Here's How To Get Started Researching Your Family Tree
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By The Tree Shaker-
The first and most common one is the family group sheet, which can be downloaded off the Internet by searching Google for family group sheets. You will end up using lots of these.
You will make one family group sheet for everyone in your family. Again, start with yourself and write down all of your information. After you complete the sheet for yourself, you will need to complete a sheet for your parents, adding your siblings. Make sure to add birth, marriage and even death dates and locations.
In genealogy, dates are usually written day, month then year instead of the common month, day, year.
Keep working back as far as you can before starting to ask family members for information. When writing down a woman’s name on your family group sheet, make sure to use her maiden name. I usually put surnames in capital letters so it stands out more when, later, you search for a particular person or surname.
The second form that is handy to use, especially when going to a different location to research, is the pedigree chart. It gives you a basic outline of your family tree with details of the generations but not the children of these generations.
One of the most common mistakes in genealogy research is not staying organized from the beginning. Staying organized from the beginning is very crucial otherwise, you will be overloaded with papers and will not know where to find anything.
There are many different ways you can organize genealogy research. Some have used filing cabinets and made files for each surname they are researching. I use three-ring binders and get sheet protectors to make sure the pages do not get damaged.
Some people, when they use binders, start with the older generations at the top and the younger generations toward the bottom of the binder. I have seen others that do it the opposite way. It does not really matter which way you choose as long as you understand which way it is organized.
Another common mistake a lot of people make is to not source your research. It’s one thing when you know the information and did not have to use the Internet, the library or a family member. Later on there may be someone who is interested in looking through your genealogy research. Whether on the Internet or in person, they may be able to help you fill in some of the blanks. One may even notify you that some of the information is not valid if you have your family tree online.
Some get copies of birth, marriage and death certificates. These can be purchased at the local courthouse, where your ancestor is from or where the event took place. The person being researched must be deceased, and there is a cost for copies.
Genealogy research can be very addicting and fun, but it also can be a very expensive hobby. It just depends on how much you want to put into this new hobby. You can put into it as much or as little as you want.
[[In-content Ad]]
The first and most common one is the family group sheet, which can be downloaded off the Internet by searching Google for family group sheets. You will end up using lots of these.
You will make one family group sheet for everyone in your family. Again, start with yourself and write down all of your information. After you complete the sheet for yourself, you will need to complete a sheet for your parents, adding your siblings. Make sure to add birth, marriage and even death dates and locations.
In genealogy, dates are usually written day, month then year instead of the common month, day, year.
Keep working back as far as you can before starting to ask family members for information. When writing down a woman’s name on your family group sheet, make sure to use her maiden name. I usually put surnames in capital letters so it stands out more when, later, you search for a particular person or surname.
The second form that is handy to use, especially when going to a different location to research, is the pedigree chart. It gives you a basic outline of your family tree with details of the generations but not the children of these generations.
One of the most common mistakes in genealogy research is not staying organized from the beginning. Staying organized from the beginning is very crucial otherwise, you will be overloaded with papers and will not know where to find anything.
There are many different ways you can organize genealogy research. Some have used filing cabinets and made files for each surname they are researching. I use three-ring binders and get sheet protectors to make sure the pages do not get damaged.
Some people, when they use binders, start with the older generations at the top and the younger generations toward the bottom of the binder. I have seen others that do it the opposite way. It does not really matter which way you choose as long as you understand which way it is organized.
Another common mistake a lot of people make is to not source your research. It’s one thing when you know the information and did not have to use the Internet, the library or a family member. Later on there may be someone who is interested in looking through your genealogy research. Whether on the Internet or in person, they may be able to help you fill in some of the blanks. One may even notify you that some of the information is not valid if you have your family tree online.
Some get copies of birth, marriage and death certificates. These can be purchased at the local courthouse, where your ancestor is from or where the event took place. The person being researched must be deceased, and there is a cost for copies.
Genealogy research can be very addicting and fun, but it also can be a very expensive hobby. It just depends on how much you want to put into this new hobby. You can put into it as much or as little as you want.
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092