Family Tree Research

[dippingmytoeinagain]

Hello there
As the nights draw in, I'm thinking of picking up my family tree research, which I've dabbled with in the past but kept putting down as I found I got quickly overwhelmed with deciding who to research and how to record all of the information, which resources to use etc.

Is there anyone on here who does family tree research as a hobby who can offer me a few simple starting points and would be able to share what has worked/not worked for you. Organisation tips and so on.

I don't have a paid memberships yet, but will get one once I'm a bit clearer in my own mind as to where I want to go with this one.

I'm usually quite an organised person but I find that this just makes my head spin.

Thanks so much

Just checking back in and reminding myself to get this thread moved into the family history thread so it doesn't disappear.

I am taking it slowly, partly because I'm shattered with the return to school routines now kicked in well and truly, so free time is limited but also recognising that I really need to be in the right mindset to do 'proper' research that stands half a chance of bearing up to scrutiny! That said, I've made some decent progress, finding my great, great, great, great grandfather who was born in 1800, plus more to explore further back.

I've also visited the local Family Tree Research Centre which was brilliant. I'll certainly be heading back as the people were so knowledgable and helpful with access to some very complete resources. I think they will be a really big help to me in my initial stages while I'm still finding my way and needing the reassurance that I'm on the right tracks.

I hope everyone else is getting on OK, thank you again for all of the help and guidance, it really has been so helpful

That sounds marvellous.

Following my own advice, I revisited some censuses so I could record the references in my family tree program. I had previously seen some faint writing against my 3x gt grandfather's occupation on the 1851 census, but hadn't really taken much notice. Eventually managed to decipher it as "Gardener at Harptree Court in charge of house"

So I had to google it of course.

Harptree Court looks to be a gorgeous place. Its where series 3 & 4 of GBBO were filmed.

In future I shall pay more attention to the locations where these things are filmed!

Things I've found useful to know: if a couple liked a name but the child died they might "reuse" it for a later child.
In my family just because one daughter was called Elizabeth, didn't mean you could also have one called Eliza.
Learn your diminutives and short forms: Jas=James and Polly can =Mary etc.

If a wife suddenly loses 20 years between censuses, could the first one have died and he remarried?

I really like apprentice logs or the London Livery Company records, they can give information on what your ancestors were doing before the census.

May I sneak in and place mark please? just getting started and the links are very useful.

I hope you find what you are looking for dipping

Really useful thread!

Placemarking here too . Started about three weeks ago and it's taking over my life ! Only thing is wishing there were photos on these sites if your family photos have got lost or destroyed or stored away over the years it's really frustrating when you want to know what these people looked like . I've got quite attached to a few of my distant relations I've found so far they seemed like a good bunch .

Chocolate
When you have exhausted any known family members for potential ancestor photos I can recommend contacting everyone you come across who appear to be researching the same lines as you, Ancestry and Lost Cousins are both good potential sources. I too sadly have very few ancestor photos on many of my lines but over the years I have been sent copies of some real gems from very distance cousins. My biggest thrill was to receive a photo of a small painted portrait of my 3xGt Grandfather who was born in London in 1796. The original portrait which started its life in London is owned by a previously unknown 4th cousin residing in Canada. Good luck with your research.

Thanks for that tip I'm quite new and amateur to all of this and although I've been doing quite well going back I keep stopping and wanting to know more about the people and there's no one to ask about them .

Hello all. I'm just checking back into this thread.
It's been a bit of a slow December for me research-wise and I had to put things down while the madness of Christmas took over, but I've now restarted, complete with a shiny new ancestry subscription and am trying to crank my brain back into gear! It's proving to be a bit painful!

I've just ordered a wall chart from Amazon as I've realised I need to be able to have information displayed in front of me and my own scribblings just aren't doing it for me. I'm hoping it arrives soon so I can get the pencil out and start filling in some gaps.

I recently visited the birthplace of my great, great grandfather which turned out to be quite emotional, I wasn't expecting that at all! Although the village has changed quite considerably since he was born there back in 1860, there were still a lot of ancient buildings and it was quite surreal to think that he would have walked the same lanes and alleys.

My big wish is to be more focused; I still feel quite overwhelmed and as a result jump about all over the place and allow myself to get distracted. I also need to develop a more robust way of proving to myself that the person I am looking at is actually 'my' person and not just someone who on paper appears to be the right match.

How's everyone else getting on?

Hi dipping. Not sure if you're still looking at this but I'm about to have another go. Not done anything for almost a year as I started a new job. I've got lots of stuff printed out and in boxes by family. And as you said, it's overwhelming!

Currently debating whether to go back to Ancestry or Findmypast. Have had both and while Ancestry is easier to use FMP seems to have more interesting records.

Might need to think beyond that though. Too many brick walls. Gah! DM keeps asking what I'm going to do with the information once I get it. She doesn't realise that the puzzle is part of the fun!

How are you getting on?

Just getting back into this after a break of about 5 years.
I did quite a bit using Genes reunited, plus online parish records (most of the maternal family come from the same half dozen parishes) but real life got in the way!

Which site is best? Things seem to have moved on a bit- and to cost more too.
I would like to trace my grandfather's history, he enlisted in Canada in 1915, but as far as I know never had a Canadian passport.....

I use both Ancestry and Findmypast, and of the 2 I prefer FMP these days. Ancestry's many "improvements" have made the site much harder to use, and a subscription to FMP includes the 1939 Reister which has been invaluable.

averylongtimeago
You may like to look on this website for information regarding Candian WW1 service records. It is a Candian Goverment website.

www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx