The Ancestral Blog

Research Methods

Navigating 18th Century Parish Records: A Beginner's Guide

Parish records are goldmines for genealogists, but deciphering old handwriting and Latin abbreviations can be daunting. Learn the essential skills for unlocking these treasures.

James Wright

8 min

Family Stories

The Mystery of Great-Grandmother's Missing Years

A gap in the records led to an unexpected discovery about our family's hidden past during the Great Depression. How we solved a 90-year-old mystery.

Emily Chen

6 min

DNA Science

Understanding Ethnicity Estimates: Beyond the Percentages

Why your ethnicity results vary between testing companies and what the percentages really mean for your family research.

Dr. Sarah Mitchell

10 min

Guides & Tips

10 Essential Tools Every Genealogy Researcher Needs

From subscription databases to free resources, here are the must-have tools that will accelerate your family history research.

James Wright

7 min

Research Methods

Tracing Immigration Records: Ellis Island and Beyond

Discover how to find your ancestors' immigration records, from ship manifests to naturalization papers.

Maria Santos

9 min

Family Stories

Letters from the Frontlines: A WWI Family Correspondence

Preserved letters between a soldier and his family reveal the intimate details of life during the Great War.

Emily Chen

11 min