Evaluating Court Testimonies as Genealogical Evidence
The Genealogical Proof Standard includes “(a) a reasonably exhaustive search in reliable sources for all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question[.]”[1] Court records are generally considered “reliable sources,” but what of the testimonies recorded in court cases, particularly when they conflict? Is it possible to properly evaluate their reliability?
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About Author
Aaron Goodwin
Aaron Goodwin is a genealogist and house historian specializing in New York City research across all time periods, from the Dutch colonial era to the 20th century. He is the author of New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians, which won the National Genealogical Society’s 2017 Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources. He is also editor of NGS Monthly, former editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, and former contributing editor of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. In 2011, he received the American Society of Genealogists’ Scholar Award.