EVERYTHING is a Clue in Genealogy!
Did you know that you can build a family tree with just clues? Make sure you write down EVERY single bit of information you find, read or hear! I was able to build a tree for my mom's biological father, whom she never knew, with just a name, and a few short remarks she had heard here and there, from her mother, throughout her younger years. These remarks were not necessarily about him, but were definitely clues in me being able to locate him, and build his tree. I also had a very difficult time finding any records for my father's maternal grandparents, because the information his grandmother gave was false. Because my uncle had interviewed her when he was young, and made a family tree based off of her interviews, I was able to use all of the first names only to find both her lines and build a tree. I have also tracked down several clients' missing ancestors or living relatives just by following EVERY single clue. EVERYTHING is a clue! All stories may not be true, especially if there are family secrets, but there are always snippets of truth in each story. EVERY single bit of detail holds clues. Listen carefully to the stories, especially the small details in the stories you hear. Look at EVERY single detail in a record; sometimes the small details are often overlooked and can be a clue for something else. Sometimes if you can't find someone, it may be possible that there are family secrets, that someone changed their name, that someone falsified documents for an unknown reason, and a number of other circumstances. So if you're having a hard time finding someone, or details about their lives, follow the clues! The case studies to the above will be talked about in more detail in future blogs, so stay tuned! Follow more tips for your family history and genealogy research under the Genealogy Research Tips category. ←Back to Genealogy Research Tips Page
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Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant: Give a Small Token of Appreciation
Offer to send them a pedigree chart or family tree chart starting with them as proof that you're "legit", and as a token of appreciation for any help they can give you in adding to your tree. I used to give out entire descendant reports, but soon realized that was not a good idea, and I now give out family trees and pedigree charts with just them and their direct line. If I happen to have any photos of their direct line ancestors, I share those as well. People are more willing to give info when you share with them as well, and sometimes giving them a family tree or pedigree of them and their direct line as a gift, will cause them to get super excited about their family history, and in turn want to give you as much info as they can.😊 Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips in Genealogy Research Tips. Rule #1 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #2 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #3 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant: Let Them Know How You're Related Right Away
To hopefully break the ice, and get them to be more willing to give you information, let them know exactly who you are right away, and how you are related to them. Also make sure you can give their parents', and at least grandparents' names, and further if possible. Then tell them your line, and exactly how that line fits into their family tree, so they know it's not a scam. 😉 Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips in Genealogy Research Tips. Rule #1 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #2 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #3 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant: Connect
After you've found a living descendant, you can write a letter, email, message them on Facebook, or call them. Even though the preferred method is to write a letter, so they have a little time to decide if they want to reach out to you, I seem to always call because it's the quickest method, and to be honest (even though it's sad), who writes letters anymore. 😊 Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips in Genealogy Research Tips. Rule #1 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #2 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #3 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 Rule #3 of finding living descendants in your family tree: Fan out and rework your way forward again
Start with the 1st child of your starting ancestor, then fan out, and repeat with each child. Continue this process for each of their children, and do the same for siblings and possible siblings, while using the same research methods. As you get closer to living relatives, use public online directory records, genealogy message boards, alumni and school sites, public record search databases, public profile records/social media (my preferred method), Google and other search engines, or seek out a private investigator. Don't forget to document all you find on family group sheets! 😊 Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips in Genealogy Research Tips. Rule #1 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #2 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 Rule #2 of finding living descendants in your family tree: Work your way back to the starting ancestor
Trace the direct line back ONLY to the starting ancestor, while gathering any children/possible children and siblings/possible siblings as you go, but DO NOT focus on them. Do NOT use collected research, unless you hit a brick wall. If you do need to use it for a brick wall, then use it very loosely. Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips in Genealogy Research Tips. Rule #1 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #3 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 Rule #1 of finding living descendants in your family tree: Start with now!
Start with yourself or another direct descendant of a starting ancestor, and immediate relatives, and DO NOT use online resources yet. Record EVERYTHING you know, in a family tree drawn by hand. Follow more descendancy research tips below, and other research tips under the Genealogy Research Tips category. Rule #2 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Rule #3 of Finding Living Descendants in Your Family Tree Step #1 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #2 After You've Found a Living Descendant Step #3 After You've Found a Living Descendant P.S... My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are : Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 ←Back to Genealogy Research Tips Page |
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