Tag: genealogy

Genealogy 101 – Part 2

Today we are going to touch on your ancestral chart. Before we do that you need to know how to track the information that goes on this chart.

While it is easiest for researchers that are confined to pull information from Ancestry, Family Search, Heritage and other data bases. You have to remember that the information is only as good as the person entering that data. In other words if there is not a link to an actual document, like a birth certificate or census, then that link is unverified. So, how do we verify it?

Place yourself for a moment in my shoes thirty plus years ago. I did my family group sheets for my parents and grandparents parents and then it was a drive to the local courthouse. The Register Of Deeds and the Clerk of Court’s office became like a second home and here’s why.

From the Register of Deeds I obtained copies of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage registers and license. You would use the information from these to complete your family group sheets. The family group sheets help to build the Ancestrial Chart.

Here’s a peep at the chart.

Write yourself into #1 spot where it says Ancestors Of …. Beside 2. Enter your father’s name, birth date written as dd Sep yr, W where, D date of death written same as dob. Again enter location at W. M is for the marriage date and again W for location. Drop down to spot 3 and enter your Mother’s information. You are the first generation, your parents are the second. Continue in the same manner across to the last column. This particular sheet does not have it but on the top left hand corner you should write Chart ____ then under that 1 on this chart = _____ o chart #_____. The purpose for that is your next chart will be for the person at 32 on the first page will become 1 on chart to so you can build that person’s family Are you totally confused now?

When you get the hang of this chart you will then continue on your search. Wills and estate information you will find at the clerk of court’s office. Then there are graveyards that always prove to be interesting. The older stones a lot of time would also give family member names for instance…John Doe son of Charles and Heather Doe complete with dates. Most stones of the last 80+ years only have the departed information.

Now that you are overwhelmed, I will continue in the next blog with more resources to help you dig your own roots.

God bless your journey.

Genealogy 101

Last year I briefly touched on Genealogy. Here’s more of the meat of the subject. I never knew when I first started my journey some thirty plus years ago that I would still be working on this. Yes there have been time I just pushed it aside to do other things but I somehow keep coming back to this huge puzzle.

If you are not familiar with the subject watch the movie “Roots”. While there is a lot in the movie I don’t agree with and some down right untruths, it is what initially motivated me to explore my own roots. It was how they conducted the search that interested me.

Fortunately for me our local community college that has a library dedicated to genealogy and family history. Lets begin at the beginning. Let me just say, if you plan on just using Ancestry or one of the other online sites they are helpful but you won’t find everything there. I started my search before Ancestry went online so I went to a lot of courthouse and walked a lot of graveyards.

Here are some great links to begin your research: 

Welcome to NGS’s Free Genealogy Resources

This site is great for beginners and has downloadable forms you can print. One in particular you will need is the family group sheet. This site gives a lot of detail. You also might want to visit the following sites

https://www.ancestry.com,https://www.cyndislist.com and https://www.pdffiller.com/jsfiller-desk18/?flat_pdf_quality=low&mode=force_choice&requestHash=1a4b6441fad602df5076b9b3b8de4db4d7d87ff9a4af340a0a1a0769a64d6b4e&projectId=1441784578&loader=tips&MEDIUM_PDFJS=true&PAGE_REARRANGE_V2_MVP=true&richTextFormatting=true&isPageRearrangeV2MVP=true&jsf-page-rearrange-v2=true&LATEST_PDFJS=true&jsf-document-scroll-zoom=true&jsf-redesign-full=true&act-notary-pro-integration=false&jsf-dss-v2=false&routeId=e2eb102734cb1c24fb2836d9cc9bfab3#9b9794ea705f4efa9a21318c84c23213
This link will get you to an online fillable ancestry chart that you can either fill in online or print out and use. Also, https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy,https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-resources/50-free-genealogy-sites

You can begin now by filling out the following form:

The family group sheet is the first sheet you will need. Start with your family and complete as much information as you have then do one for your parents, grandparents, etc.

As you collect your data keep a research log to keep up with where you found the information.

If you appreciate this information and would like to start digging your own roots, don’t forget to like, share and follow for more tips and resources.

Have a great day.

Alphabet Challenge – G

Genealogy

I’ve touched on this subject in an earlier post. I have been a Genealogist for more than thirty years. I can tell you it is not something you ever finish.

Now that I am advanced in years and have other hobbies, I don’t get a chance to really get my teeth into it. Yes I used Ancestry and other websites for years but last year when Ancestry went up on their rates I decided it was a good time to break that connection.

While searching online is easy the connections are often inaccurate and can throw entire limbs of your tree off. What online searches don’t show you is where the information comes from. You can download documents from some sites but you will not get everything you need from one source.

You have to think of it like a treasure hunt. When you find the first link it just opens up more questions. As bizzare as it may sound, I have walked many miles across many graveyards to fine that one name that creates a link.

Still confused? Let me draw this out for you. A link is a relationship associated with a name…. Jane Does, second great grandmother, maternal (great, great, grandmother on your mother’s side). You start with your parents and document all you know about them and then your grandparents and their parents.

I have had my hands on documents that were more than four hundred years old. At the moment I have some lines that cross the ocean and some lines that have people who suddenly disappear. It’s a constant mystery. There is always something else to search..

If you are interested in starting your own search I can promise you it will be worth the time you invest in it.

Have an awesome weekend. Jesus loves you!

Family Scrapbook Digging Those Roots – Genealogy Part II

This is a picture of my Mother in her earlier days.

When I become frustrated with life and bored with everything else, I turn to my roots. Digging up roots that is. After more than thirty years genealogy still holds my attention. It is a puzzle that never ends. Oh you can stop at any time…but you never really complete it because there is always birth….and death.

Here are some of my ancestor, some I remember and some were just pictures that were found after ancestors moved on.

Now just names on brittle tombstones that only leave a hint into the past.
A Will that closes out the life of my Paternal Grandmother’s ancestor.
My Maternal Grandfather and his second wife. His first wife died at age 40.
These are my Maternal Great Grandparents.

While cleaning out the family home after my Mother’s passing we found there were boxes and boxes of photographs. It will be quite an undertaking to go through and scan these photographs. They won’t all be scanned but the important ones will be.

Once scanned they will be added to my Ancestry page. Unfortunately not all of the photos have Identification which is vital in genealogy. When you find a photo that can be identified write on the back of it with an archival pen/marker the date if you know that it was taken and who the person is in it. This should really be done to all photos as you take them.

For your actual research, start with the birth and death certificates of your parents. If deceased you will also need a copy of their Will and Estate records if possible. Locate as much information as possible on them including Deeds, Deeds of Trust, Land Grants, Divorce records, Adoption records, Bastardy Bonds, Marriage Bonds, and the list goes on.

While sites like Ancestry and Family Search are great don’t just stop there. A lot of the sites are paid sites including Ancestry but you can find valuable information through non-paid sites like Welcome to Cyndi’s List (cyndislist.com) which is a great site. This site has more than 300,000 links so you want to make use of this site. Not just American but also foreign links.

If you love puzzles you won’t find a greater puzzle than genealogy. If you need help getting started don’t hesitate to drop me a email with questions.

Have a great day.