While getting records from various sources is one way of getting the information that you want, there are also various ways in which you can get hints about your genealogy. Heirlooms are definitely one way in which you can get hints about your ancestors. Overlooking antiques that are present in the house and items that seem to have been passed down generations are clues towards your ancestors and their lifestyle too. These can give you an idea of their social status, likes, tastes and also the time period that they lived.

Some of the antiques that are used to obtain clues about ancestors include clothing, furniture, jewelry, books and manuscripts and toys and collectibles. If you find a military uniform in the chest you may be able to identify the specific regiment that the ancestor worked for and then go ahead and get some military records to get details of that ancestor.

The kind of jewelry and the amount indicates the social status of the ancestors. In addition to that many precious jewelry pieces were engraved with the initials of the owner of the piece. Jewelry was also given off as awards and sometimes holds the details of the reason for the award too. They can also be clues to a birth, wedding or a graduation.

Letters, books and manuscripts are probably the most prized form of heirloom with regards to genealogists. These contain tons of information about the kind of person the ancestor was. In addition to that, they may also hold information about specific events in the family too.