Genealogy Chat

Hi all, Was just wondering as i was adding thousands (not literally) of names and dates to my tree, where I should think about stopping!? I mean I have my direct family all listed but now im adding their wives/husbands, sisters/brothers, mothers/fathers and children, and then their wives/husbands, sisters etc etc etc, and I know thats the general idea with this family tree stuff but where does it stop? I now have all these names of distant rellies and if someone with that persons name in their tree also, was to ask me how im related to Tom, Dick or Harry I wouldn't honestly have a clue! Can I just ask is everyone else doing the same thing? Also is looking at the census the only way to find where they were living and what occupation they had? I guess it would be but just wondered. Ive yet to sign up to ancestry for census look-ups. Cheers Sarah. PS Sorry if the above sounds a bit loopy I got a bit carried away!! (must be in need of a glass of wine to chill me out! lol : -))

It is down to personal choice I think. Some folks just concentrate on the direct line , others go onto all branches. I personally do most of my work on the direct line but go sideways while I am waiting for certs etc. You can learn an awful lot from looking at siblings & their families. Its your tree so it really is your choice.

Hi Sarah Yes, I do that as well. It's like one huge jigsaw. I can't stop myself from looking up all the inlaws and their families. I have often found that clues from censuses regarding other members of the households have helped in the research of my direct line. As has been said before, it's your tree so do it your way Cheers Gina

Personal choice of course but I have my direct ancestors, also their brothers and sisters on my tree. I then try to trace marriages and children of these relations and have those on the tree also, because they are all related to me, either by blood or marriage - eg gt gt uncle, his wife, their children, grandchilden etc. When I started this game 20 + years ago I only went backwards on direct lines but now have not only added but also met several third cousons by this method. I don't put parents, brothers sisters etc of the relations by marriage on because in my opinion I am not related to them; though if I know who they were I make a note against the individual - for example I have my great aunt's husband on because he is a relation by marriage. I know his parents' names and some of his sisters but have just made a note of them not added them to the tree. I've found these notes very useful because several lines came from small villages and I've found other members of these families marrying my lot.

Ditto Judith exactly!! It's by coming forward from the brothers and sisters of the direct line ancestors (at least as far as the 1901 census), gives a good chance of picking up living distant cousins on sites such as this. Merry

I have to admit that sometimes I have received an enquiry as to whether the X in my tree might possibly be the same as the X in someone else's, and been completely surprised as I had had absolutely no recollection of anyone called X in my tree. I try to keep it to people who either share a common ancestor with me or married someone who did, but there are probably a few who've sneaked on somewhere despite not fitting those criteria.

if I find them they go on , as it might help me get a match somewhere .dont forget we are all related to Adam and Eve anyway if you believe in the Bible , so hello cousin.

For what it's worth, I only include: 1) Direct ancestors (parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc) 2) The siblings of group 1 (uncles/aunts, granduncles/aunts, etc) 3) Any descendants of groups 1 or 2 (cousins, second cousins, cousins once removed, etc) 4) Spouses of any of groups 1 to 3. The siblings or ancestors of people in group 4 are beyond the pale and I ignore them. You have to draw the line somewhere. Andrew.

Thanks for the advice everyone......... Sarah

I agree with the approach of Judith and Merry on this. But you haven't gone too far yet with 206 rellies. I am currently at 480 and adding newly found relations every other day. See the thread 'How large is your tree'. I will give it a nudge for you.

Ok Thanks Ian, will take a look.