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INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY RESEARCHING
Foreword
Over the past few years I have received numerous genealogy-related emails via
the Carey Genealogy Hub. While some are specific to my own line, others are from
beginners who are trying to start their research, but don't know where to begin.
I am by no means an expert on genealogy. However, through my own experience, and
just as importantly with the help of others, I've picked up a some general hints,
best practices, and general approaches that have proved very beneficial.
I usually pass these on to those emailing me for help on an individual basis.
However, it has occurred to me that recreating and honing my replies into an
article for the website might be easier and more beneficial for others.
This article is a work in progress. It has been in the works for a long time,
as other obligations have continuously intruded on its progress. But it's finally
now at a stage where it is formatted and somewhat cohesive. Hopefully it will
prove of value to those who are just getting started on the path of detective work
and analysis that is genealogy research. Comments, suggestions and requests are
always welcome.
Andrew Carey, January 2006.
Introduction
Researching one's family history can often be a daunting and somewhat confusing
task for new genealogists. With the advent of the Internet there is a phenominal
number of resources out there. However, finding sites that are easy to use and
inexpensive, not to mention knowing when to use them, is tricker than it may first
appear.
Where do I start?
In addition, for the rookie genealogist there is the dilema of where they should
start. It is very tempting to grab a few nuggets of family folklore and dive straight
into the World Wide Web. However, such a tactic often yields nothing but frustration
and disappointment.
The best strategy is to start close to home and gather as much information as you
can from your living ancestors. Parents, grandparents, and great uncles and aunts are
often a fount of useful information on one's family origins and earlier ancestors.
Even if their memories are a little rusty or their knowledge of dates, places and names
is not complete, their information is often priceless.
Also, check for existing family history documents. There is a strong chance that you
weren't the first person in your family to do some genealogical detective work. More
often than one might suspect someone else has noted down some ancestral details in
letters, essays, a family bible, or some other long-forgotten document. Not to mention
birth, marriage and death certificates.
Analysing your spoils
The next step is to go through your newly acquired data and join the dots. Start with
yourself and any siblings you may have, and then add your parents and their siblings.
At this point you will probably have to make a decision: which side of the family should
I research first? Mum or dad?
That decision is totally up to you, although it may be more useful to choose the side
with the larger amount of data. If you have more information on your mother's ancestors
the chances are you will find research easier, which is obviously more rewarding for the
beginner. And bearing in mind that you are just starting out.
Once you've decided which parent to initially focus on you should move further back by
charting that parent's parents (your grandparents). Those decisions on which side of the
family to research will of course continue, and just as with that first step the decision
is up to you. However, bear in mind that as a beginner you may want to take the easiest
route for now, so it may be best to go for the branch with the most data available.
Also, be wary of personal accounts that have no hard evidence to back them up. Grandad might
be the nicest guy in the world, and he might be a veritable fountain of knowledge, but anyone
can get things wrong. Furthermore, family stories have a habit of spreading and sometimes
evolving to incorporate new and exotic details. And even if several extended family members
recite the same stories verbatim, remember that the truth depends on facts, and not on
popularity.
This last aspect is critical, but often over-looked in genealogy research. As a general
rule, only sign off on a story, date, name or relationship if it's supported by factual data.
No matter how exciting, exotic, or convincing it seems. True genealogy is about ascertaining
the truth, not a fabrication of one's ancestors.
Genealogy philosophies
As with any type of research, there are multiple approaches that one can take. In genealogy
there are really two fundamental ways of researching one's family: the gradual expansion,
and the framework construction.
The former involves methodically collecting and documenting progressively earlier
generations. Only when you've researched a generation in detail does one move back to the
generation that immediately preceded it.
The latter approach is more common. It involves noting the basics of each ancestor and
adding them to a minimal tree diagram. Once one has gone as far back as superficial
research will allow, one then fills in the details of those documented ancestors.
Again, which approach you take comes down to personal choice, and the breadth of material
available to you. Choose the method that stimulates you the most.
Choosing your resources
Once you've interviewed your senior family members, and documented their knowledge, it's
time to delve into the widely available genealogy archives and start the detective work.
Because the way in which information was stored changed around the beginning of the
twentieth century there is quite a distinct boundary in where next to look and what you
should look for. Population tracking, especially in the United Kingdom was based heavily
on census information from 1841 to the late 1800s.
If your new-found family knowledge takes you back to the end of the 19th century (the
1890s) or beyond you have a few more avenues open to you. You can either head off to the
nearest national public records office to look up some birth, marriage and census records,
or you can hop on to the Internet. For UK genealogists it may be more worthwhile to
research census or parish information if you are looking within the 1840 to 1900 period.
Where possible it's preferable to base your new family tree off census and parish records
from your public records office as this data will be the most reliable.
If your research is stuck in the twentieth century you will probably need to head off
to the nearest national public records office and look up your earliest known ancestors.
The North American, British and Canadian public records offices should be pretty comprehensive.
The Irish offices will be less so, but still detailed and valuable. The level of information
in offices in other countries may vary. If you can find details on your ancestors from the
twentieth century and trace their family back into the nineteenth century then you are
ready to widen your search. You could try continuing your research in the records office,
although you may find the success rate dwindles away the further back you go. Still,
where possible look in the public records office first.
Climbing on to the Net
If you can't get to the public records office of your ancestor's country, or if the
information contained therein has trailed off, your next move is to look on the
Internet. In addition to being a great source of genealogy data, the Internet is also
a fantastic place to meet fellow researchers and distant relations, who you can work
with to map out common ancestry.
The best place to begin your search is at the LDS
Family Search Website. This site contains a vast library of genealogy records from all
over the world and is free for everyone to use thanks to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormons). Obviously, the individuals found in this archive are slated
towards pioneering American settlers and the American midwest, but they also contain a
surprisingly deep store of international and non-Mormon information. Included in their database
is the large IGI (International Genealogy Index) collection. There are some repeatitions and
inaccuracies in the IGI library, but it still contains reliable records on literally
millions of individuals from all over the world, and is thus well worth a look.
North American genealogists have a wider range of good resources available to
them. For geneologists from different parts of the world other family history
resources are a little thinner on the ground. However, they are still there.
For UK researchers an excellent place to look is at the
Free UK BMD website.
The National
Archives is also a good source. Although for census information you are best off
going straight to Ancestry.co.uk,
which actually hosts the census information. Be warned: you may be required to pay
a small fee for this information.
Conclusion
The task of tracing one's ancestry can seem daunting to a beginner, but don't be
deterred! In most cases the information is out there just waiting for you to find
it. Approach the challenge with open eyes, an open mind, and a strategy, and you will
succeed. Most importantly, don't give up! Every genealogist encounters apparently
insurmountable hurdles: some when they arejust starting out, and some after a good
base of information has been established. But more often than not careful analysis and
dogged perserverance will bring you the answers you seek.
Happy hunting!
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