Geneology

[gilmore]

...
Just interested to see if anyone else has done a comprehensive geneology and what you've found if you have.

My family has been doing it for a long time, a couple of generations now. We are American and have most of our lines traced to the Revolution. I have a cousin whose goal is to account for every one of his ancestors back to the immigrants who came here from Europe. He recently retired, and is well on his way to achieving his goal.

What I have found:

1. ALWAYS work from the present backward. NEVER skip back a few generations and then try to make a connection with possible descendants. It's almost always a waste of time, and can become misleading. E.g., your surname may be Bruce, but if you try to find a descent from Robert the Bruce to you in the direct male line, you won't.

2. Start by talking to the oldest relatives you have. Learn how to interview the elderly. Let them talk at their own pace, gently nudging their memories toward relevant facts. On the other hand, don't dismiss some facts as irrelevant. You never know when they may come in handy as clues to what you are looking for, or help you contextualize your information. Tape record them, and maybe transcribe the tapes if you have time.

3. Family stories that are passed down orally are often muddled, embellished, embroidered, or even outright lies, but may contain a germ of truth that can be helpful.

4. Keep an open mind. Always be prepared to revise your work if you come across more reliable material. I have a relative who likes to say that he never accepts something as a fact until he can hold the original document in his hands. Of course, even then there will be mistakes. Documents aren't facts, just the best evidence of facts.

5. When the paper trail fails, try DNA testing. See the FAQ at www.ftdna.com.