Genealogy

Tips from, Mary Carroll, the Mid-East Genealogist

One way to begin your genealogical work is to use the following steps.

  1. Organize your information.
  2. Remember your ancestors.
  3. Use sources in your home.
  4. Ask relatives for information.
  5. See if someone else has already found the information.
  6. Search records for information.

Organize your information
Keep your information in one place.  Preferably get forms or computer programs that you can use to record your family information. They make the task of recording and organizing easier. Get something to put the information into (briefcase, notebook, box, etc.)
If you prefer writing information on paper you can download or print free forms from familysearch.org web site.  A pedigree chart lets you list your pedigree (your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on).  A family group record lets you list an entire family and their information. You will need several copies of the forms.
If you prefer using a computer, either download the free program Personal Ancestral File from familysearch.org or install a family history program of your choice.


Remember Your Ancestors. 
Begin by remembering information that will identify that person for each member in your family.
Record the information you remember about your family on forms or in a computer program. First fill out forms for your own family, and then work back to your parents and grandparents. You can quickly see what you know and what information is missing or incomplete.  As you find things, carefully record their source and all of the pertinent information.  It is time consuming and expensive to have to revisit the same sources a second time.

Use Sources in Your Home.
Look for sources in your home that might contain your missing or incomplete family information.  Useful sources include birth, marriage, and death certificates; family bibles; funeral programs; obituaries; and wedding announcements.  Add this information to your pedigree charts and family group records.  Record the sources of the information (use the Notes or Sources section on the forms or in your family history program). This helps you and others know where the information came from.

Ask Relatives for Information.
Make a list of relatives and the family information they may have.  Contact these relatives (visit, call, write, or e-mail them).  Be sure to ask specifically for the information you would like. (For example, "Do you know when Aunt Jane was born?")  Add the information to your pedigree charts and family group records.  Record the names of the relatives who gave you the information in Notes or Sources.

See if Someone Else Has Already Found the Information.
Warning: A common mistake is to gather every reference to the surname even if the person is not clearly a relative. You will be swamped with information. 

Do the easiest, cheapest, most productive things first. 

  1. Talk to living relatives.
  2. Search the web using a search engine (such as Google) for family names – especially for those who were born over 100 years ago.  Many individuals have published their family genealogies and put them on the internet and one may include your ancestors.  Don’t waste your time doing individual research if the work has already been done by others.  Find it first. Do be wary of internet sites and double check the information.  Some sites have incorrect information. 
  3. Start looking in the other data bases and resources.  Many county libraries have free connections to many of the genealogical data bases or give you computer access if you do not have it.

Many of your questions can be answered free or for minimal cost if you just ask.  Librarians, town clerks, local and state historical societies, religious leaders, etc. are often very willing to respond to written requests for information.  Just writing a letter to a town clerk or local historical society often brings good results or a referral to some other person or organization which can help you.  Many resources are now listed on the internet in town or county web sites.  Historical Societies, cemeteries and local historians often have web-sites.  Use a search engine to look for them.

I will be happy to answer your questions if you e-mail me at mikey.carroll@verizon.net.

ANOTHER resource for Clan D ancestry hunters..."Genealogy for Beginners" - http://members.aol.com/rprost/new.html

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