Neighbors & Networks: Using Witnesses in German Records

Who witnessed your ancestor’s wedding or stood as a godparent at a baptism? And if they’re not directly related to you, why are they important? These names are often ignored in research, but they can hold the key to solving tough genealogical puzzles. In this lecture, RootsTech favorite Andrea Bentschneider will show you how to turn witnesses and sponsors in German records into powerful leads, uncover migration routes, build extended family trees, and understand the community that shaped your ancestors lives. You will learn strategies to analyze witness patterns and track these connections between your ancestors across records. Don’t miss out on learning how to build an understanding of your ancestors’ social networks to create a clearer picture of their lives in the past.