Genealogy Research Guidance – Under construction

In the coming weeks we will provide some basic Family Tree Research tips and steps to get the beginner started in their research. Some key points to clarify are:

1. The researcher should not purchase or subscribe to any online Genealogy site until they need to. There is a lot to do before you begin paying and unless you know what you need to know, you will waste time and money unnecessarily.

2. Start by planning what it is you would like to know about your family tree. E.g. your family-name (Surname), family myths/stories, might there be anyone famous? Set some simple objectives. There are some researchers who will try and get you to follow ‘their’ way of doing the research, which may not be suitable to your way of thinking. If you ‘don’t have a clue where to start’ of course you will follow their guidance; just be aware that there may come a time when you want to do things differently to the way you are being guided, so please keep self aware and take the research on the route you wish to take. My advice is to speak to many researchers and see how they work, don’t limit yourself to just one guide.

3. A pencil/pen and paper will suffice. Write down on one sheet what you already know or have in your possession about your family. Start with yourself and add family members and at this stage, stick to simple facts i.e. Names, Relationships, Dates of Births, Christenings, Marriages; Places of Births, Marriages etc. Where possible, obtain copies of any information in Family Bibles, Address Books, Accounts, Certificates, School records, diaries, Family photographs and so on……

4. Talk to your relatives – has anyone else in your family already conducted or is conducting your family’s research? If so, is it worth liaising with them to consider sharing information, research tasks etc? Key Point: keep a record of ‘everything’ you find; later on when you analyse the information, you should be able to clarify and prove fact from fiction – stories may get embellished and added to over the years like Chinese Whispers. You need to have a method of sticking to the facts. Just because ‘someone said so’ doesn’t mean it is the truth/fact. E.g. I had a family story of a relation called Gilbert who died on the Somme. It turned out to be a Hubert who died at Passchendaele. There is no blame here, it is just what my ancestors were either told or not told at the time.

5. On another sheet of paper, A3 size is ideal, draw a simple family tree diagram starting with yourself and working backwards in time! this is a key point. (If you are proficient in using computers, consider a Graphics Pad and Pen. (I use an A3 Graphics pad to draw my family trees and once you become familiar with the process, I find it quick and easy to use. So much better than redrawing again and again with pen and paper)

6. As soon as you are able, contact the eldest members of your family and ask them if they will help you by telling you all they know about the family. If possible arrange to meet, and with their permission, use a video camera and capture the discussions; this will provide invaluable information at a later date but also you will be able to add actual video of your relations

7. Ask to see and obtain copies of any documents, photographs they have. Above all be respectful and patient; let them tell the story in their own way. You can always question them at a later date. Record everything regardless of how you regard its importance; later on it may be just the key to overcome a research problem

8. I now use my mobile phone camera to take images of documents using a Document Scanner Application. I have two Apps, one for scanning photographs/images etc. and another App to scan documents straight to PDF Format. These App make life so much easier to obtain copies of documents, which I later download to my laptop. (If you can embrace technology, the rewards are priceless)

9. Get Organised – decide on how you are going to store your information; electronically is best so search for a Genealogy software package that suits your needs. Be aware that before purchasing software, review it and ensure it fits your needs and the way it works agrees with your way of thinking. I looked at quite a few packages before I settled on Legacy9. I am not advertising  here, just that it suited me perfectly. I recommend you view several before making your choice.
When planning how you manage your research information, give some time to consider that in the future you may wish to present your research to your family or friends etc. So, ask yourself, how easy is if for ‘me’ to access the data/info and is it in a Format I can use? E.g. if you were to consider an electronic presentation using Powerpoint, or SWAY or similar tool or maybe you want to have a book published, can you easily get the data/info and where relevant into the program?

10. An essential tool is to keep a Journal – this will provide a valuable tool as your research grows Over time you may forget where you have visited either online websites or physical locations; it is a common issue where researchers have visited, say, a website, did some research only to find they have already done this some time ago. The Journal would contain e.g. Date, Time, Location i.e. web address or Postal address etc. What you searched for and what results where. This is different from returning to a site /location to check for any updates/changes. I keep an Excel Spreadsheet of all sites/locations I visited for research with the details mentioned earlier, date, results etc.

11. At a time suitable to you it is recommended joining a Family History Society – one that is relevant to you. E.g. my family originate from Dorset, so I joined the Dorset Family History Society. Most of research is in Dorset so it made sense for me. The society will offer you help, guidance and support as best they can and you will learn tips and skills from others.

12. To aid your research you will probably need to visit your Local library, county and national archives etc. Ensure you plan your visit and that the location actually holds the information you seek. I once visited the Dorchester Records Office to view documents (WILLS) that their website said they had) and was given (as it turned out bad advice) that the documents I wanted were held at The National Archives Kew London. I dutifully went to Kew only to find out that the documents were actually at Dorchester. (I contacted Dorchester Records Office and complained and had the employee advised accordingly). I then had to return to Dorchester. 436 miles of travel I didn’t actually need!

The following Family Relationship Chart will help you identify how family members are identified in the main group. To use the chart you need to have an idea of who the common ancestor is between you and the subject* (the other person*) E.g. if your Great Grandfather is the subjects Great Great Great Grandfather), place yourself at the ‘Self’ position; then work back one generation at a time (this is called the Ascendancy) until you reach your Great Grandfather.

Your Great Grandfather now becomes the subjects Great Great Great Grandfather, so now work from this person down the chart (this is called the Descendancy) until you find the route to the subject. This obviously requires knowledge of who the family members are. You could work from the subject and writing down who the father is; who the grandfather is etc.

From the Subject’s Great Great Great Grandfather (your Great Grandfather) take one generation down to the Great Great Grandfather (this will be your Grand Uncle/Aunt);
From the Great Great Grandfather take one generation down to the Great Grandfather (this will be your 1st Cousin 1st Removed);
From the Great Grandfather take one generation down to the Grandfather (this will be your 2nd Cousin);
From the Grandfather take one generation down to the father (this will be your 2nd Cousin 1st Removed);
From the father take one generation down to the subject (this will be your 2nd Cousin 2nd Removed);
You will see on the chart that the subject is your 2nd Cousin 2nd Removed.

First Cousins share a Grandparent
Second Cousins share a Great Grandparent
Third Cousins share a Great Great Grandparent
Fourth Cousins share a Great Great Great Grandparent

If the link between you and the subject is extended beyond the scope of this chart, you can easily extend the chart by following the pattern of the chart.

Family Relationship Chart

I hope this helps to get you started in your research. More will be added in due course.
Take your time! Accuracy not speed is the rule!

Good Hunting! 

Frequently Asked Questions: F.A.Q.s

What is the difference between genealogy and family history?
 “Genealogy” traces the descendants from one person; “family history” traces the ancestors of one person and includes information about their lives

What is the genealogy research method?
Genealogy research is the act of tracing ancestral history using official and unofficial records and archives; official being Births, Marriages, Death records and unofficial maybe a family document or stories handed down

How is genealogy traced?
The act of searching, locating documentation that is of accepted provenance; for example Births, Marriages, Deaths, WILLs and Probate records, Legal records such and Courts, Tax, Electoral Registers and much more

What is the study of family tree?
The act of searching for information about an individual, locating evidence of their existence, and building a pedigree chart which can then be developed into a more detailed collection of information