EVIDENCE FOR PROOF

Evidence is the means of proving or disproving a fact.  There are five
types of evidence:

1. PRIMARY:  Primary evidence is that from a record when the record
itself is the cause or result of the action or fact to be proved.
Examples are: Vital records, Wills, Church Records, Tombstones etc.,
This is the best evidence.

2. COLLATERAL:  Collateral evidence is when it is collateral to the
purpose of the records but never the less an integral part of the record:
Example: If a man speaks of his daughter by her married name, it signifies
a marriage when no marriage record can be found.

3. SECONDARY:  Evidence consists of statements made by persons of facts
they know of their own knowledge:  Examples:  Oaths, Old Letters, Depositions.

4. CIRCUMSTANTIAL:  If two or more facts are so related, that if one
which can be proved by a higher type of evidence is true.  When the other
is necessarily, true.  Example:  Record shows a daughter of a man and later
he marries someone, it shows he was married before and had at least one
daughter.

5. REPORTED:  Rumor, Hearsay, County Histories, and Many Biographies.
These are the least trustworthy but good for clues.



SOURCES OF GENEALOGICAL MATERIALS

1. PRIVATE:  Family Bibles, Ledgers, Diaries, Photograph Albums,
Samplers, Old Silver, Fly Leaves of old Books, Old Letters, Old Wills,
Diplomas, Citations, Discharge Papers, School Records, Insurance Claims,
Baby Books, Grandmother Bracelets, Etc.

2. PUBLIC:  Census, Pension, Military, Land Tax, Deeds, Laws, Church
Records, Court, Probate, Vital Records, Mortality, Immigration, 
Naturalization, Obituary Notices, Cemetery Records and Tombstones,
Register of Voters, Maps, and Plat Books.  City Directories and 
Telephone Books.

3. COMPILED:  Printed Genealogies, County & Local Histories,
Periodicals, Compiled Tax Lists, Cemetery, Etc., Newspapers - Articles,
Brand Books.