How to Evaluate Genealogical Evidence: "As insecure as it may make us feel, we must learn to live with uncertainty in our genealogical work. The validity of any pedigree connection between generations is merely a probability. "


The May 1994 issue of The Generator, the newsletter of the St. Mary's County (MD) Genealogical Society contained the following table to assist in evaluating evidence and determining whether you have a "Preponderance of the Evidence" case. I see no author cited.

PREPONDERANCE of the EVIDENCE
Primary = 3 points
Secondary = 2 points
Circumstantial = 1 point
Process of Elimination = 1 point
5 points needed to prove a theory.

SOURCE ---- TYPE
Civil Birth Record ---- Primary
Civil Marriage Record ---- Primary
Civil Death Record ---- Primary for date, place and cause primary or secondary for age, parentage, etc., depending on identity of informant

Bible Record ---- Primary, if made contemporarily [with event]
Tax Record ---- Primary
Court Record ---- Primary
Church Baptismal ---- Record Primary
Church Marriage Record ---- Primary
Church Burial Record ---- Primary for date & place; secondary for age, parentage, etc.

Naturalization Record ---- Primary
Military Service Record ---- Primary
Military Pension Record ---- Primary
Original Probate documents ---- Primary
Record book copies of probate ---- ---- Good Secondary

Diaries ---- Primary
Original Land Documents ---- Primary
Record Book copies of land docs. ---- ---- Good Secondary
Newspaper Marriage Notice ---- Primary
Newspaper Death Notice ---- Primary for date & place
Secondary ---- for other data
Newspaper Obituary ---- Primary for date & place
Secondary for other data

Personal recollection ---- Primary or secondary
Tombstone inscription ---- ---- Secondary

Census Records ---- Secondary
Census indices ---- Tertiary

Passenger list ---- Secondary
Passenger list indices ---- Tertiary

IGI
---- Secondary or Tertiary
LDS family group records ---- Secondary or Tertiary
Published genealogical book ---- Secondary or Tertiary
Published periodical article ---- Secondary or Tertiary

Oral tradition ---- Secondary or Tertiary or worse


It makes some interesting distinctions which I would not have made, but on the whole, it's certainly a place to start.

Date: 24 May 1994
From: Cheryl Singhal
To: All
Subj: Evaluating Evidence