PROOFTRAIL
Genealogy Research Report
Fictional demonstration case. No living person or real client is represented.
Research objective
Determine whether the William Carter recorded in the 1910 household of Samuel Carter is the same person who married Clara Ellis in 1917.
Summary of conclusion
The available evidence supports the conclusion that the two records refer to the same William Carter. The conclusion is based on consistent age, birthplace, occupation, residence, and the appearance of the same sibling as a marriage witness.
Sources consulted
- 1910 United States census, Carter household, River County.
- 1917 Carter–Ellis county marriage record and witness entry.
- 1920 United States census, William and Clara Carter household.
- County directory entries for 1914 through 1918.
Evidence correlation
| Point | 1910 record | 1917–1920 records |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 | Consistent birth range |
| Occupation | Railroad laborer | Railroad fireman |
| Associates | Brother James in household | James Carter witnessed marriage |
Conflict and limitation
The marriage record gives William's birthplace as Kentucky while later census records report Tennessee. Because birthplace information may have been supplied by different informants, this conflict reduces certainty but does not outweigh the combined identity evidence.
Recommended next actions
- Obtain the original marriage-license application if it survives.
- Search railroad employment records for an exact birth date and next of kin.
- Locate obituaries for William and James Carter to test the sibling link.