How can I find data of close relative who is not a direct ancestor?
For example, a first or second cousin or their spouses or children? I am trying to develop the story of my deceased first cousin who was married more than once and had children. Or spouse of an ancestor but never had children together.
Best Answers
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Information for living individuals is a challenge to obtain. If they were alive in 1940, you might find them on a 1940 Census. If they were a parent at that time, then the names of their children born before 1940 may also be on that census.
Sometimes family connections can be found by examining information in the Latest changes Section of a Person/Detail page of an ancestor. If you and the other contributor both have enabled the view my relationship feature, by clicking on the name of the other contributor, you could see if there was a relationship, and also have the opportunity to make an attempt to contact that person, if you choose to do so.
Of course there is social media that might bear fruit, if the name of the person of interest is searched for. Of course you would need to confirm that that person is really your relative, and not someone to whom you are not related, but who has the same name as your relative.
Good Luck in your endeavor.
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When looking for non related persons in Family Search/Family tree, you may open any person's Person/Detail page, then chick on the Green family Tree on the right side, under Search Records. Once you have that next page open, just change the personal information that appears on the left side, to agree with the vital information of the person for whom you are searching.
You may also use the Search option at the top of the screen (Family Search-Family Tree- Search ) in the drop down choose Records, and enter the name and vital information of the person you are looking for. Also under the Search drop down is Wiki, which again is another way of looking for information
If you click on the circle with the ? in it then scroll down to the bottom Help Center and use the search term WIKI it will bring up a number of options on how to use that feature including. How does the FamilySearch Research Wiki help me find my ancestors?
Hope you have success in your endeavors
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Answers
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The only time your relationship with a person is relevant to finding data is if you're dealing with a privacy restriction: some authorities will only provide records about recent events if the requester can prove appropriate familial interest. (Definitions of "recent" and "appropriate" vary by authority/jurisdiction, naturally.) Is this what you're talking about? If so, the answer will depend greatly on the specifics, especially the "where", because that will determine what the privacy law actually says.
If you're not talking about acquiring privacy-restricted records, then your relationship (or lack thereof) to the person you're researching is completely irrelevant.
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The relative is a deceased first cousin; she died in 2015 as a resident of Michigan. I'm in california. I have no idea what the privacy restrictions applicable to the county may be. So far the county isn't a problem since I've looked at recorded deeds and files of the county tax assessor and department of equalization. Had no problem getting copy of the marriage certificate for her first mariage (issued in 1960). My cousin had two children who are alive and in their sixties; but I've not asked for any thing about them except what comes up from county recorder and tax assessor or from recorded real property deeds. I thought I should be able to find some information starting with my paternal uncle who is the father of my cousin; but that doesn't seem to be very productive either.
I have found some basic documents relating to my deceased cousin but I can't get Family Tree research to leave my direct line (i.e., my parents, grandparents, etc) and give me anything at all about my deceased cousin. I have some info already (address, birth, death, marriage (one of them) for example. I appreciate that many things for living folks are more sensitive but I'm looking for more about my deceasded first cousin.
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Thank you for your helpful comment.
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I can't get Family Tree research to leave my direct line
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I can't figure out what part of FamilySearch's vast offerings you're talking about here. It can't be Research Hints, because those are on a profile for anyone looking at it, regardless of relationship. It can't be anything under Search, because nearly everything there is independent of Family Tree, and none of it cares who you are or aren't related to. Where else do you go for research?
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Also use Ancestry.com and Family Tree DNA.
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