Hi, This was posted to another list - information the person had gotten from a genealogy seminar. - Diane _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* Having a hard time trying to find that maiden name of your gg-grandmother? Some hints that I observed at a recent Genealogy Workshop. Research and study case studies of proven (male) ancestors, they often married their first cousins. When possible, always go to the Original records/documents Follow Her Males, did they stay in that county or go to another state? Who did her brothers and sisters marry? Look at those neighbors very closely, males seldom married females that lived over five miles from their homes. More often it was the next house that they chose their wife from. Deeds... Always look at several pages before and after listings of deeds. Pay special attention to all those recorded the same day. Note other surnames that keep repeating often in deeds, plus "et al" which means "and others" Note males that are selling their interest in property, this just may be the father-in-law who has recently died. Note names of witnesses on wills and deeds, usually one is from the family of the female to protect her dower. This is not written in stone but very often true. Always track your females until dead and buried. Follow son-in-laws, sons, grandsons, and nephews. Track down all lines of a marriage, often the husband would marry as a second marriage, a sister of his wife, if she had died shortly after the marriage.