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My Family Tree Research

Researching my ancestry and family tree has been my most passionate and primary hobby for many years.  As a result of having a website since the onset of my research, I’ve dialogued with dozens of distant cousins, and some have even provided me with photographs of my ancestors that my family had never seen.  Though I do not descend from anyone that is even close to being remotely famous, it does not change the fact that I find it fascinating to research my family tree.  There are “skeletons in the closet” of every family tree, and I’ve learned many interesting, scandalous, and crazy stories about my ancestors and relatives.

 

Though I am not a professional or certified genealogist, I have diligently learned to apply the same type of recognized principles and standards of proof to my research methods.  This page includes information on how to find and access my family tree database, as well as details on the approach and methodologies that I apply in my research.  Also listed further below is a personalized list of links to research sources which I regularly utilize or have applied to my research.  The photo shown above was sourced here, and is from Neil Bromley, who offers professional calligraphy services and prints for sale.  It is also intended as some dry humor as I do not descend from royalty or anyone famous.

Family Tree Database

 

Listed below are links to access and view my family tree database.  My chosen methodology for compiling my family tree is using Family Tree Maker (FTM) software, which syncs my tree with the Ancestry website.  One clear advantage of the Ancestry website is the ability to link each person to source records, as well as uploading and sharing countless photos and documents.  One major flaw of the Ancestry website is that it does not display any notes (i.e. Person Notes) from Family Tree Maker, and this is something that I find immensely frustrating as I record extensive chronological research notes for every person in my database.  For the purpose of sharing my research notes, I also have my database available on other website.  If you are curious of my relation to a specific individual, simply ask. 

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Ancestry Family Tree Database

My family tree database is publicly available on the Ancestry website, and includes source information and any photographs that I have gathered in my research.

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Geneanet Family Tree Database

My family tree database is publicly available on the Geneanet website, and contains my detailed research notes on the profile page of each person.
 

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RootsFinder Family Tree Database

My family tree database is publicly available on the RootsFinder website, and contains my detailed research notes at the bottom of the profile page of each person.
 

DNA Testing

This section contains information on how I have applied DNA testing to my family tree research.  The table below lists the family members that have been DNA tested by test provider and test type.  The most common test type is an Autosomal DNA (atDNA) test, and AncestryDNA has the largest number of people tested, and 23andMe is the second largest.  The application of DNA matches to my research is very thorough and deliberate.  The descent of each match was researched using records and documentation that meet recognized genealogical standards of proof, and the DNA matches were then carefully analyzed and applied within that context.

Test Provider

Test Type

Family Members Tested

 

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

 

Self

Father

Mother

Paternal Uncle

Paternal Uncle

Paternal Aunt

Maternal Aunt

Nephew

 

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

 

Self

 

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

 

Self

 

Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA)

 

Self

 

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

 

Self

 

Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) Testing

 

The Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test can only be taken by a male family member.  The test examines the Y-Chromosome of DNA which is transmitted from father to son, generation by generation, and enables the tracing of a common paternal ancestor.  The results of my Y-DNA test with FamilyTreeDNA indicate that my DNA is from Haplogroup R-M269. 

 

This Haplogroup is the dominant lineage today in all of Western Europe, and is also found in low frequencies in Turkey and the northern Fertile Crescent.  The application of this to DNA test to my research has been limited so far.

Listed below is further information about Y-Chromosome DNA and my Haplogroup R-M269.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Testing

 

Any family member can take a Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test.  This particular type of test examines the Mitochondrial DNA which is transmitted from mother to child, generation by generation, and enables the tracing of common maternal ancestors.  The results of my Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test with FamilyTreeDNA indicate that my DNA is from Haplogroup R, and more specifically R1a1a2.  Haplogroup R dates from approximately 65,000 years ago, and is called a superhaplogroup as it gave rise to many of the major haplogroups distributed across Europe and Asia.  The application of this DNA test to my research has been limited so far.

Listed below is further information about Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and my Haplogroup R.

Research Methodology and Sources


This section contains a categorized list of the methodology and approach of my family tree research, as well as a detailed list of the resources which I utilize and apply to my research.  This is not meant to be a comprehensive list for family tree research, and instead is a highly personalized list to my family tree and my research methodology.  This list will be continually updated and expanded. 

 

 

Personal Perspective

Everyone has wide ranging viewpoints when it comes to their ancestry, and it can trigger significant emotions in some.  I'm the polar opposite, and my personal perspective is that of complete detachment from my ancestry, which makes my research approach very direct and matter of fact.  All of the findings on my ancestry were previously unknown to me, and I don't believe that it changes me in any way, nor do I believe that it explains anything about "who I am."  As a result, I don't have any sense of pride for any accomplishments of my ancestors, nor do I have any shame over anything they may have done.  My detachment might be more extreme than most, which I fully recognize, and am careful about topics that might be potentially sensitive to some.  It would be fair to say that I get a thrill from performing actual research, especially when it comes to identifying and researching branches which have never been touched by anyone previously. 

 

 

Genealogical Proof Standard

Many frequently begin their family tree research by copying from other family trees. This approach does not present much of a concern with personally known and recognized relatives, such as with people knowing the names of their grandparents.  Continuing this practice of copying family trees beyond close relatives can lead to significant issues.  For example, inexperienced researchers frequently overlook the fact that there can be multiple people with the same name living at the same time in the same vicinity.  Copying from potentially erroneous family trees can lead to identifying incorrect ancestors and relatives, wasted time and effort, disappointment, and the propagation of error.

Almost all inexperienced family tree researchers make this mistake of copying from other family trees, which includes myself when I began my research.  The way to help prevent building an erroneous family tree is by learning actual research principles and methods.  While I am not a professional or certified genealogist, I have diligently learned to apply the same type of recognized principles and standards of proof to my research.  The most pervasively known methodology is the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) from the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), and it includes these five research elements.
 

  1. Reasonably exhaustive research

  2. Complete and accurate source citations

  3. Thorough analysis and correlation

  4. Resolution of conflicting evidence

  5. Soundly written conclusion based on the strongest evidence


The best analogy to describe how I have personally absorbed and applied this methodology to my research would be a "court room" analogy.  The mindset that I take is that of a prosecutor and a defense attorney in front of a judge, and whether I can demonstrate any findings beyond any reasonable doubt through interlocking records and documentation.  This "court room" approach is reflected by my chronological research notes, which contain transcriptions of every document and record.   Some individuals or branches in my tree may be a hypothesis or a working theory, and this will be clearly specified in my research notes, and any associated gaps will be clearly specified.

 

 

Chronological Research Notes

Many amateur family tree researchers build simplistic family trees of names and dates, and might attach links to some selected source citations.  Attributes of research using recognized genealogical standards of proof include maintaining complete and accurate source citations and soundly written conclusions, which helps minimize the potential for erroneous family trees.  My chosen research methodology might considered extreme by some, and may even go further than what some professional and certified genealogists may perform.  I record detailed chronological research notes for each person in my family tree.  The notes consist of transcribing every possible record, including birth records, marriage records, census records, newspaper articles, death records, last will and testaments, etc.

Obviously, there is a significant time burden involved with transcribing all source material, but this effort pays back in dividends.  First, it enables generating reports with the research notes, which then can be easily read and are useful for sharing research with others.  Second, it is extremely valuable in the long term, as all information for each individual can be viewed simultaneously, and does not require looking back at any source images.  For example, there might be something that you don't notice or recognize today, but might in the future. 

 

 

General Sources

This section contains a summary of the general and primary resources which I utilize in the research of my family tree.  This includes primary documentation sources for records, such as birth, marriage, death, and census, as well as secondary documentation sources, such as books and newspaper articles.

Primary Search Engines:  As part of my research, the following websites are my primary sources for finding records and documentation. These are the sources that I begin with when researching any individual and seeking records and documentation, such as birth, marriage, death, census, etc.
 

  • Ancestry:  This subscription based website offers extensive records, family tree tools, and DNA testing.  Ancestry is my primary source, and where my family tree is viewable, which I sync from Family Tree Maker (FTM).

  • FamilySearch:  This free website offers extensive records, and typically is the second source which I consult.  The website is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).  The website available to anyone, including those who are not LDS members, such as myself.  Note that I do not actively participate  in the FamilySearch Family Tree, which is crowd sourced, and subject to error as anything can be edited by anyone, etc.

Books:  As part of my research, I utilize the following websites to find  books which are no longer under copyright, and can be freely downloaded.  There are a variety of books on these sites which pertain to my family tree, and might include histories of specific families or places where they may have lived.
 

  • Google Books:  This website provides many free books which are no longer under copyright, and filters can be applied for those which are publicly available.

  • Internet Archive:  This website provides many free books which are no longer under copyright.

  • FamilySearch Books:  This website provides many free books which are no longer under copyright, and the "Access Level" filter can be applied.

 

 

Dates

Dates are relatively easy to deal with from a genealogical perspective.  From a date formatting perspective, the key recommendation from professional genealogists and subject matter experts is to be consistent, as described in this helpful video from Crista Cowan from Ancestry.  My chosen methodology is to list all dates in a formal style of month, day, and years, such as January 1, 1900. 

The confusion comes with changes associated with Julian and Gregorian calendars.  The Julian calendar was normally used in England and the colonies to report ecclesiastical and legal events until 1752, which is when the Gregorian calendar was adopted.  The new year did not begin on a Julian calendar until March 25th. As a result, dates between January 1st and March 24th are often recorded using a technique called double dating or dual dating, where the Julian year is listed first, and the Gregorian year is listed second.  For example, the recognized way of recording a date would January 1, 1733/34.  One advantage of Family Tree Maker (FTM) is that it will prompt you if a date is subject to double dating. 

  • timeanddateThis website is useful for historical calendars and date calculator for records which might only list years, months, and days.

 

Places

Place names and geographic locations can be challenging and confusing for beginners of family tree research.  For example, your ancestors may have come from countries that no longer exist, they may have settled in colonies, and there were frequent boundary changes as new states and counties were formed.  The question then becomes as what location should be listed for a given record or event, and whether you should use the location at the time of the record or the present day location.  There is no right or wrong answer, and it comes down to personal choice.  The key recommendation from professional genealogists and subject matter experts is to pick a method and be consistent, as described in this helpful video from Crista Cowan from Ancestry.
 
My chosen methodology is to always use the present day place name, as this eliminates any question as to where the location is today, and makes consistency of residence more obvious.  If the location at the time of the given record or event is different than the present day location, it is something that I account for in my research notes.  For example, I would state that the person was born "in what would be present day Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA.  At the time of her birth, Rutland was part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, which was a colony of England."  This gives me the flexibility to articulate historical context and add further historical information.
 
Boundaries changed regularly in the colonies and the USA as new states and counties were formed, which can be confusing without the tools to realize the changes.  For example, one set of my ancestors lived on the same land and the county that it was located within changed four times.  The following websites are useful for understanding historical boundary changes and determining the location on specific date.

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