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Archiver > HUNGARY > 1997-12 > 0882670160


From: RICHARD CAMAUR <>
Subject: [HUNGARY-L] Re:Hungarian Researcher Newbie
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 21:09:20 -0500


Connie,
<--They were from somewhere near Prague.>

You must begin your search in the United States, not in the former
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. If you try to begin your research in Europe
without specific information of the places of origins and dates of birth
of your ggps, you will inevitably become confused and, in despair, abandon
your search.
The first task is to search for any clues among your family's
records and heirlooms. Perhaps, you will find an old letter or photograph
that will give you some clues as to the origins of your ggps.
Your second task is to examine the official local records your ggps
left in the United States. For example, death records, birth records of
their children or even their own marriage records. You should also check
church records, such as baptismal, marriage and burial records. If your
ggps were Catholic, such records are very likely available. you should
also glean information from city/county directories and voters'
registration lists.
Third, you then can proceed to research federal sources. Start
with the U.S. censuses for 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920. The l900 and 1910
censuses will provide information on age, dates of birth, years in U.S.,
dates of naturalization, etc. Then, you can begin your search of passenger
ship records at the nearest regonal National Archives. However, if your
ancestors arrived at New York between 1847 and 1897, you will not have an
index to find them. Therefore, you will have to get an exact (or nearly
exact) date of arrival. The naturalization papers (declaration of
intention and petition and order of naturatlization) might provide this
information; these documents became standardized on September 27, 1906, and
certainly contain such information. All naturalization documents after
September 27, 1906, are on file with the INS; only some before 1906. You
might have to search local courts and federal court files.
The object of the foregoing routine is to identify the palce of
origin of your ggps as well as threir dates of birth, marriage, etc. in the
"old country". Once you have such information, then you will be prepared
to research your ancestors in the former Austria-Hungary. In conducting
your search in the United States, do not overlook the sources at the LDS
Family History Centers. In fact, once your have secured the necessary
information to identity your ancestors in their place of origin, you then
should search the microfiche files at the LDS Centers. Once you search
for your ancestors abroad, please remember that they came from
Austria-Hungary, not The Czech Republic or modern-day Austria. The names
of their home towns may have changed after WWI as the new Czechoslovakia
changed towns with German-sounding names to Slavic ones. Therefore, don't
be discouraged if the place name you have identified from an immigration
record cannot immediately be identified in a current atlas.
Let me know how you progress. Meanwhile - - Happy hunting!!

Richard Camaur

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