Genealogy Chat

Here's some ideas: Look at the details you've got for each person. Ask yourself how you 'know' that those details are right. Maybe you'll find that you've made some assumptions, or just taken things you've been told by family members at face value. So, if you 'know' that Uncle Ted was born in 1944, have you actually tried to find his birth registration? Then, look for gaps in what you know, and try to fill them. Perhaps you've found your g. g. grandmother's birth certificate, and you have the details for her marriage... but do you know when she died? Another thing to do, which is admittedly a bit more work, is to look for things that you don't expect to find, but try to see if they're there anyway. For example, if your grandparents 'only' had three children, and you've already looked up the birth registrations, have a look a few years before, after, and between; you might find a sibling who died young and that the family have never talked about. Or perhaps you assumed that your great aunt and uncle never had children because that's what your gran told you; have a look anyway, you might find a son who's been forgotten about, or a daughter who ran off to Hollywood with an American twenty years older than her, and who's been written out of the family's history! If you've got back into the nineteenth century, then see if you've got the census details for each person you know about. Look at their family members on the census return; have you investigated them, yet? By which I mean, have you looked for them in previous census returns, and have you looked for the registrations of their birth, marriage(s), and death? If you've only got details from the GRO index pages and haven't ordered any actual certificates, then think about which ones to spend your money on. If you're dealing with reasonably common names or a large family, then you particularly need to think about doing this to make sure that you don't confuse George with his cousin of the same name. Finally, look at the certificates and census returns for details that can help you learn more about people's lives. Look for addresses on maps. Did a particular family move around a lot, or were they in the same place for year after year? If someone was a wheel-tapper, what does that actually mean? If someone was a policeman in an 1890s mining town, what was their daily life like? Google things like people's jobs and where they lived, and unusual names as well. On census returns, what were the neighbouring families like? Was each one quite different, or were they all farm labourers or miners? That should keep you busy for a bit! If you get bored or fed up with one part of it, just put it to one side and try something else. And of course, if you've looked up, down, and sidewise through the records for something and can't find it, put together what you know and ask for help on the 'Records Office' or 'Tips' boards!

Hi Paul, If you post some details on here I'm sure someone will be able to help you, Regards, June

I think you would be better to decide which line you wish to work on first, then post a specific request. Work on one 'twig' at a time, so that you don't confuse yourself...........or us! lol........... It is important that you organise your research in the way best suited to your requirements.......each of us approaches it in a different way, and what works for any one of us may not do so for you Reg

Hi all, Its been a while since I started my family tree, and around three months ago I stopped researching as I found I had come to a dead end. I am now attempting to pick up where I left off but unfortunately I am a little shakey and out of practice. Would any of you kind folk take a look at my family tree and suggest the next course of action etc Thanks, Paul