices are similar across the country, each state and county has unique collections. It is important to take time to discover and identify the collections for the research location that might provide the evidence needed to reach the research objective.

Research plans can have multiple research phases, in which research is broken into separate sessions with smaller goals under a larger research objective. Breaking the research into smaller sessions with smaller goals can help build a case in more manageable chunks. These chunks could be focused around specific life events or around specific record types, such as census records, land records, or cemetery research. Additional research could be focused on key friends, associates, or neighbors, or on social or historical context.

Infographic: Esther Melander

Types of Research Plans

Research performed for a client will be outlined and directed by a research plan, which serves as a statement of work. This type of plan will often be narrow in scope and specific. For example, the plan will list the record collections to be searched and the desired information to be obtained. Any work outside of that scope could be suggested for future research.

Other research plans, perhaps for personal use, might be less formal. For example, the plan may start with an initial list of record collections to search. As the research proceeds, additional collections may be added as discoveries are made or questions arise. This dynamic nature provides some flexibility in the research but helps the overall project stay focused and efficient. Each genealogist has their own preferences, creating plans that suit their own methods and personal style.

Case Study

One of my current research projects examines the connection between a hypothetical father and son, both named Richard Powell in South Carolina. Adding to the challenge are the time frame, location, and availability of records. Here is the research objective with a bit of background:

“The objective of this research is to test the hypothesis that Richard Powell (1800) of Lawrence County, Tennessee, was the son of Richard Powell (1745) and Sarah of Union County, South Carolina, using both documentary research and DNA evidence. Richard Powell (1800) was born about 1800 in South Carolina. He had seven siblings, including Benjamin Powell and Rebecca Powell. Richard (1800) first married Susan and had six children, and then in 1861 married Mary Malone and had two more children. Richard Powell (1800) died after 1870 in Lawrence County, Tennessee. Richard Powell’s (1745) origins are unknown, but he was enumerated in Union County, South Carolina in the 1790 U.S. Census. Richard Powell died about 1801 in Union County, South Carolina.”

Planning the Project

This complex research project requires researching multiple individuals and multiple locations. To keep me organized, I created a research plan broken up into phases based on the individuals. The primary goal was to find documentation showing a father-son relationship. If the documentary evidence does not exist, or is weak, then indirect evidence will be necessary. This is why the research plan included additional individuals highlighted by DNA matches. Here are the research phases:

  • Richard Powell (1745), hypothetical father, Union County, South Carolina
  • Richard Powell (1800), Union County, South Carolina, Forsyth County, Georgia, and Lawrence County, Tennessee
  • Sarah Powell, hypothetical mother to Richard Powell (1800), Union County, South Carolina
  • Benjamin Powell, hypothetical sibling to Richard Powell (1800), Union County, South Carolina and Lawrence County, Tennessee
  • Rebecca Powell, hypothetical sibling to Richard Powell (1800), Union County, South Carolina and Moniteau County, Missouri

Organizing the project into research phases by individual and location has kept the project focused and on track. The research phases provide a path for thorough and exhaustive research. Otherwise, it would be easy to feel overwhelmed and easily sidetracked.

The research plan began with Richard Powell (1745) because of a known will that identified a wife and children. But what other records could be discovered that show a father-son relationship? A study of the FamilySearch Research Wiki and Catalog identified resources for searching. The real research plan included specific record locations and links, omitted here for brevity.

Richard Powell (1745), Union County, South Carolina

  • Search Wills and Probates to find a source citation for the will. Transcribe the will and identify the relationships, if stated, for the named individuals.
  • Search the 1800 U.S. Census for Richard Powell in Union County, South Carolina. What are the age ranges and gender of any children counted in the census? Is there a male child in the youngest child category? Is the child a match for a son born about 1800?
  • Search land records for Richard Powell (1745 & 1800) using FamilySearch Full Text search.1 What land did the elder Richard Powell originally have in the county? Was any of this land passed to the younger Richard? For example, a deed may include a land description that states, “Land originally owned by Richard Powell, deceased” or some other statement to indicate land that was inherited.
  • Search South Carolina state archives for additional documents related to land acquisition. Richard Powell arrived in Union County before the American Revolution. Did he receive a royal land grant from the Governor? Was this land mentioned in the will and passed to his sons?
  • Members of Benjamin Powell’s family were buried at the Second Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Lawrence County, Tennessee. Was the family also members of the Baptist church in Union County, South Carolina? The FamilySearch Research Wiki lists the Fairforest Baptist church as one of the earliest Baptists churches established in Union County. Search the church records for Fairforest Baptist church for membership lists and other vital data for Powell family members. Could the church records have included documentation to show a parent-child relationship between the two Richards?

Observations

By methodically following this plan for just the first phase of research, amazing discoveries were made. For example, I was able to find the royal land grant and plat for the land Richard Powell (1745) originally acquired. Additional records traced the disposition of the land to his children after his death.

Surprising discoveries can occur, even while focusing on specific questions or record collections. While searching the South Carolina State Archives, I stumbled across a record for Richard Powell’s (1745) service in the American Revolution.2 A search for military records was not initially included in the research plan, but this discovery opened up new possibilities. Did Richard Powell’s (1745) wife apply for a pension? Did any of his children receive a land grant as the child of a veteran? These questions were added to the research plan for future research.

The Rest of the Story

The research for the two Richard Powells is ongoing. DNA analysis and limited documentary evidence does show the hypothetical father-son relationship is most likely real. The research has been expanded to include more indirect evidence that includes additional family members, friends, and associates to help bolster the conclusion.

Whether breaking a large objective into manageable phases or adapting to surprising discoveries like the Revolutionary War service record, a research plan provides the necessary flexibility and focus to build a solid case. While the excitement of the hunt is undeniable, it is the methodical preparation and strategic execution outlined in a research plan that transforms a collection of data points into a verified family history. For both professional researchers and hobbyists, the plan is not just a formality; it is the foundation of accurate and efficient genealogical work.

1 The FamilySearch Full Text search is an amazing, game-changing resource that continues to improve. For example, search results can be narrowed by date range, location, record type, and even a specific collection. In this scenario, a search for Richard Powell in Union County, South Carolina returned results for both Richard Powell (1745) and Richard Powell (1800). It was important to pay attention to the dates to correctly identify which Richard was being mentioned in the record.

2 “Accounts Audited of Claims Growing Out of the Revolution (S108092),” entry for Richard Powell, 20 June 1786, South Carolina, document 6086, Series S108092, Reel 0120, Frame 00222, ignore 000; digital images, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov : accessed 12 June 2026).

Other posts in the Foundations series:

Foundations: Research Questions