Recieved this from another list,it is written by Betty Stokes, and is
probably the best advice I've seen on documenting evidence. Thought everyone
would like to see it.....
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EVIDENCE FOR PROOF
Evidence is the means of proving or disproving a fact. There are five types
of evidence:
1. PRIMARY: Primary evidence is that from a record when the record itself is
the cause or result of the action or fact to be proved. Examples are: Vital
records, Wills, Church Records, Tombstones etc., This is the best evidence.
2. COLLATERAL: Collateral evidence is when it is collateral to the purpose
of the records but never the less an integral part of the record: Example:
If a man speaks of his daughter by her married name, it signifies a marriage
when no marriage record can be found.
3. SECONDARY: Evidence consists of statements made by persons of facts they
know of their own knowledge: Examples: Oaths, Old Letters, Depositions.
4. CIRCUMSTANTIAL: If two or more facts are so related, that if one which
can be proved by a higher type of evidence is true. When the other is
necessarily, true. Example: Record shows a daughter of a man and later he
marries someone, it shows he was married before and had at least one daughter.
5. REPORTED: Rumor, Hearsay, County Histories, and Many Biographies. These
are the least trustworthy but good for clues.
SOURCES OF GENEALOGICAL MATERIALS
1. PRIVATE: Family Bibles, Ledgers, Diaries, Photograph Albums, Samplers,
Old Silver, Fly Leaves of old Books, Old Letters, Old Wills, Diplomas,
Citations, Discharge Papers, School Records, Insurance Claims, Baby Books,
Grandmother Bracelets, Etc.
2. PUBLIC: Census, Pension, Military, Land Tax, Deeds, Laws, Church Records,
Court, Probate, Vital Records, Mortality, Immigration, Naturalization,
Obituary Notices, Cemetery Records and Tombstones, Register of Voters, Maps,
and Plat Books. City Directories and Telephone Books.
3. COMPILED: Printed Genealogies, County & Local Histories, Periodicals,
Compiled Tax Lists, Cemetery, Etc., Newspapers - Articles, Brand Books.
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