Genealogy Chat

Can anyone explain how much evidence is needed to make your family links official. For instance, I've had some links up from very distant cousins (7 times once removed etc!) who have given me research that they have done that goes back very far. Do I also have to have original sources, or does this count?

Hello my lovely - I would have thought that you would need to prove your own links positively up to where it joins their branch, otherwise we could all end up one big happy family with little effort and not so much fun. Jacqui

I think it's up to you - it's your tree, go with what makes you happy. There is no right or wrong way, no written rule of what you have to do . No one can prove 100 % that the details they dig up are correct, errors were made on the original documents and in transcriptions. Don't let anyone tell you your's isn't a 'proper' tree if you haven't actually seen the document yourself. The only way anyone can really prove their ancestors is to dig them all up and DNA test them, and I bet that would bring a few surprises! Whatever and however you do it, it's your 'official' tree.

I would treat them as very helpful leads but until you have checked yourself ie the sources treat with suspicion like you would do any other lead.

You do start some interesting threads Georgina! (incidentally that was my great-grandmother's name) In principle, I agree with Helen. You must do what you feel comfortable with - it's your tree - your baby - your creation. If it was me, personally, I would feel the need to 'prove' everything for my own satisfaction - so in that way, I suppose I also agree with John! I am working with cousins to trace our family tree, and I do the internet research, and a cousin who lives near the Record Office follows them up and checks them out. I have recently been contacted by the great-granddaughter of my grandfather's sister. She has been doing research on the family tree too, and we have swapped our trees, and swapped information and ideas and the sources. She has managed to confirm or tie up loose ends for me, and I have done the same for her. We are now still working separately on our research, but are collating our findings, and questioning the sources of each others findings! It seems to be working quite well. Janet

Thanks to you all. Thats extremely useful.

Most family tree software allows you specify the "Surety Level" for each fact. I think it runs from 5 which is absolutely certain to 1 which is "Have not decided yet". This lets you record facts or events where there are some doubts of certainty. The experts will say that every detail should be checked back to the original document but that is not usual practical for most people. Beware of any member's submission on the LDS WWW site, these are usually very dodgy. I have been caught out a couple of times when importing someone else's GEDCOM and picked up some doubful details in my database. Martin

That's exactly what I meant about "proving" your own research - only then can you be certain (or as near as dam it) to knowing who are your ancestors. I have taken info from IGI only to find that the info was input by a church member who was not as thorough as me. My own aunty is on the site and would you believe her maiden name is incorrectly spelt? Also some of the data just doesn't add up date wise. Best to do your own as best you can, and once you are as certain as poss. then join your branch to another branch, and hopefully if every one is an consciencious as you, the tree will be complete and maybe even flower!! Jacqui

Just ask them what their sources were. If they can't remember where they got specific details from, then it's probably not a good idea to take it as fact. If you really can't do all the parish registers, then you could always spot-check.

Just ask them what their sources were. If they can't remember where they got specific details from, then it's probably not a good idea to take it as fact. If you really can't do all the parish registers, then you could always spot-check.