Introduction
The purpose of creating the original database was to give the researcher an easily searchable, alphabetical report of individuals. The database report consists of four columns; starting with surname, given name (or a place keeper - see third paragraph below); followed by columns for birth date, death date and name of father, when known. Over time, the number of individuals increased, and that, coupled with expanded research, resulted in the natural dividing of the database into two parts (Mainland Lincolns Database and Hawaiian Lincolns Database). This was done in conjunction with the development of and printing of the two Lincoln family histories - Volume I for "Mainland Lincolns", published in 2008; and Volume II for "Hawaiian Lincolns", published in 2015. This website chapter was created January 2018 to make the two databases available to any who are interested.
Since printing the three books, considerable information has surfaced. With that, arose the issue of how to update a static object, like a book. The databases provide a partial answer. (Adding a Corrections link to Doc Lincoln, Nedabiah Lincoln Sr and Lorenzo Lincoln has also helped address this issue.) By posting the two databases and doing updates, any researcher can review them for additional names or information. If more information is desired please contact the author ([email protected]) regarding available details for that person.
As of this update, the two databases contain over 10,000 indexed people. However, not all known people have known identities. For example - the wife of Mr and Mrs Bill Jones did or does exist but her given and maiden surname are not known, therefore she is indexed as --- ----- (three dashes followed by five dashes). In a similar fashion, the wife of Bill and Jane Jones exists but is indexed as Jane ----- since her maiden surname is not known.
A comment about abbreviations is also of value, three are used in relation to date fields. Abt (about) is used with a date which is not definite but close enough to be of research value. Bfe (before) is used for an event to help in framing it for research purposes. Aft (after) is used in a similar fashion as a counterpoint to the Bfe abbreviation. Further rules are explained at the beginning of each database.
Another, and major, data source should be mentioned. Each indexed individual has their own "Individual Records" file which includes several sub files for name, birth, marriage and death data, wife(s), each child etc; one of these files is for "Notes". Thus 10,000 people have 10,000 "Notes" files that MAY contain further data. These files have been used to record information AND non indexed names associated with that indexed person. It is my conservative estimate that the current individual notes files contain the names of an additional fifteen to twenty thousand people, or more. This is NOT unreasonable – if half the indexed people (5,000) have data of only 4 non-indexed family members (obituaries alone often contain 8 or more names) then that is 20,000 new or different people! Such a volume negates posting; however, information about individuals is available from the author.
Since printing the three books, considerable information has surfaced. With that, arose the issue of how to update a static object, like a book. The databases provide a partial answer. (Adding a Corrections link to Doc Lincoln, Nedabiah Lincoln Sr and Lorenzo Lincoln has also helped address this issue.) By posting the two databases and doing updates, any researcher can review them for additional names or information. If more information is desired please contact the author ([email protected]) regarding available details for that person.
As of this update, the two databases contain over 10,000 indexed people. However, not all known people have known identities. For example - the wife of Mr and Mrs Bill Jones did or does exist but her given and maiden surname are not known, therefore she is indexed as --- ----- (three dashes followed by five dashes). In a similar fashion, the wife of Bill and Jane Jones exists but is indexed as Jane ----- since her maiden surname is not known.
A comment about abbreviations is also of value, three are used in relation to date fields. Abt (about) is used with a date which is not definite but close enough to be of research value. Bfe (before) is used for an event to help in framing it for research purposes. Aft (after) is used in a similar fashion as a counterpoint to the Bfe abbreviation. Further rules are explained at the beginning of each database.
Another, and major, data source should be mentioned. Each indexed individual has their own "Individual Records" file which includes several sub files for name, birth, marriage and death data, wife(s), each child etc; one of these files is for "Notes". Thus 10,000 people have 10,000 "Notes" files that MAY contain further data. These files have been used to record information AND non indexed names associated with that indexed person. It is my conservative estimate that the current individual notes files contain the names of an additional fifteen to twenty thousand people, or more. This is NOT unreasonable – if half the indexed people (5,000) have data of only 4 non-indexed family members (obituaries alone often contain 8 or more names) then that is 20,000 new or different people! Such a volume negates posting; however, information about individuals is available from the author.
Updated 02/26/22