Basic Genealogy Beginnings--ritalace

 

I began the old fashion way-walking, studying and reading. There are basically two types of genealogies, but these can vary from place to place. There are historical and true genealogies. Historical traces an entire family. It includes tracing the aunts, uncles and siblings. Generally when you finish the ideal is to start with the oldest known ancestor and trace all the lines down to the present. This is distinctly different from a genealogy, in that a true genealogy traces only in a straight line. If you start with your maiden or family surname and trace all generations in a direct-line, that is a genealogy. You can have many genealogies, as a matter of fact. If indeed you trace all the names existing in your family, but stick basically to the direct ancestor, this is a compilation of genealogies. Rarely will you find a family book with a collection of genealogies, but often you will find histories of a name. When you begin to do your research you will want to have an idea of what you plan to do with your research. It can be a major difference in the way you attempt to go. Is your genealogy meant for your family's eyes only? Is it important to you to have stories and other materials included in this history. Or is it important to have a history that can be proven for all time. With each name substantiated and proven so that you can share these with others than personal family and friends. Are you publishing? Are you sharing?
One of the major concerns about genealogy on the Internet is that people are placing on the Internet, material that isn't proper in a well-done genealogy or history. Your body of work if meant to be used as a resource for others use should be as accurate and proven as you can devise. This means lifting an entire genie database off the web and because the name is similar and in the right area, claiming it as fact, becomes a real no-no. You are either, writing and sharing fiction or fact and it is truly important to know which you want to have. If in fact that is not important to leave accurate and proven records. You can still enjoy this hobby. But generally it be hooves us all to have as complete a record as we can and to keep it honest. Mistakes are expensive, not only to you, but others as well. If you have taken your time, money and reputation in genealogy circles, you will want to put out there are very best work you can do. So we are here to learn proper techniques. The societies that actively work in genie research ask for three forms of proofs to prove each name. These include the prestigious DAR, the Mayflower Society, Sons of the American Revolution and most others. Yes mistakes sneak in. Yes in typing the material some will be distorted, but if you have done your absolute best to keep it clean, watch your dates, not jump to conclusions on skinny evidence, you will be proud of what you accomplished. The first technique I want to talk about is record keeping. They are varied and personal to each user, and no one way is better. Be it three-ring binder for each name or index system on cards. The first thing you will need to look at in either case are the forms that make it easier for you to do your research. Many of these can be downloaded for free from the Internet. Most genealogical societies or historical societies also have these on hand for sale. One I highly recommend is a form where you keep track of where and who you talked to, or a book you read and what information it gained you. This keeps you from duplicating looking at the same research over and over. List what you want to find and where you have looked and check it off as you complete that task. The basic things you need to find about each person is found on a form known as a group sheet. These start with the persons name of each family, his date of birth , place of birth, baptismal and or confirmation dates and places, date of death, place of burial , cemetery of burial and the persons spouse. If more than one spouse use a new group sheep to record them separately. This keeps you from later trying to decide which kid belongs to which marriage, etc. Other helpful information you may want to have is the place and date of marriage the church, Minister and attendants. Then residence information is recorded. Where they live(d), which dates. This is to track the movements of your families. You then will put the parents, siblings and list the children of this person. Each family you work on has a separate sheet. On top of your paper/card write at the top your full name-using maiden name in case of a women. On the left side of the paper write in descending order, a line for each one birth, death, baptism, cemetery, marriage, residence,
children’s names, now put this info and remember dates, places, people. You now have more or less a record of yourself. On the top of this paper, write a big #1. On the bottom write your parents names, If not known put question marks. On the back place your source notes, your siblings and any other data you need to keep track of. When finished you have in your hand an easy reference card listing the most pertinent facts about each person starting with yourself. Now, start a second card with the same info about each of your parents. On top of your fathers card write double the number that was on your card. On top of your mothers card write double the number that was on your card plus one. So Dad is two Mom is three. This numbering system is called an Ahnentafel Numbering System. The beauty to it is that no two persons will ever have the same numbers no matter how many generations you trace. You always double the male parent twice the number of the person concerned. Your Dad's grandfather is 4 and females are always double, plus one the number of the persons concerned. So the grandmother is 5. 1
2-3
4-7
8-15
16-31 when you lay this out on top of a piece of paper, the generations will follow in a line across the paper as
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24 etc. Each person with it's own distinct number. The Most important government records are kept at the county level. They are used as number plus the alphabet, generally paper. However, you only use this method for direct ancestors, you would not count a second person as a parent. In a history type of situation, you use a different numbering system. Its called a Register Report, and you begin with the oldest known ancestor as one, child as 1a, his child as 1a1, his is 1a1a, the numbers change for each sibling. This is the method you will often see in history type genealogies. There is another system as well, where you work in descending order using only numbers however. It forms an outline. It's negatives is that it isn't possible to know which is the direct ancestor and trace continually downwards, except bye skipping back an forth between father and son, and siblings. Often people put * in front of the families they have traced. Computer programs are able to automatically do these things for you. However you cannot in most cases take the computer with you. It is very important to ALWAYS to keep a paper record of what is on your computer