Search retrieval

TinaBaker7

Hi. I have noticed the return of search information doesn't always return with the most relevant pertaining information first. Example is when you request information and advise of a date range, the return information doesn't seem to acknowledge the request. It returns various information way out of date range.

Also, possible search via last known address or possibly the social security number. Example: I am researching a person, Mollie Grimm Pitts, who may have remarried; no information on her date of birth, which I estimate is between 1909 and 1914. She had at least two children, of whom I have information. The only documents I have discovered is a 1930 census. I have researched others in the household, but haven't any leads, as yet. I am guessing at her social security number since her and her sister went to work at the Detroit Salt Mine in Detroit, MI in the late 1920's or early 1930's. I have found a birth record of her sister and her social security number. My guess is they applied for social security numbers together. I have contacted the Detroit Salt Mine with no response. I have also contacted social security, and was advised of an employer site to access, however, the site doesn't allow me access. Ancestry.com advises it has information, however, they charge a fee. Anyhow, searching via death records on social security would be helpful.

Thanks for helping.

Alan E. Brown

The search results will always return the most relevant results first -- but what the search engine's definition of most relevant might well differ from what you hope for. Searching billions of records is a complex task, especially with many pieces of information involved. Each piece of information that you supply gives guidance to the search, but most of those parameters are not absolute. The parameters you supply are compared with records and result in an ordered list of records that have been ranked by how closely they match those parameters, according to the search algorithm. If I search for John Brown, I may well get search results for Jon Browne; if I search for a birth in Kentucky between 1800 and 1810, I may see a birth in Tennessee in 1815.

Paul W

@Alan E. Brown

Not so in in a search I just undertook, using the example you provided. However, whilst all records referenced Kentucky, only the first sixty-odd results showed the 1800-1810 time range. All for a John Brown, though - no variants. I admit this did rather surprise me as I had noticed myself that the search algorithm had appeared to get a bit "looser" recently, with an "Exact" search (on a name) not necessarily producing corresponding results.

See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=100&q.birthLikeDate.from=1800&q.birthLikeDate.to=1810&q.birthLikePlace=Kentucky%2C%20United%20States&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=john&q.givenName.exact=on&q.surname=brown&q.surname.exact=on

Áine Ní Donnghaile

There are 2 collections on FamilySearch based on Social Security registrations. The NUMIDENT collection will sometimes list the names of parents, which can be very useful in narrowing down the field.

And the Death Index collection allows you to search by year of birth and year of death.

You can also search the Social Security registrations on the National Archives site.