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