1.  Primary evidence from vital statistics, courthouse or other government records;
              church and school records; etc., are usually considered to be beyond doubt and
              excellent proof.

         2.  Secondary evidence such as census records, newspaper clippings, Bible or other
             family records, old letters, etc.  relating to the ancestor to be proved, and are
             CONTEMPORY TO THE FACTS REPORTED, are considered authentic and
             constitute proof.    If using Bible pages, a copy of the  page with the published
             date of the Bible should also be included.

         3.  Circumstantial evidence, implied facts, or hearsay, unless supported by primary
              or secondary evidence is not considered as acceptable proof.

         4.  Oral, written or published family traditions are often wrong and cannot be
              accepted as proof.

         5.  Printed or manuscript genealogies, genealogical records, or genealogical
              compilations are NOT accepted as proof unless they are well documented and
              proved  in themselves, or unless supported by other acceptable proof.  Family
              group sheets and unsupported information from a genealogist (professional or
              amateur) are considered in this context as genealogies not acceptable as proof
              without supporting documentation.

         6.  Documents used as proof must, either by themselves, or in conjunction with other
              acceptable documents, actually state the fact to be proved.  If the document
              merely implies the fact, this is NOT considered proof.
                     Example:  The expression “heirs” or “heirs-at-law” used in some estates
                          indicates different things in different states, and at different times,
                          and is not necessarily a proof of direct descent.  If such a statement
                          is to be used as proof of direct descent, the applicant must supply a
                          copy of the inheritance law of the state showing that, at the year
                          proving document was dated, it was proof of descent “in the blood   line”.

         7.  Old letters, family records, etc. can be accepted as proof for only the facts the
              writer of the record or letter would logically know, of his own knowledge. They
              cannot be accepted as proof for facts the writer could only have obtained by
              hearsay from older generations or other sources.  Identification of the writer and
              proof of the date of the letter or record is required.  This rule applies to county
              histories and other published biographies.  The biographee (who probably gave
              the information to the biographer) must have been able to know the fact himself.

         8.  Land transactions (deeds, grants, warrants, etc.) can only be accepted as
             evidence of settlement in Little River County if the record actually states
             that the individual was “of Little River County”, and is dated during the appropriate time.

         9.  A tax list is usually a record of taxes levied in the previous year, and
              therefore could prove residence in that previous year, if the individual is shown as a
              resident.

         10.  Female ancestors must be proved as individuals by their maiden name.  Maiden
               names obtained from family, marriage or church records, obituaries, etc. in
               conjunction with a deed showing: (1) her married name with
               her husband’s; and (2) their place of residence as Little River County, would
               constitute proof of a female ancestor.