Also, keep in mind that collateral relatives may be using the same given names that have been passed down through a family, and this can make for a confusing family tree when they live in close proximity. While these tales may contain clues and a grain of truth, they could also have been embellished, maybe to the point of becoming more of a fairy tale. Pick apart the information and analyze it separately. Assuming a Record Does Not Exist Just because you have searched an index or database and without finding the person you were looking for doesn't mean a record does not exist. Indexes and databases are by nature imperfect and often contain errors.
Misspellings can throw off a search, and omissions are a very real possibility.
When searching original records, bear in mind that sometimes records are misfiled, or maybe your ancestor's record was filed well after the date of the event, placing it where you would not expect to find it. Misspellings are a possibility here. My mother's name is misspelled on her own birth certificate. If you are searching a register, check at the end. If they ran out of room on the page designated for the Ss, you may find it continued at the end of the register.