Genealogy Chat

Thank you all for your tips and ideas. Not sure which method I'll use yet, but it's great to have ideas of what works for others. Em x

I use a combination of hard-backed notebook (less likely to tear bits out for shopping lists etc) and card index. I bought a cheap photo album from the 'Pound' Shop andI file my queries in this. Easy to shuffle around, take out etc. I put ONE query/still-to-do on each card (actually, scrap paper) and so far it has worked ok. I used to use a shorthand notebook and just write things down as I came across them but I got confused and missed stuff or couldnt find it. I transfer the 'card' to the notebook once I start actively searching or whatever, noting down where I have looked, keeping separate pages for each thing. I put coloured paperclips at the top of the pages - red for Baptisms, blue for marriages etc. Works (so far) for me. Marjorie

Hi Emma - I tend to print off a smaller one page tree of a particular line or branch. I then write all my prompts and questions on the back... something like this... Need 1871 and 1881 census info. Who did Mathew marry and when? Any children?? Who are Sarah and John who are listed on Robert's wedding cert as witnesses? You get the idea, I keep these sheets in a separate folder and cross out the questions or add new ones as time progresses. Brenda

Hi Brenda, I've had a good play around with it - and the reports are great, but can't find a way of flagging what I still need. For example - census data, I may have 41, 51, 61, 81, 91, 01 for someone, still need the 71 info. I can choose which census date I want to set as the 'prefered' and this is what prints out on reports - rather than listing them all, which is what I could do with. Hopefully some FTM expert will set me right on this though. Em

Have you checked the software? There are often printouts you can make of missing info, or ways to flag what you want. You don't want the floor covered in paper again!

Hi Chris, I was thinking of those cards, nice neat little system, but then a bit a pain if I want to cart them off to record offices I guess. Incidentally, how deep into each family do you go. Eg. a sibling of your direct whatever, would you settle for the approx dob you get from census or look for the actual date?

Thanks guys for your responses - think I might try seperate spreadsheets (thanks Jeanette) for the different individual things still needed (thanks Nell). I guess that may be easier than writing them out in a book - at least if they're on a spreadsheet I can sort it by name or year etc. for whatever I need at the time. Em

Emma I am still in the process of organising my files, but I am seeing what I need to find out and filling in forms - one for births, one for marriages, one for deaths and then others for different census years. Then I will take these forms with me to the FRC and hopefully be able to get some answers. nell

Hi Emma How about a spreadsheet? Jeanette x

Afternoon all, Getting into quite a confused state here so would appreciate any thoughts. All my information is now loaded on my new FTM....lovely. Got rid of all scraps of paper etc. with notes on so I can now see the floor. I'm just wondering what the easiest way might be to document everything you still need to find, bmd, missing census dates etc. to have a full as possible picture of everyone. I have everything on all my directs, it's their siblings, siblings kids, etc. that I have some blanks for. Only about 250 people in all that I may not have found everything for yet, but I don't want to go off and get myself into another paper mess without some tips first! Em