EVERYTHING is a Clue in Genealogy! :)

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.

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