Sample Searches

AncestryPlus Sample Searches

AncestryPlus is an enhanced library version of Ancestry.com's celebrated genealogical database that provides instant access to more than 1.7 billion names in more than 4,000 databases, including primary-source document images, detailed color maps and a variety of genealogical research tools.

Search 1:

An e-mail requestor using AncestryPlus wanted to know how many applications for pension support were made by Civil War veterans from Indiana.

Solution:

1. Opened AncestryPlus and went to the "Civil War Pension Index" page under "Military Records".
2. Selected "Indiana" and clicked on the "Search" button.
3. More than 91,500 pension application records were retrieved. This number does not include Confederate veterans since only Union soldiers are indexed in this database.

Search 2:

A caller using AncestryPlus wanted to find out the rank of a Revolutionary War officer named William Jennings when he died and the date of his death.

Solution:

1. Opened AncestryPlus, clicked "more" under "Military Records".
2. Selected "Revolutionary War Officers" listed under "Search Individual Military Databases:" and clicked on the "Go" button.
3. Entered "William" in the "First Name" entry box.
4. Entered "Jennings" in the "Last Name" entry box.
5. Clicked on the "Search" button and retrieved one match regarding William Jennings.
6. Lieutenant William Jennings was part of the Rhode Island Militia during the Revolutionary War and died May 25, 1778.

Search 3:

Carl Andrew Hoddy of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, wanted to find out more about his British roots by using AncestryPlus. He wanted to know the name of the first Hoddy to reach Australia from England and the name of the ship of arrival.

Solution:

1. Opened AncestryPlus and clicked on "Australian Convict Index, 1788-1868" under "Court, Land & Probate Records".
2. Entered "Hoddy" in the "Last Name" entry box.
3. Clicked on the "Search" button and retrieved one record.
4. This record revealed that William Hoddy, born in 1829, arrived in Australia on the ship "Dudbrook".

Search 4:

A customer using AncestryPlus wanted to know how to find the death date and last home address for a relative who received Social Security benefits.

Solution:

1. Entered AncestryPlus and went to the "Social Security Death Index" page under "Birth, Marriage, & Death".
2. Entered the "Surname" and "First Name" in the corresponding entry boxes.
3. Under the "Advanced Option #1--Last Known Residence", the state of residence was selected from the "State / Country" dropdown list.
4. Clicked on the "Search" button and selected the relative's record. Listed was the name, Social Security Number, last residence address, birth date, death date and the year and in what state the Social Security Number was issued.

Search 5:

A user of AncestryPlus wanted to find out more about the culture and politics of Panama during the rule of General Omar Torrijos Herrera.

Solution:

1. Opened AncestryPlus and clicked on the "more" link under "Reference & Finding Aids".
2. Selected "Panama Country Study" listed under "Search Individual Reference & Finding Aids Databases:" and clicked on the "Go" button.
3. Entered "Omar" for the "First Name" and "Herrera" for the "Last Name".
4. Clicked on the "Search" button and retrieved 10 articles that fulfilled the requested criteria.