Ladies & Gentlemen: There are three types of accepted "proof." 1) Primary Sources 2) Secondary Sources 3) Circumstantial Sources 1) Primary Sources: Vital Records (birth, marriage and death certificates) Church records Bible records which provide relationships Marriage bonds and licenses Deeds Probate records, Guardianships or orphan’s court records Military or pension records Cemetery and morticians records (usually for deaths) Contemporary Family letters and diaries (contemporary, means containing time of the Event) 2) Secondary Sources: County or town histories Family Genealogies (published only) Federal or state census records Newspaper obituaries Newspaper marriage accounts Photos or photocopies of gravestone inscriptions (gs photo) Affidavits (depending on time period) 3) Circumstantial Sources: Circumstantial evidence is that which does not state any family relationship, but leaves it to be inferred, or pieced together, in conjunction with other bits of evidence. Best wishes, Ed Sherman (SC) To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html