When “Cringe-Worthy” Sources Become Gold: Using Early Family Histories the Right Way

Using early genealogy sources like family histories and cemetery records to uncover hidden clues

If you’ve been doing genealogy for any length of time, you’ve probably had the same reaction I often do:
Family histories make you cringe.
And honestly? For good reason.
They’re often filled with:

• Unsourced claims
• Generational leaps
• Repeated errors copied from earlier works
• “Well-known facts” that aren’t actually facts

And yet… here I am, deep in a client case, using them.
Yes--on purpose.

​The Reality of Early American Research

When you’re working with families who:

• Settled in 17th century Connecticut
• Migrated into 18th century New York (Dutchess County)
• Continued into Steuben County
• And later moved west into places like Michigan

…you quickly run into a problem:
The records thin out, scatter, or don’t exist in the way we wish they did.
This is where many genealogists hit a wall.
But it’s also where strategy matters most.

​Why I’m Using Family Histories (Carefully)

In this case, I’m working with:

• Multiple early published family histories
• Cemetery records (direct from cemetery sources when possible)
• Digitized books via Internet Archive
• Land and tax records
• Probate and deed records (including full-text search tools)
• Newspaper references
• Compiled collections like Barbour

And yes… those family histories.
But here’s the key:
👉 I am not using them as evidence.
👉 I am using them as leads.

​Turning “Bad Sources” Into Good Research

​Family histories—especially older ones—can still be incredibly valuable when used correctly.Here’s how I approach them:
1. Look for Patterns, Not Proof
If multiple independent histories mention:

• The same migration path
• The same cluster of families
• The same locations

That’s not proof—but it is a pattern worth testing.

2. Extract Clues Others Missed
Even inaccurate histories often include:

• Church affiliations
• Neighboring families
• Land references
• Cemetery names

These are goldmines for record targeting.

3. Follow the Geography
In this case, the migration path itself tells a story:

• Stamford, Connecticut
• Dutchess County, New York
• Steuben County, New York
• Westward to Michigan

That movement aligns with known historical migration trends—and helps narrow where records should exist.

4. Rebuild the Evidence from Scratch
​Once a clue is found in a compiled source, I:

• Verify with land records
• Check probate relationships
• Review tax lists
• Confirm through cemetery and burial data
• Cross-check with newspapers and local records

If it can’t be supported?
👉 It doesn’t make it into the final conclusion.

​The Tools Making This Possible

This case has been a great reminder of how powerful a layered approach can be. Some of the most useful resources I’ve been using include:

• Cemetery records (from original cemetery sources whenever possible)
• Digitized books and local histories
• Land and tax records
• Probate and deed collections (especially with full-text search)
• Newspaper archives
• The Barbour Collection
• GenWeb resources
• FamilySearch Full Text Search

Each one fills in a different piece of the puzzle.

​A Quick Reality Check

It’s easy to say:
“I don’t use family histories—they’re unreliable.”
But the truth is more nuanced.
In early American research, especially in the 1700s and early 1800s:
Sometimes they’re one of the only starting points we have.
The difference isn’t whether you use them…
👉 It’s how you use them.

​Final Thought

Some of the most solid, well-supported conclusions I’ve built started with sources I didn’t trust at all.
Not because the sources were good--
…but because the methodology was.

If you’re working in early New England or early New York research and feel stuck, try this:
👉 Don’t ignore those old family histories.
👉 Just don’t believe them either.
Use them as a map—not the destination.

​​More Genealogy Records

Learn about more genealogy records and resources, under the Genealogy Records category and the Genealogy Resources category, along with on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.