Finding myself through my ancestors...

[EagleJCS]

What we need to find ancestors is much, much better software. Ancestry.com is helpful, but is a far cry from what we need or from what is possible. A business opportunity?

The best designed software is only as good as the data that is put into it.

What is really desirable is a uniform means of recording and retrieving the various sources and pieces of information. That would also entail a cost for data entry that is prohibitive to most governmental agencies responsible for keeping/maintaining the historical records. Even with volunteer staff people to do the majority of the labor, there are a lot of extraneous costs associated with digitizing the records - even if they're just scanning/photographing the hardopy without transcribing the information found therein.

Unless/until it becomes a priority for some unfathomable reason, or the costs of the technology and labor come down dramatically, I don't see this happening in our lifetimes.


Another caveat to online records - the LDS archive accepts any records submitted, without verification. People may then copy/reference those records in their own research and propagate any errors found there. Do your best to verify anything you find with a second source, even if what you find is a government document. Sometimes these are filled out by third parties and/or under duress (grieving a recently deceased loved one, for example).

[Tim Little]

What is really desirable is a uniform means of recording and retrieving the various sources and pieces of information. That would also entail a cost for data entry that is prohibitive to most governmental agencies responsible for keeping/maintaining the historical records. Even with volunteer staff people to do the majority of the labor, there are a lot of extraneous costs associated with digitizing the records - even if they're just scanning/photographing the hardopy without transcribing the information found therein.

Unless/until it becomes a priority for some unfathomable reason, or the costs of the technology and labor come down dramatically, I don't see this happening in our lifetimes.

Actually, this sounds like a project right up Google's alley, no?

[bdkilted]

You might also want to check with your local library for a local geneology group that you can join. These are usually free, (or a small monthly donation to pay for cookies and punch). Sometimes they are of great help, so you might want to try this.

[macwilkin]

What is really desirable is a uniform means of recording and retrieving the various sources and pieces of information. That would also entail a cost for data entry that is prohibitive to most governmental agencies responsible for keeping/maintaining the historical records. Even with volunteer staff people to do the majority of the labor, there are a lot of extraneous costs associated with digitizing the records - even if they're just scanning/photographing the hardopy without transcribing the information found therein.

Unless/until it becomes a priority for some unfathomable reason, or the costs of the technology and labor come down dramatically, I don't see this happening in our lifetimes.

This sounds very similar to the part of my library orientations in which I list the reasons why a library still has more information than the Internet. Patrons in the genealogy department where I worked were gobsmacked at how much time and money it costs to digitize records -- job security for librarians of course, but increasingly frustrating for a generation that has grown up on the "instant gratification" of a Google search.

T.

[Bugbear]

Post deleted.

[tripleblessed]

Many counties have historical society pages that have some records posted.
I've read court records, wills, tax digests, newspaper society pages, land records, etc., 'til the pixels were pouring out my ears. By investing patience instead of money I didn't have, I found relatives listed on juries, executors of other people's wills, witnesses or chain carriers on other people's land grants/
deeds, in attendance at someone's wedding, on and on. I extended this to Scotland, reading minutes of the Scottish Record Society. Found a distant
relative asking to have a man arrested for assault... As I was returning from recreating at the linkis of the gowffe I was set upon..... Getting up, he grabbed one of his "gowffe" clubs and knocked the guy's weapon away,and proceeded to wail on him 'til he ran away. As it happened in 1615 or so, it is thought to be one of the earliest known print references to golf. You might find ANYTHING. Google your surname to find chat room boards with people who'll share; DOUBLECHECK their research. But it will give you working directions. There's usually a way to find the e-mail of a poster to see if they have up-dated info. Good luck, and have fun.

[lion noir]

this topic is dear to me.
i recently went back another generation on my dads side.there was a mystery my whole life about my dads great grandpa.then in a matter of weeks i had birth, marriage, and death records. even a tombstone with my name on it(spooky)
another edwin(4in6 generations)which is my only clue to follow as the trail deadends there, in canada, in 1852...
i dont even know if i'm scottish, really... i could also be, ...gulp,...(english, shhhhhhhhhh, you must tell no-one)
the horror
ed(w)inburgh was named after an edwin. a saxon king of northumbria who defeated a pictish hilltop stronghold in 615
oh well, i say i'm macmillan and it seems to work

blessings on your search,
edwin

p.s.
be encouraged, you will find what your meant to find.
i found some cool macmillan stuff that goes back to monastic times.
i am making a sword and named it after the first macmillan.
seek and ye shall find...when you search with all your heart
p.p.s.
i was only kidding about the english comments. i'm reading the scottish chiefs and am convinced there were a few good angles, if i'm one, i trust i came from a good line...

[Bugbear]

Post deleted.

[Mike_Oettle]

Some good advice here, Tenire, and some not so good.
Basic rule of a family tree: start where you are, then work your way backwards in time, one generation at a time. (And if you have descendants, don’t forget to include them.)
Don’t make wild assumptions. You may or may not be descended from somebody who lived 200 years ago (or more) whose name you have seized upon.
Work your way back until you reach that person – or whoever else might have been an ancestor. No point in researching his descendants for 10 generations and then finding that you aren’t related at all.
You may find much more interesting things about your ancestors than the stories that inspired you in the first place.
Do be careful about your sources of information. If you find a family tree someone else has drawn up, it might be accurate, but it could also be a fabrication, with people pencilled in who don’t belong there.
Don’t carry prejudices about your origins. It might be wonderful to find Scottish ancestors, but they might also have been horrible individuals, or not Scottish at all.
Ohiopiper wrote: “Decide which branch you want to follow.” It does no harm to concentrate on a single line of ancestry for a time, because it can get confusing following too many leads. But don’t limit yourself. All your ancestors are equally important.
Genealogy is an adventure. Accept that first, and then be prepared to make fascinating discoveries.
Regards,
Mike

[Detroitpete]

Some good advice here, Tenire, and some not so good.
Basic rule of a family tree: start where you are, then work your way backwards in time, one generation at a time. (And if you have descendants, don’t forget to include them.)
Don’t make wild assumptions. You may or may not be descended from somebody who lived 200 years ago (or more) whose name you have seized upon.
Work your way back until you reach that person – or whoever else might have been an ancestor. No point in researching his descendants for 10 generations and then finding that you aren’t related at all.
You may find much more interesting things about your ancestors than the stories that inspired you in the first place.
Do be careful about your sources of information. If you find a family tree someone else has drawn up, it might be accurate, but it could also be a fabrication, with people pencilled in who don’t belong there.
Don’t carry prejudices about your origins. It might be wonderful to find Scottish ancestors, but they might also have been horrible individuals, or not Scottish at all.
Ohiopiper wrote: “Decide which branch you want to follow.” It does no harm to concentrate on a single line of ancestry for a time, because it can get confusing following too many leads. But don’t limit yourself. All your ancestors are equally important.
Genealogy is an adventure. Accept that first, and then be prepared to make fascinating discoveries.
Regards,
Mike

All great advice! I've encountered each circumstance in my searches, but the task is also very rewarding. Who would have thought that a lad with a Swedish surname would have had ancestors from Balquhidder and others with the names Stewart and Bruce?

Keep digging, keep varifying and keep enjoying the search!