Building a Family Tree - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

ways to find out personal characteristics

veggiemuffin — 2013-05-20 14:44:32Z

I'm now working on finding out more about my mother's "real" father. I started out knowing nothing but his name and South Bend, Indiana as his home. I've found most of the factual info, such as where he lived, his relatives, etc. But I'd really like to know what kind of people they were and if there were any family traits that might cast light on his children and their children. How does one go about this with no living relatives that I could talk to? Probably not possible, but any ideas?

citation for Australian BMDs

crimsonlake — 2013-04-18 20:38:39Z

I'm trying to work out a concise form of citation for the Australia Birth Index, Australia Death Index, and Australia Marriage Index, all on ancestry.co.uk. The records each give a registration year, reg. number, reg.place, and a page number. I don't think the reg. number is unique to the entire file; is it dependent just on the year, or on the year + place? And what is the page number dependent on?
If anyone knows how the original documents are arranged, I'd appreciate a clue. How do Australian genealogists themselves cite these BMD records?

Re: adding to tree without validation

DenverDetective — 2013-03-24 14:58:29Z

Thanks Bryan! Very helpful.

I'm in the process of recreating my entire electronic set of family records, after a computer failure and some time away from genealogy.

Re: adding to tree without validation

BryanMehn — 2013-03-24 14:40:18Z

In Roots Magic you can select proven, disproven and disputed under the edit window. You can do that for everything except for name.

When I find something like that, especially if it's a person, I use lower case letters for the last name instead of all caps. This lets me know that I don't have the proper information on them at a glance.

Re: adding to tree without validation

DenverDetective — 2013-03-24 14:17:16Z

Hopeful,

How could I mark entries as "unproved"? I have a few links I am almost certain of, but I want more solid proof before I am 100% I have found the correct parents for an individual. (This is not from copying someone else's research, but from documents I have been digging through.)

I have both RootsMagic and Legacy software.

Re: How far do you research?

caberg2005 — 2013-03-09 02:10:20Z

well as I have been researching my family for quite some time I have discovered I have a lot of family out there that I never knew I had. How long have you been at this? If I can help I would be happy to. Candy Berg

Re: How far do you research?

sondraw59 — 2013-03-09 01:45:47Z

Hello, I was searching our family tree and found out our great, great grandfather was Thomas Oliver White. It seems we may be related

Re: First Cousin 8X Removed?

Kristinaocean — 2013-03-07 23:21:12Z

Hello,

I had the same exact finding, first cousin 8x removed so I was particularly engaged when I saw your post.

Thank you, Kristina

Re: Is there a way to keep track of what you know / dont know?

mysterj1 — 2013-03-05 22:38:01Z

If you have FTM 2012, look at the Data Errors report as well. I think that using an external tool (forms) might be more complete but the data errors report may be of some value.

Re: Maternal Lineage or Paternal Lineage?

cyndi308 — 2013-02-21 02:45:39Z

No, of course it is not true. You do not get more genes from your father than from your mother. If you're female, you get the same amount of chromosomal genes, plus a bit extra (the mitochondrial DNA) from your mom only. If you're male, you get the same amount of chromosomal genes for 1-22. The last pair, you get an X from your mom and a smaller Y from your dad. Plus the mtDNA from just your mom.

Your blood came from your own internal growth.

Now, if you're talking about genealogy, then it's a different story. Your maternal line is mtDNA and that is interesting but doesn't help you trace your ancestry because it mutates slower (so matching with someone just means you have a shared ancestor within as much as 500-1500 years) and because surnames usually follow men. But your Y-DNA can be useful for matching with people who share an ancestor within a few generations to a couple hundred years.

Your autosomal DNA (the chromosomes excluding Y (and sometimes X, depending on the company)) is also very useful and hte best way to find new cousins and see your ancestral heritage. The AncestryDNA test is autosomal. Your mother's and father's contributions are equal here.

Cyndi

Re: Maternal Lineage or Paternal Lineage?

carobradford — 2013-02-20 18:00:01Z

Not biologically, no. You make your own blood - in your bone marrow, spleen and liver. You got half your genes from your mother and half from your father. Western society has always prioritised the male line because this is the route via which names and property are passed down. Unless you are researching your family history in order to track down some long-lost inheritance or because you want information about an inherited physical trait which is passed only via the Y chromosome then you can (and, in my view, should) feel free to research whichever branch gives you most satisfaction or, preferably, both.

Many people get huge fun from this absorbing hobby researching families to which they have no genetic connection!

Re: Maternal Lineage or Paternal Lineage?

BelleRinger — 2013-02-20 16:43:30Z

Interesting question! I've been researching my family tree for over 30 years now and I can't say I've ever considered whether one side is more important than the other. To me, my paternal lineage is simply one half of the whole. Just my opinion though - as I said, interesting question. :-)

Christine

Maternal Lineage or Paternal Lineage?

dfunkdafiedmusic — 2013-02-20 15:33:17Z

I am just wondering..
I have been told that my paternal lineage is more important as it is where more of my blood/genes come from? Is it true..?

Re: Research Methods

Hopeful_Helper — 2013-02-10 16:17:05Z

steve0267 -

When only generalities are provided it's hard to answer. It's much easier for someone to help if you provide specifics.

No, there's no easy way to search job records, but that would depend upon what type of job your grandfather had. If he worked for a government agency, police, a railroad, or in the armed forces, perhaps something could be found. If he worked for a private company, it's unlikely any records would be available.

Take a look at the Occupations boards. Perhaps that will give you some ideas.

HH

Research Methods

steve0267 — 2013-02-10 02:35:49Z

I am new to this and have a question. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I have been searching for my maternal grandfather. All I had to start with was his name and where he claimed to be from. I have found an individual who is very promising. I have tracked him through the census from 1910 to 1940. What I need to know is if there is a way to search job records. We know where he lived and worked in the 1937-38 time period. Is there any method to find someone in a more specific period of time?

Thanks for any help.

Re: research post 1911

judithstrachan1 — 2013-01-31 15:16:27Z

I've found electoral rolls very useful, but I've been able to research them in libraries local to the area my ancestors lived. You can also look at telephone directories.

Depending on where your ancestors lived, and how common their name was, the index of births, marriages and deaths post 1911 can provide possibilities, although it doesn't contain enough information for you to be sure. But you can then order certificates from GRO if you feel any are certain enough to be worth the expense.

Also check out local family history societies to see if they've produced anything for post 1911.

You might also be lucky and find church records are now online. I have some West Yorkshire ancestors and the church records are on Ancestry up to about 1925, which has been an excellent resource.

Judy

Re: research post 1911

andreakkk — 2013-01-28 12:05:54Z

if you know where they lived you might be able to find school records - also i have found useful things on the neighbouring houses - some families had relatives living next door to each other - you might be able to build a picture if they all had the same jobs and worked nearby

i think much iof the info has to be held in archives for 100 years before memebers of the public can access some of the details

I hope im still alive to access the next census when it becomes available

Re: research post 1911

infosending1 — 2013-01-26 08:26:04Z

Well for U.K. military service records from later in the 19th century onwards, you can try...

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defe...

For UK WW2 Identity Card information,
from 5th September 1939 to 21st February, 1952 you can try...

http://www.ic.nhs.uk/register-service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Registration_Act_1939

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res/7?_q...

For various categories of military and civilian personnel records you can try the U.K. National Archives at Kew in London.

Most, but not all, of their stuff is only viewable in person, and some of it links to the full records on ancestry.

For example, U.K. WW1 Medal Card Records.

http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person%5C...

There are also old British phone directory listings and old London Electoral Register listings on ancestry.

Re: Is there a way to keep track of what you know / dont know?

thejedimonkey — 2013-01-21 16:57:36Z

I can show a working copy of the above if it helps as well rather than reading my babble.

The Word doc I also print out before going to Scotlandspeoplehub for research.

I keep info still to find highlighted in red so I can flick through the pages to see what info I still have to find.

BTW - it was VERY time consuming to convert all the info I had already gathered into the new format...

works me me :)

Re: Is there a way to keep track of what you know / dont know?

thejedimonkey — 2013-01-21 16:55:14Z

My solution was to complicate things (as I do)

I have a form made up in Word. I use FamilyTreeMaker.

When I add someone they are assigned a unique person ID and a family ID. When they marry they get another family ID and so on. The family ID generally is created by a marriage. This ID is assigned the all the kids born in the family initially.

So I can have P409 F35 F126 Edward McFadden

In my form I have a bit what has ***. If I have the birth record it changes to B**. Then if i get the death record it would be B*D. And with Marriage BMD :)

In the word doc there is a contents page with everyone in chrono order. and a CTRL+Click takes me to the correct page.

I have a folder for each section of my research, and a Births folder, Marriage folder and Deaths folder (and others). When I get a new document. I add the names AND IDs to the document.

So my document might look like this:
M1925-P409-F35-F126-Edward-McFadden-&-Margaret-(Sinclair)-P27-F77-F126.tif
Married 1925. Notice each has a P number and Fnumber which is their parents family unit. They both share F126 which is their new famuli unit. Any kids will have this ID as well.

I do this as a simple search on the PC for 'P409' would list all documents with this guys details in them.

It may look complicated. But this method has really cleared my head and made research much clearer. I can quickly look up someone and see what info I have and what I still have to find.

To make it all worse I also keep paper copies with their PId and FId numbers on them :/

Re: research post 1911

mi2early — 2013-01-21 14:44:07Z

Suggest you post the details you do have on the relevant surname or location board. Someone may be able to point you to electoral rolls, telephone directories, and other resources.

Re: research post 1911

Merice46 — 2013-01-21 12:00:47Z

Hi,
A lot of us are in the same boat.

Regards

Sandra

research post 1911

hrh_princess_hannah — 2013-01-20 22:02:58Z

I was just wondering if anyone can offer me any advice on how to carry on my family history research after the 1911 cesus with regards to where/what else I can look at to tell me where a person went, was living or worked?

Unfortunately there is nobody alive who can tell me about some of the people in my family tree as I move forward! I have death records as to where they died and marriage as to where they married but everything in between is a mystery!

Thank you! Hannah x

Re: what is the connection from first person to last person ?????

sanssouci58 — 2013-01-18 01:41:19Z

Christine, Thank you for your info, and sorry for taking so long to get back to this, as I had a message saying that this post had been moved, any way found it.
I am having fun with this Yvonne, that is why I ask if there was a connection, now will need to see where this John T is in my tree, and his connection to me,
again thank you.
Chris

what is the connection from first person to last person?

sanssouci58 — 2013-01-14 14:00:08Z

Hi, Am wondering if some who does alot of genealogy can tell me what the connection is from the first person I mention to the last person I mention, as am having some conflict.
John T b 1714-1775
Jane T b 1768
daughter of John
Joseph H b 1797-1863
son of Jane
Selina H b 1840-1921
daughter of Joseph
Clarice Mc b 1870=1945
daughter of Selina
Albert h 1866-1951
husband of Clarice
James H b 1826-1891
father of Albert
Jane H b 1853-1901
daughter of James
Jennie B b 1876-
daughter of Jane H
Charles J b 1898-1946
son of Jennie B
Vera J b 1920-2011
daughter of Charles
Yvonne
daughter of Vera J

would appreciate the help please,
regards
Chris

Re: what is the connection from first person to last person ?????

BelleRinger — 2013-01-14 10:34:19Z

Hi Chris,

If I've worked it out correctly there is no blood relationship as the connection is by marriage, but the best I can come up with is that John T is the great great grandfather of the wife of the great great great uncle of Yvonne J.

Christine

techniques to incorporate dna data into your tree

rmwilliamsjr85705 — 2012-12-14 19:03:56Z

1. i wish there was a field to enter both paternal and maternal haplotypes, i'm using the suffix field now
2. i wish there was a way to mark MRCA's from confirmed dna matches, again i'm using the suffix field
3. i have lots of dna matches that i have matched to each other but haven't yet matched to my lineages, i'm hanging them from an ancestor named research, child dna, then a child chromosome number where the largest match occurs, but that is only possible with 23&ME DATA SINCE ANCESTRY HASN'T RELEASED ANY RAW DATA YET.
4. i have not figured out an easy way to keep track of how many dna matches i have on any specific ggparent lineage, i'm going back over all the dna matches and writing the surnames of matches in the comment section of the ggfather were the match occurred. i don't like this. but i'm at a loss on how to record the data.

so how is everyone else getting the dna data into their ancestry tree?

Re: technics to incorporate dna data into your tree

BillHarvey34 — 2012-12-14 18:09:30Z

I am glad to see this issue arise to the surface.

1. In my AMT tree (linked to my FTM2012 tree) I have used MY "note" function ( myself as home person) for detailing my paternal and maternal haplogroup designation with myself at the current end and the full name of the MRCA at the other end of the specific DNA test for each. I tried using the suffix field at first but the field soon became too congested when used for all connecting matches.

2. I also use the same "notes" record as above for recording the confirmed DNA matches as well as the DNA path for myself back to the common ancestral couple. Each family/surname is given a unique ID number as follows :

at1a = my line
at1b = 1st matching connection
at1c = 2nd matching connection (if found)
at1d = 3rd matching connection (if found) & etc

These "tags" are also entered in the suffix field of my AMT for each atDNA related person from the ancestral couple on down to the confirmed match.

4. I have created an Excel spreadsheet using the same "tag" IDs as in above with pertinent specific details about each match. This allows me to also include atDNA results from FTDNA and 23andMe labs for the same ancestral lines and/or MRCA couples. So... hopefully when AncestryDNA allows us to see/download our RAW DATA they will include segment matches for comparison between my Ancestry matches as well as to the other two lab matches.

I sure hope AncestryDNA will address these issues soon but, until such time, as cumbersome as my solution is, I can at least continue to gather and use the info until such time that Ancestry provides a better process.

Bill

Re: keeping record of all the names

Hopeful_Helper — 2012-12-12 13:07:33Z

Borrow a family history book from your library. Almost all basic family history books will include instructions on how to keep track as you research.

FamilySearch.org has lots of free forms to use. Ancestry has some and probably every other genealogy company has them.

HH

Re: keeping record of all the names

cpcoan13 — 2012-12-11 11:04:27Z

I would suggest first putting all your basic info on a "Pedigree Chart", then filling out a "Family Unit Chart" for each family and an "Individual Work Sheet" for each person. If you do a google search for "free genealogy forms/charts" you will find a ton to chose from.
You can then take them with you when your out researching.

You'll also find a lot of other forms/charts that you can use to record grave yard info on, book searches, research notes, etc....

Good luck..

Re: Is there a way to keep track of what you know / dont know?

cpcoan13 — 2012-12-11 10:05:37Z

If you do a google search for "free genealogy forms/charts" you will find a ton of stuff available. I make a folder for each family name and then another folder for each couple. In the couple folder I have "Individual Work Sheets" for each person and a "Family Unit Chart". (The Mid-Continent Public Library has a great Individual Work Sheet you can download). It's a big help in keeping track of what you know or don't know about a person. I put any documents/items I've found in the folders of the people they pertain to. (If they refer to multiple people - they go in the Family Name folder). I also have a folder and notebook, next to the computer, that has various Research forms in it so I can keep track of what I've searched or what I want to search in the future.
If you prefer to keep the information on your computer, I would suggest buying a genealogy program. I just bought "Family Tree Maker for Mac 2" but am only just learning all it's "bells and whistles" . (do a Google search for Genealogy Software reviews, to find the best program for your particular computer). It has a feature that allows you to add "research notes" for each person, and is a great place to put the info that your not quite ready to add to a person or to list the items you still need to research.
Good luck... I hope this helped :)

Is there a way to keep track of what you know / dont know?

ziggystyles — 2012-12-10 00:53:04Z

Hello,
Weird question here and I'm not really sure how to ask it...but is there a way to keep track of what you have found and havent found for people in your family tree? I have a few hundred people so far in my tree and now that I think about it, I don't have lots of information for many of them...be it birth, death, various locations...weddings...etc. I've been thinking about creating an excel spreadsheet or word document so that I can have various blank entries (dates of birth and death, locations of birth and death...children...etc) that I can fill in with documentation or proof of a birth or death...etc, but that seems very complicated. With so many people on my tree...I'd like to be able to go back and look for documentation or proof on various things...but Im not sure how to keep track of who has what, and who doesnt. It would be nice to sit down and say "Ok...I know Salley doesnt have a death date...I want to look for that"..etc.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

keeping record of all the names

amyjveenstra — 2012-12-04 22:38:25Z

How do you keep record of all of the names of ancestors, siblings and their descendents? I have been able to create a pretty full tree but am getting lost in all of the names. Is there a database or general system that you use to help keep the names & connections together?

Am looking for a way to quickly ascertain or remember how someone is related to me when I am not on ancestry or by a computer. (For example, if I am at a cemetery or library and didn't research fully before coming)

Re: adding to tree without validation

franmckean — 2012-12-03 21:34:49Z

Thanks Gordon I have it in my book that's where it's staying until I can validate

Fran

Re: adding to tree without validation

franmckean — 2012-12-03 21:32:24Z

Thanks HH

Re: adding to tree without validation

GordonPertJohnson — 2012-12-03 14:38:44Z

I would suggest you keep it as a separate file, to remain like that until you can prove it to be valid or suspect.
Gordon.

Re: adding to tree without validation

Hopeful_Helper — 2012-12-02 14:37:50Z

You're right to be cautious. Why not get the proof/documentation first? If all else fails, you can mark the entries as unproved.

HH

adding to tree without validation

franmckean — 2012-12-02 14:37:00Z

I believe I have the correct lineage for my family, but a little apprehensive to add it to my tree without validation.

What would you do don't want to mess up my tree

Thanks

Fran

Re: where to go?

mi2early — 2012-11-26 12:49:30Z

Get your birth certificate and your parents' marriage certificate to start. Post the information you have (first name, surname (in caps), birth date/place, death date/place, marriage date/place and your father's name) on the relevant surname or location board and someone will point you in the right direction.

where to go?

schitsofrenic — 2012-11-26 05:34:28Z

I'm at a stand still... my mother's dead great have a death certificate so that's some info. I can't seem to find a birth certificate tho to give names of her parents who are also passed on. My father seems to know nothing other than she was born in germany. I don't even know if this was like due to military or native german since she was raised most her life in Kansas City here in USA. Any ideas or anything on where to try and get some information? I am at a complete stand still

Re: Question on doing a Family Tree

AGHatchett3rd — 2012-11-21 03:43:03Z

Who and how much detail you enter into your database is your decision.

Some only track the direct lines back, others include siblings of direct line ancestors, some include in-laws and the ancestors and descendants of those in-laws.

Question on doing a Family Tree

clynpnt — 2012-11-20 14:51:33Z

I have a question on working on a family tree. I am no expert as I have only been doing this for a year. I have all the genealogy books on my maternal line so I am able to trace all thoes.
My question is does one enter all the inlaws also. I was adding the names, children, siblings etc and next I was up to almost 8000 people and that was just on one of the main lines. When I got to checking some were in steps 12-15 gen back related only through the marriage that the inlaws brought to the tree.I since have started taking them all out and just leaving the parents of the one that married into the family and nothing further back.Before I go much futher on my tree I would like to know if I include back past their parents or not. I have been making notes in the lines who the linage goes back to.

I know this is long but it was the only way I could explain what I was neeing to know.
Thanks in Advance

Re: How to find my great grandfather's parents

gtp_58 — 2012-10-19 17:33:00Z

The Catherine "Katie" Powers in your family tree married to a Robert Francis white was my 1st cousin (3x removed). The Power side of my family comes from Salmon Cove (now Avondale) Newfoundland. My great great grandfather was John Power. The 's' on Power was added to the Power surname in the US only. In Canada, Newfoundland and Ireland it is Power. I really don't know why the 's' was added.

Re: First Family Tree, Question

Heath_McGuire — 2012-10-17 12:54:30Z

Thanks for the advise. I think I will add everyone and then clean it up later if it gets to wild. This may help me through my dead-ends!

Thanks

Re: First Family Tree, Question

BryanMehn — 2012-10-16 23:53:09Z

That's really up to you. There is no right or wrong way of who to add or not. However, you may wish to add the siblings as it might at some point give you another lead when everything else fails.

If you're looking for your great grandfather in the census records, for some reason he may have been skipped, or his name misspelled. If you have his siblings then you can possibly find the family that way.

I started out my tree with just the direct ancestors, but soon changed. I find it doesn't add that much extra work unless you really want to.

First Family Tree, Question

Heath_McGuire — 2012-10-16 13:35:31Z

As I start from myself and build back, do I list all children born to the previous generation or just my direct descendant?

Myself-Father-Grandfather or
Myself and siblings-Father and his siblings-Grandfather and his siblings?

Cousins Married Sisters

melissa_dobosz — 2012-10-08 15:02:47Z

Hello everyone!

I need some assistance determining how to properly record a relationship. Right now these family members are in there twice; is there a way for the tree to recognize that it is the same person?

Mae Levin Kratish & Betty Levin Teitelbaum were sisters. Mae's son is Jordan Kratish and Betty's son is Gerald Teitelbaum. Jordan & Gerald are first cousins.

Jordan married Elise Katzman. Elise Katzman's sister, Sheila, married Gerald.

I hope that this makes sense. Any assistance would be appreciated!

Thank you,
Melissa

Re: Cousins Married Sisters

Hopeful_Helper — 2012-10-05 19:06:49Z

"Right now these family members are in there twice...."

In what/where? Are you entering this information into a genealogy software program? If so, which one? If you are using Ancestry to record your family tree, this isn't the right board for your query. If that's the case, let me know and I'll move your post to the right board.

HH

Information on Ancestors prior to about 1520 ?

alanjw2938 — 2012-08-28 13:33:09Z

The Parish records begin about 1520-1540, can any one inform me where the information comes from prior to this date?

Who are the people who are able to research records etc, prior to about 1500's, are they professional or amature researches, and where do they do there reseach?

Re: Intersecting Lineages

lilymunster — 2012-08-12 23:28:00Z

Are you Icelandic by chance? This is common in the Icelandic geneaology to have intersecting marriages. My family has a common set of grandparents every 5th or 6th generation. It has happened more than once. Also with Icelanders, it is common to have the same name for more than one generation.