7 Steps to Black Hawk Street

Across America, there are streets named after Presidents, prominent figures, soldiers, wars, notable Native Americans, etc. Street names echo the values, fears, and headlines of the people who put them there. Street names are threads connecting towns to broader national events. 

We may never know whether the street name was meant as a warning, a memorial, or even a reluctant gesture of respect. But rarely was it just random. 

Tracing Early Footsteps

1868 Platte Deed of Black Hawk Street
 Platte. Deeds 1866–1870

Tucked into the riverfront hills of Weston, Missouri, Black Hawk Street winds quietly through town, steeped in the kind of history that rarely makes headlines but is never quite forgotten. While the street is familiar to locals today, the origin of its name has long puzzled historians. Why “Black Hawk”? Who named it? And what stories were they trying to preserve—or perhaps bury?

7 Tips to Tracing Street Names 

1) Determine when was the town platted, settled, or squatted?

BLM GLO, 1840

Land was being settled as early as 1837, just after the Platte Purchase of 1836 made the land legally available for U.S. settlement. The Military Reserve was set aside in 1838. The original survey, above, for the entire Platte was in 1840. The survey was from 1 Oct 1839 to 24 Jun 1840.

2) Uncover the first use of the street name. 
In Weston, I was able to pull an 1843 land deed. This was about six years after the town was purchased.

See below for the notes of the official survey of land, which concluded 22 Jul 1843. Survey of land.

1843

3) Locate old local maps and city formation within the state.

Black Hawk Street isn’t just an old name on a map. It’s a thread connecting Weston to broader national events: the Indian wars, the opening of new territories, and the cultural shifts that shaped Missouri. 

Image: https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mainstreet/id/9/rec/1

4) Review Local and National News 
Was the name of your street of interest at the time?  Remember, it's not random, not an accident, there's a tie. Always a time. check out the contemporary Presidents, prominent figures, soldiers, wars, notable Native Americans. 

In our example, it really was Black Hawk that raised our interest. 

Who was Black Hawk? 
Black Hawk (1767–1838) was a war leader of the Sauk tribe, best known for leading resistance during the Black Hawk War of 1832 in present-day Illinois and Wisconsin. Though defeated, Black Hawk became a legendary figure in American frontier history. 

Given the timing, it’s likely that Weston settlers, freshly arrived after the Platte Purchase came in from Illinois and Wisconsin. Black Hawk's legend was still circulating widely in newspapers, books, and military lore when the Platte was purchased. Black Hawk died in 1838. 

5) Don't Forget the Territories

1838 - 1842 Territorial Map

Why is it that people forget that before states, there were colonies or territories? The information you are looking for may be in the Territorial collections usually found in the State Archives. Researchers must be familiar with the territory and state formations.

For example, If I'm wanting to research my Sauk Tribe Leader, Black Hawk, I have to cover the Iowa territory. It is borders Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. It was Black Hawk territory! He even died in 1838, the southeastern Iowa Territory on the Des Moines River.

6) State Archives and Bureau of Land Management

You aren't just looking for your street name. Be sure to expand your search. The early platted state required clearing of the land, selling the land for distribution, surveyor notes, and early town plans. 

Keep in mind that surveyors may not have been from the area.  In the case of Weston, MO, the survey was for the entire Platte was out of St Louis. (Surveyors Office) 

7) Pull deeds with the name of the street you are researching. I use Familysearch AI to quickly extract those.  In doing so, I understood why Black Hawk name was not solid on the earlier plats.  It was officially called Buckeye Street. 

"Buckeye Street or as better known and called Black Hawk Street"

Here's another example from an 1867 deed

 West side of Buckeye Street or Blackhawk . Street thence

More must be learned in this case. It is not known whyy Buckeye was also called Buchanan. It appears that it continued to Blackhawk St. 

...side of Buchanan or Buckeye street ( Black Hawk Continued)

Next Step

Research the connection to Buchanan St, Buckeye Street or Black Hawk Street. 

This is far from a brickwall unless all of your available resources have been scoured. 

Sources:

• Missouri Digital Heritage. Main Street Weston Collection. Link

• Platte County Deeds, 1866–1870. FamilySearch

• Platte County Deeds, 1892. FamilySearch

More Resources
5 Resources to Tracing Missouri Territorial Ancestors

Read more about Weston:
In June 2025 we highlighted Weston, MO. WESTON – CELEBRATING 175 YEARS!
Juneteenth - What Are You Celebrating?

Juneteenth - What Are You Celebrating?

Juneteenth, a blend of “June” and “nineteenth” marks the day in 1865 (19 Jun 1865)when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX, were finally informed of their freedom. Texas, the most remote slave-holding state, was the last to receive Union troops to enforce emancipation hence Juneteenth’s powerful legacy. That's when the Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX. This was over two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

Everyone Did Not Celebrate

Due to the mass exodus of ex-slaves from Texas to other states and communities, small Juneteenth celebrations were held across the nation as early as the 1866's, not just in Texas. It was also customary, especially in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, for the previously enslaved Texans to return to their family community for the Juneteenth festivities annually. Early celebrations included readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Plus, it was a great time to have a family reunion!

Did You Know?

All Enslaved People Were Not Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

          36  U.S. states by end of the Civil War

          25  Union States: 21 Free State

                                        4  Slave States 

          11  Confederate States (claimed secession)

A small forgotten detail by the masses is the fact that the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the enslaved people of the eleven states that formed the Confederacy. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free the enslaved people in the other Union states. 

Texas joined the Confederacy in 1861. Their enslaved people were freed 1 Jan 1863, by the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation could only be enforced if the Union military was in place and had the military power to free the enslaved people.
Note: This was easier on the states along waterways.

Year	Event	Notes
1861	Start of the Civil War	Eleven Southern states secede, forming the Confederacy.
Sept 22, 1862	Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation	Lincoln warns that enslaved people in rebellious states will be freed if rebellion continues.
Jan 1, 1863	Emancipation Proclamation	Slaves in Confederate states are declared free, but enforcement relies on Union military success.
April 1865	Civil War ends	Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders. Slavery remains in border Union states.
June 19, 1865	Juneteenth	Union troops arrive in Galveston, Texas. Slavery officially ended in Texas.
Dec 6, 1865	13th Amendment ratified	Slavery becomes illegal in all U.S. states, including Union states

There were five non-Confederate States, the "Border States," that held enslaved peoples. It was legal to have "slaves" in the Union States until there was a state-level action or through the 13th Amendment, ratified on December 6, 1865. 

The enslaved people in the following states were not freed by the 1861 Emancipation Proclamation 

1. Delaware - Never seceded.  Rejected both the Emancipation Proclamation and voluntary abolition before the 13th Amendment.

2. Maryland - Abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, through a new state constitution.

3. Kentucky - Maintained slavery until the 13th Amendment. 

4. Missouri -The pro-Union government abolished slavery in January 1865 by state action before the 13th Amendment was passed.

5. West Virginia (A new state in 1863)
   Allowed slavery at statehood but abolished it in February 1865.
   West VA had just become a state in 1863, and is historically lumped in with the "Border States."

For more reading:
Juneteenth - Our Ancestors Knew: Celebrated Across the Nation

   TracingAncestors.org

Taxing Sunlight and Fresh Air? The Window Tax

Note: This educational blog post is based on:

The Hutsville Times, 27 Apr 1937, pg 7

During the American Revolution, Virginia faced financial pressure to support its war efforts against Britain. To meet these demands, the General Assembly enacted a series of taxes in 1781. One such tax was a tax on glass windows. Yes, sunlight became a commodity. Well, sunlight and fresh air!

The proposed tax on windows vs. a "real estate" tax in Virginia to recover the funding deficit from the Revolutionary War.

Hening's Statutes at Large, Volume 10: Virginia, FHL 007940049, It #2, pg 280

This emergency homeowners' tax was based on the number of windows in their houses. (Hening’s Statutes, vol. 10, p. 280.) It was to last three years, and it only counted windows with glass, which eliminated the lowest economic cohort that would likely have had only shutters because they couldn’t afford glass. Here’s the Virginia law: 

“A tax or rate of one shilling for every glass window shall be paid by the proprietor of each inhabited house within the commonwealth in the month of September 1781, and so on in each of the three next succeeding years.” The law goes on to list other taxes, calling them “urgent necessities of this commonwealth” due to the war.

Keep in mind, we were a newly formed nation in need of recovering from the costly war, so many states actually considered the Window Tax, but quickly squashed the idea because it was an England-based tax. Even the Virginia law was quickly appealed, before ever really reaching the implementation stage. 

Origin of This Tax - England? 

England Implementation of Window Tax

The Window Tax was a property tax introduced in England and Wales in 1696 (later extended to Scotland in 1748) under the reign of King William III. It taxed homeowners based on the number of windows in a building. The purpose was essentially a way to tax wealth indirectly—larger homes with more windows suggested greater wealth.

The 1798 Tax in the Colonies
However, there were later successful attempts in the USA to fund the War with France. In 1798, we know the real estate tax in America was based on windows, and Pennsylvanians were not happy about it. Listen here as Julie explains: 

 

Full Podcast: Unraveling Forensic Genealogy With Juli Whittaker

What You May Find

Pennsylvania, U.S., U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 for William Scarlitt

• Name of the property owner or occupant

• Description of buildings (number of stories, materials)

• Number of windows and total property value

• Acreage and land valuation

• Sometimes even names of tenants or neighbor

Where to Find Records 
Use keywords: “1798 direct tax” + [State or County]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 

Pittsburgh

, 

Pittsburgh

, 

4 Feb 1941

, 

Page 23

1. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
   Locate  original federal tax lists, assessment rolls, and schedules for many counties
2.  FamilySearch.org
    Digitized 1798 tax records for some states.
3. Ancestry.com
   “Tax, Criminal, Land & Wills” or “U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798”
   Indexed and digitized tax lists, especially for Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
4. State Archives and Historical Societies
   I have had good luck finding these records in these states: 
   Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Archives
   Massachusetts: Massachusetts Archives
   Virginia: Library of Virginia
   
5. Library of Congress
   Federal tax documents, historical maps, and district valuations are accessible.
6. Reference Books
   The 1798 Federal Direct Tax: Pennsylvania and the Fries Rebellion"

Even later, though, this tax was not favored and quickly repealed with the help of a small insurrectionist against the U.S. Government led by John Fries, PA.

Fries's Rebellion led German-American farmers in eastern Pennsylvania to resist the tax. They viewed it as a violation of their rights. Although Fries was convicted of treason in 1799 - 1800, and was sentenced to death, President Adams issued a pardon. 

Aurora General Advertiser, Wed, Feb 13, 1805 ·Page 2

My thoughts go to the lyrics of one of Hamilton's songs (the musical): 

This financial plan is an outrageous demand

And it’s too many [darn] pages for any man to understand

Stand with me in the land of the free

And pray to God we never see Hamilton’s candidacy

Look, when Britain taxed our tea, we got frisky
Imagine what gon’ happen when you try to tax our whisky.

 Perhaps it should have said windows!

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and blog.

If you wish to support the 501c3 TracingAncestors, Donate Here for our Summer Campaign.

The Tracing Ancestors Board, (formerly a3Genealogy)

Forensic Genealogy to Bash Brickwalls

Are you staring at a brick wall in your genealogy research? You know, the kind that refuses to budge no matter how many records you dig through? If so, it's time to bring in one of the big tools:

 forensic genealogy

Forensic genealogy goes beyond hobby research. It's the marriage of deep historical investigation, legal standards, and technology like DNA testing. These are all used to bring down your family brickwalls. So, the first thing to tackle is knowingg the different niches within this field? Each one holds powerful techniques that could help break through your toughest family mysteries.

We created the graphic to showcase the nine main niches of forensic genealogy, all of which offer clues, records, and strategies that you might not have considered.

Let’s explore how some of these specialties can help you overcome common brick walls:

1.  Heir Research and Probate Cases

Are you stuck on a family member who “disappeared” from records? Probate research can help. Forensic genealogists often locate missing heirs by reconstructing family groups using state and federal census records, land deeds and legal transactions, and court documents. These methods are accessible and mostly free. We start with familysearch.org or government bounty records. The only difference is that you can use that copy of the record to extract family names and transactions without paying for the certified document if you wish. But, be sure to cite your source with the link. 

2. Unknown Parentage and Adoptions
Whether you're adopted or trying to identify a mystery great-grandparent, this niche uses genetic genealogy and advanced DNA techniques to pinpoint biological relatives. We used the familiar DNA tests: familytreeDNA, MyHeritage, and Ancestry.com. With tools like GEDmatch, and chromosome analysis tools (my favorite is MyHeritage), you can map out hidden branches on your family tree.

3. Military Repatriation / POW-MIA Research
Do you have a brickwall in your family military research? Forensic genealogists often work with the government to identify unknown remains. These same skills—like tracking enlistment patterns, researching regimental histories, or locating descendants of service members—can help you connect missing pieces in your family’s military legacy. Plus, if your veteran did not utilize benefits, you may be able to give him a proper burial, and request his medals from WWI and WWII, etc. 

At Tracing Ancestors.org we have the Eternal Valor Network. Be sure to read about it. And if you get the urge, donate to the annual drive. 

4. Land and Property Disputes
I know I mentioned land records earlier, but I have to remind you...follow the money! If there's a lawsuit filled with community testimonies and the spilling out of family gossip, it is a property dispute. This is a great resource if you’ve hit a wall with property ownership or migration patterns. Land records can reveal long-lost family ties. Most often, forensic genealogists trace land transfers, boundary changes, and property disputes to identify rightful heirs. Same job, different purpose. Both are used to figure out where your ancestors went, and why. 

I had ancestors who left land in Rutherford County, NC because they had to escape with a two-day notice that the local KKK had plans to burn down much of the town, and they were targeted. They fled to Cocke County, Tennessee, in the middle of the night, and didn't sell their land until almost eight years later. They had chosen not to return to Rutherford but to settle in the newly opened lands in Kansas. Their entire story was in land records. 

5. Tribal Enrollment and Indigenous Descent
I know you have a grandparent who will promise under oath that your family has native heritage. Proving or disproving Native American ancestry often requires meticulous documentation and lineage tracking. This work also demands historical accuracy and understanding of the law at the time. At a3Genealogy Research we used to gather the documents for 6 to 8 of these cases a year! Even if disproven, you will be gathering a lot of data on your ancestors. Actually, I think the rejections are the best. There is a lot of information to include names, dates, and places of birth, in those back-and-forth correspondence letters and testimonies. Plus, I have yet to leave these research projects without uncovering a new family member, or finally uncovering a birth or death date.

We will discuss the other four (4) at a later time.

So How Can You Use These Niches?
You don’t have to be a forensic genealogist to benefit from their tools. Here’s how to start:

• Analyze your brick wall: Is it related to identity, location, military service, or a legal issue?
• Match it to a niche: Refer to the graphic above and identify which forensic specialty might offer solutions.
• Study their techniques: Read case studies, listen to forensic genealogy podcasts (like Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen!), and explore how professionals solve similar challenges.
• Use DNA smartly: Combine traditional research with DNA testing to validate and explore new relationships.

Forensic genealogy isn’t just for solving cold cases or identifying unknown soldiers. It’s for anyone who wants to go deeper, think smarter, and uncover the stories hiding behind a brick wall.

Ready to learn more? Subscribe to our podcast, and keep exploring (linktr.ee/hittinthebricks).

Update:
Yes, after 3 years, you will be finally get the new (no so new) look.

The a3Genealogy blog has been donated to TracingAncestors.org (2023).

Tax Records and Genealogy

Georgia Commercial Tax Digest and Directory, 1851, ancestry.com 

What Can Tax Records Add to Your Elusive Ancestor's Story?
Using Tax Lists for genealogy is not new.  We even run into them on Ancestry for our ancestors. But it appears to be an underutilized tool. Perhaps, we don't know the depth of information hidden in these rather simple taxes. Plus, applied taxes were not uniform, so for every ancestor, you needed to know the laws of the time in "that" locale. 

• Place of residency and location based on years can fill in the census gaps. Tax lists provide exact locations, including townships or counties, year by year. In areas where census or church records are missing, tax rolls may be the only surviving documentation placing your ancestor in a time and place.
• Economic Status & Property Ownership. We must corroborate data to prove we are tracing the same person with a common name (ie, Ann McMahan, John Smith, Samuel Thompson). What is an easier way to do this than proving property ownership via descriptions? Tax records provide a rough outline for our research plan. Often, tax records list land acreage, number of livestock, slaves (in the South), or household goods that can be cross-referenced by agricultural records and proven in tax records. It also gives insights into your ancestor's wealth or social class and may distinguish the planter Samuel Thompson from the small farm renter of the same name.
• Uncovering Age Hints.  In colonial and early American communities, tax lists often show militia service, civic roles, or jury duty by association. A poll tax list may indicate those eligible for voting or military service, which often provides an age range. Following tax lists year to year may pinpoint when a son became of age. 
  The "tick mark census records paired with tax records, can assist in identifying children, specifically males in the household. It may also prove or disprove a suggestion that multiple families were living in the same house. I love analyzing poll taxes for this purpose. 
• Family Connections. Families often appear together or near one another on tax rolls, helping you link relatives or identify neighbors who may be kin by marriage or association. It can also identify or suggest your ancestor's religion based on the community they settled in or their migratory path. As we analyze tax records annually, changes over the years (e.g., son replacing father on tax lists) can hint at deaths, inheritance, or generational shifts.
  
• Occupation or Trade. Some taxing records specify types of property or licenses (like mills, taverns, or distilleries), shedding light on how your ancestor earned a living.

6 Types of Tax Records
(but there are more!)

Tax Checklist for a3Genealogy

Recently, Heather Jenkins, a guest on Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen, the brickwall genealogy podcast, gave listeners an overview with examples of how she uncovers information in tax records. So let's talk about the ones she covered. She suggests you begin with the following: 

1. Poll taxes
2. Land taxes
3. Property taxes

Colonial Times' Taxing Practices. For Colonial Times, you will want to check out the local jurisdiction at that time. I find poll taxes very useful, especially in colonial times. Prior to the USA stripping women of voting rights, women were able to vote in early colonial times. Here's a blog post that discusses this: Genealogy Hints on Poll Tax & Voter Registration Docs, 5 Nov 2024

      4. Colonial Personal Property Tax Records, 1782 - 1786
      5. Tithable Taxes and Rent Rolls pre 1782.

1760 Memorandum List of Tithables

    6. Excise Tax: Again, this tax was since colonial times.

Podcast: Heather Jenkins mentioned billiard tables,

ancestry.com, Connecticut, U.S., Excise Tax Lists, 1865-1874 for Elite Billiard Rm.

We know about the molasses, rum, and sugar in the Sugar Act of 1764. It also included alcohol (Whiskey Rebellion, PA 1794), tobacco, luxury items like salt, and carriages. We can even see billiard tables, as Heather mentioned on the podcast! (FHL #007846292)

Billiard Tables, FamilyHistory

We see what is deemed luxury and taxed later: playing cards, cosmetics, gunpowder, etc. Imported goods from India and Europe were also taxed. We also see luxury taxes placed on playing cards, cosmetics, and gunpowder.

You may uncover Excise Tax lists from online databases (familysearch.org, ancestry.com, or fold3), but these records may also be found in the NARA (RG5 8), State Archives, and Historical Societies. And don't forget the Library of Congress.

Unfamiliar and need a primer?
Here are a few great information articles:

• Using Early Tax List for Genealogy in KY, VA, and TN
  (If you see broken links, just let me know.) 
• Historical Tax List at Ancestry Family History Learning Hub

Researchers may also see "Rent-Rolls." Even within a colony, tithables were not consistent. Some included free African Americans householders, others did not; some colonies used the head of household, but others used different criteria. Tithables per colony, and even within the colonies, were not applied uniformly. Here are a few resources:

Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892
Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801
Tennessee, U.S., Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895
Ohio, U.S., Tax Records, 1800-1850

 

8 More Revolutionary War Resources

American Revolutionary Museum 

1. 6 Steps Revolutionary War Era Research
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2024/09/who-are-parents.html
   
   
2. Women Legally Voted in Revolutionary Era
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary
   
   
3. 1-2-3 Researching Revolutionary War Veteran - Virginia / Kentucky
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2015/05/1-2-3-researching-revolutionary-war.html
   
   
   
   
4. Identifying Revolutionary War Era Parents
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2010/08/back-to-basics-on-identifying.html
   
   
5. African American Revolutionary War Soldiers
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2018-03-20T10:24:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-date=false 
   
   
6. Canadian Connection to American Revolution? (Loyalists) 
   5 Resources to Researching Your Loyalist (Tory)
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2018-03-20T10:24:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-date=false
   

   

   
   
7. Revolutionary War Research - Ridiculous Mistakes
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2024/03/revolutionary-war-research-ridiculous.html
   
   
8. Revolutionary War Era Artifacts
   https://blog.a3genealogy.com/search?q=revolutionary&updated-max=2013-02-28T13:32:00-06:00&max-results=20&start=14&by-date=false
   
   
   

 

Partners: Forensic Genealogy & Neuropsychology

 

In 2023, I joined a groundbreaking think tank exploring the intersection of forensic genealogy and neuropsychology. How do these two distinct fields work together to solve complex cases and to better understand human behavior?

            

 Early clinical, neuropsychological and imaging findings
                     Brain, Volume 123, Issue 5, May 2000, Pages 975–991

Brain

Forensic Genealogy has revolutionized how we uncover identities, solve mysteries, and tell forgotten stories. 

Neuropsychology, on the other hand, focuses on the brain’s relationship to behavior and cognitive function. At first glance, these two fields may seem worlds apart.  Most people "cock" their heads with bewilderment, as to how these two displines intersect. But, in today’s world of interdisciplinary collaboration, their intersection is both natural and necessary.

By combining the precision of DNA science analyzed by forensic genealogists with the insights of brain science, we can approach forensic challenges with greater sensitivity, accuracy, and humanity. It's not just about solving puzzles; it's about doing so in a way that honors people and the families affected.

Where the Fields Meet

1.  Memory and Identity:

This book connected me with one of my favorite neuropsychology cases. As mentioned, it was a think-tank. The first lesson learned as the forensic genealogist on the team was 

"Psychogenealogy is NOT Neuropsychology plus Genealogy."

 (Whatever you do, don't confuse these terminologies with neuropsychologists in the room.)

The warning was strong and repeated about 5 times in the first meeting. I kept thinking, "Are you sure?" What's with the repeated warnings? They were VERY adamant and consistent in sharing: 

Psychogenealogy is NOT Neuropsychology plus Genealogy."

It appears Psychogenealogy was too foo-foo for this group. I get it. But, I was fascinated anyway. Personally I see both the reason for the merging tendency and the fascination of both. 

Case #1: Trauma and Lost Memories
Neuropsychology helps us understand how memories are formed, stored, and sometimes lost. In forensic genealogy, especially in cases of adoption, unknown parentage, or trauma, understanding the workings of memory can offer crucial context for missing or fragmented family histories.

Imagine Maria, a 52-year-old woman searching for her birth parents. DNA testing led us to several strong matches, but Maria had very few childhood memories, and almost none from her early years in foster care.

Neuropsychology teaches us that early trauma can disrupt memory formation. Therefore, gaps in her recollections are expected. In this case, forensic genealogy leaned heavily on genetic triangulation and archival research to reconstruct her family story, while neuropsychological insights could guide therapeutic approaches to support Maria’s emotional processing of her newly uncovered history.

The forensic genealogist builds the external factual story using DNA matches, documents, and genetic triangulation to reconstruct Maria’s biological family. The neuropsychologist interprets internal cognitive patterns (e.g., why Maria doesn’t remember things, or why recalling them now causes distress).

Usually, the next question asked is: How do these two disciplines interact as a team in Case 1? 
They’re directly collaborating: the genealogist informs therapeutic work, and the neuropsychologist guides how genealogical findings are introduced. The neuropsychologist might request specific genealogical findings (like birth order, early caregivers, etc.) to fill in emotional gaps that help memory recovery or therapy.

Case #2: Trauma and Family Secrets

BBC, Aug 2024

Families often bury difficult histories. 
Let's take James, a 30-year-old man, as an example. James came to us after finding a mysterious DNA match listed as "half-sibling." His family had never mentioned another child. Digging deeper, we found that during a particularly stressful time in James’ mother's life, a period marked by severe depression,  she had placed a child for adoption.

The forensic genealogist confirmed the biological relationship and uncovered the adoption history through DNA analysis and records. Due to James' and his family's reaction when he reached out to the forensic genealogist (me), a neuropsychologist was engaged to support James' and his family's emotional reactions while the genealogist provided the verified facts.

This is part of the forensic genealogist's job. We don't just "hand over" shocking information. We may have to coordinate with a neuropsychologist to prepare the family emotionally. In James' case his mother had suppressed that time in her life. 

Case #3: Cognitive Bias and DNA Analysis

What we learned early with DNA, is the attachment people have to their "presumed" heritage. "I'm Native American." "I'm Irish." "I'm German." "There's no way I'm Jewish, I was raised Catholic." Oh my, we've heard it all. So let's review the case of Robert, who believed he was Irish. His DNA results placed him with a high percentage of Eastern European ancestry. Yes, Robert struggled emotionally to accept the graphic! It didn't help that it was in March!

As genealogists, we work with data. Of course, there are theories of how biases are formed, but we look at historical documents, cultural and community influences, and political and social impacts for a sketch of our ancestors' choices. Neuropsychologists, on the other hand,  are experts at examining how cognitive biases form. 

 

In the case involving Robert,  I interpreted this new evidence through the lens of what I already believed. Our neuropsychological partner shifted my practice to better present our genealogical findings to Robert and others who were loyal to their family's "folklore." The strong suggestion was to focus on the fascinating story behind migration patterns rather than simply proving Robert was wrong. 

Whereas the forensic genealogist who identifies and documents ancestry based on genetic evidence and historical data, our neuropsychologist partner advised us on cognitive biases causing Robert's resistance. It took Robert's case to recognize the level of identity people hold due to folklore. It's real! So, instead of pushing raw facts, we integrate new information.  

Robert was eventually able to accept a new self-narrative.

Case #4. Ethical Implications in Unidentified Remains Cases
At a3Genealogy we do not work to identify "Jane Doe" or on cold cases. We are, however, familiar with neuropsychologists who have worked on these cases. 

Our forensic genealogy work is concentrated on working with lawyers, bankers, and investigative agencies. Our forensic genealogy work allows us to evaluate the accuracy of facts and to identify genealogically related holes in legal cases before the lawyers go to trial or court. 

One such case involved two sisters who wanted to prove they were fathered by an extremely wealthy man. Their mother had worked for this man's family business, and their DNA proved they were not their "father's" daughters, but DNA pointed them to this business owner. However, the family of impressive wealth smelled a "rat" and would not take a DNA test to prove or disprove they were half-siblings. We could see a family relationship using DNA, and they were connected to 2nd cousins,  but the law is explicit. The attorneys needed to prove, without a reasonable doubt, that they were fathered by the one brother who worked with their Mom (whom they suspected). The DNA cousin matches proffered was not within the constraints of the law. Any of the four brothers could have fathered the sisters. 

Note: Most jurisdictions require that inheritance rights be proven through close relatives - spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and their descendants. 

Forensic genealogists don't just "solve the case"; they work alongside neuropsychologists to ethically and compassionately deliver results that profoundly affect real people's lives.

Original 27 Jun 2023

Article Sep 2024

Updated 1 May 2025