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Quiz about Know Your Genealogy Record Sources

Know Your Genealogy Record Sources Quiz

Finding your ancestors and their story, which is part of the fabric of your life, involves searching a myriad of records. Each question in this quiz will mention records you might search to identify pieces of your genealogical puzzle.

A multiple-choice quiz by CliftonClowers. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
CliftonClowers

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
330,020

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
407

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which of the following documents are you most likely to find the locality and country in which your 19th century immigrant ancestor was born? Hint

petition for citizenship

colonial passenger list

customs passenger list

declaration of intention

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Question 2 of 10

2. You know your ancestor was born in 1835 in Clinton County, New York, married and lived there, then died in Andersonville, Georgia as a prisoner of war in 1865. There is no existing death certificate. What enumeration conducted in New York State might provide the maiden name of your ancestor's mother? Hint

1850 Military census of New York counties

1840 census

Town clerks' registers of men who served in the Civil War, 1865-1867

1845 school census

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Question 3 of 10

3. You have a family Bible which has recorded the births, marriages, and deaths for six generations of your family, going back to a birth in 1830. The Bible was printed in 1901. Which of the following births listed in the Bible would be acceptable as documented proof of birth? Hint

John Hanson, 1830

Susan Louise Jones, 1905

Mary Jane Hanson, 1852

Thomas Morgan Jones, 1872

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Question 4 of 10

4. Your ancestor immigrated with his wife and children to Chicago in 1911 and died intestate in the Flu Epidemic of 1918. Tradition says he was a weaver. In which of the following records could you find his occupation listed? Hint

cemetery plot record, 1918

funeral home record, 1918

citizenship declaration of intention, 1916

city directory, 1912-1918

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Question 5 of 10

5. A pension file based on death or disability incurred in an Indian war in the 1830's would be found in which record series? Hint

Old War

Civil War

Mexican War

Indian Wars

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Question 6 of 10

6. The most common type of deed, which is used to convey title from a party who has clear title to the property is: Hint

Deed of Trust

Deed of Gift

Quitclaim deed

Warranty deed

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Question 7 of 10

7. Your 2nd great-grandfather, William Smith, son of John Smith, had the same name as another person in their area. Both men married women named Mary, had children, and were Confederate soldiers killed in the Civil War. What document might give information to identify the children of William Smith as being the grandchildren of John Smith? Hint

1870 census entry for Mary Smith

Rural Directory

Confederate pension record for William Smith

1884 Deed from sale of John Smith's land

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which church does not practice infant baptism? Hint

Presbyterian

Congregational

Quaker

Episcopal

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Question 9 of 10

9. In which of the following naturalization papers would you most likely find the birthplace of your great-grandmother who came from Germany with her husband in 1880? Hint

Her husband's certificate of naturalization

Her husband's declaration of intention

Her declaration of intention

Her husband's petition for citizenship

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Your great-grandfather was named William C. Johnson, was born in 1871 in Missouri before vital records, and died in 1944. Which of the following records might have his full name? Hint

1880 Federal census

Church membership records

His voter registration record

His daughter's Social Security application

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which of the following documents are you most likely to find the locality and country in which your 19th century immigrant ancestor was born?

Answer: petition for citizenship

Customs and colonial passenger lists contain a list of passengers only. The declaration of intention from the 19th century gave only the name of the immigrant and country of allegiance. The petition for citizenship had much more inclusive information.

Answer: Town clerks' registers of men who served in the Civil War, 1865-1867

The Federal census of 1840 lists the head of household and groups the other household residents into age groups. The 1845 school census and the 1850 Military census of New York counties are fictitious. The Town Clerks' registers of men who served in the Civil War list the man who served, his parents' names, sometimes including the maiden name of the mother and other personal information.

Answer: Susan Louise Jones, 1905

If the Bible was printed in 1901, any information with a date prior to the publication date would not have been entered at the time of the event, and was subject to transcription errors.

Answer: city directory, 1912-1918

Cemetery plot records, funeral home records and citizenship declaration of intentions have limited information and do not include applicants' occupation. City directories contain the address, occupation of most people, especially men, and can indicate home ownership and relationship to the homeowner.

5. A pension file based on death or disability incurred in an Indian war in the 1830's would be found in which record series?

Answer: Indian Wars

The Old War series contains pension applications that were filed based on death or disability for service rendered between the end of the Revolutionary War and 1862, excluding the War of 1812. The Indian Wars series contains pension applications that were filed based on service in various Indian campaigns during the period 1817-1898.

6. The most common type of deed, which is used to convey title from a party who has clear title to the property is:

Answer: Warranty deed

The Deed of Trust involves payment of a debt, the Quitclaim deed does not require proof of clear title, and the Deed of Gift transfers title without a normal consideration.

Answer: 1884 Deed from sale of John Smith's land

The 1870 census record lists the household members but does not give relationship to each other. Pension records and rural directories do not give parents' names. Deeds of sale from a probate event sometimes give a list of all heirs and places of residence.

8. Which church does not practice infant baptism?

Answer: Quaker

Congregationalist, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Reformeds, Catholics, and Methodists all practice infant baptism, creating records which are useful for genealogists. Quakers do not practice infant baptism, but may have records which are equally of value to genealogists.

9. In which of the following naturalization papers would you most likely find the birthplace of your great-grandmother who came from Germany with her husband in 1880?

Answer: Her husband's petition for citizenship

Certificates of naturalization do not contain personal information. Declarations of intention do not contain personal information and a wife or child who came with a husband/father did not file a declaration of intention nor a petition for citizenship on their own behalf.

The husband filed the petition for citizenship for all members of his family who immigrated with him and included their personal information as well as his own.

10. Your great-grandfather was named William C. Johnson, was born in 1871 in Missouri before vital records, and died in 1944. Which of the following records might have his full name?

Answer: His daughter's Social Security application

Census records, voter registration records, and church membership records most often do not give a man's middle name. An applicant for a social security number must give his/her parents' full name.

Source: Author CliftonClowers

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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