Basics Of Genealogy

Everyone has a desire to know where they come from, where they get their red hair or their green eyes from, and sometimes even a desire to know why they are mechanically inclined! In recent years this desire has strengthened interest in genealogy research. Fortunately, with the increase in interest, comes an increase in the information readily available to even the novice hobbyist. To better understand the basics of genealogy, it is important to differentiate between a family tree and genealogy.

Genealogy encompasses the research and study of not just the recent history of immediate family members but also the lineage of a family dating back as far as available historical records will permit. Genealogy research will, often times, provide researchers with information pertaining to the way in which people lived, where they lived, a medical history, and other interesting nuggets of information otherwise not previously known.

A family tree can be represented in either plain text or graphical form and it can be a useful representation of the basic history of a family branching back several generations. However, a family tree is not necessarily a good way to preserve information about and document deeper aspects of a relative’s life; like the above mentioned lifestyle information.

Another important aspect to understanding the basics of genealogy is to realize that there is often information to be found in the most unlikely of places. Newspapers and libraries, recognizing the need to preserve and share information for a wider audience, have taken steps to scan and upload copies of papers and other stored records (like microfiche) to both free and paid membership websites.

Many older churches have kept records dating several generations back; these records can be a treasure trove of baptism records, wedding information, and even funeral records. As technology improves, several of these churches are also taking the needed steps to digitally preserve their records for future research.

Where found records and information once needed to be hand documented, there are now commercially available software packages that will assist researchers of all calibers in thoroughly documenting their findings. Additionally, several websites now exist that not only provide researchers the ability to document and store their findings but also allow them to connect with other researchers.

Once a good source of information has been located it will often lead to more sources of information from another avenue; these links will often direct an intrepid researcher to several people who have done their own research on another aspect on a common relative’s life. Making those connections with other genealogy hobbyists or historians is a vital part of genealogy research because it will open previously unknown and unexplored doors.

A large part of genealogy research is being willing to explore those previously unknown avenues to find those missing links and missing gems of information. Keeping an open mind is also another vital part of research into a family background; not all of the information gleaned is going to be suitable for discussion at your next family brunch. We all have a deep and rich history behind how we got to where we are today; using your best investigative skills, along with your desire to know more, will allow you uncover that history. Even the somewhat unsavory aspects of your family history!

About the Author

Jeff Sallee is a genealogy enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this satisfying hobby. For more information on the basics of genealogy  visit www.secretsofgenealogy.com  where Jeff exposes some of the latest secrets of genealogy research to other enthusiasts who want to climb higher into the family tree.

Find Your Long Lost Invisible Irish Relatives

Invisible relatives may pertain to those people who are difficult to find or are perhaps hidden relatives.  A relative can be considered missing if he or she does not appear even in one of the volume of records containing your family’s history. Detailed information of your invisible relative can be hard to uncover. You don’t probably suspect that he or she exists before you begin your research.

You need to know some of the reasons why such things happen.

• Women are most often categorized as invisible relatives. Keep in mind that women didn’t have legal identities of their own in many countries. They are not regularly mentioned in community records. In Ireland, property was rarely registered in the name of a woman from the 18th to 19th century. When registration of civil marriages took place in 1865, only the father’s name of both couples is listed.

• If family members disapproved of a relationship, thinking that it can bring disgrace to their family, they would hide it consciously.  For example, a widow who wanted to marry again but her children are all grown up.

• It runs in the tradition of the Irish, they always want to portray the best face and feet forward. They omit sad memories from the tales about their family. Thus, infants and young children who are already dead were never mentioned again.

• Some common records used in genealogy research are incomplete. The contents have entirely missed important things about the person. Maybe, they failed to anticipate that the latest generation would likely want to know about their origins.  Some census reports in the U.S have this problem.  Former spouses were never mentioned on the record, as well as the date of immigration until 1900.

So, some Irish who are just starting to find their genealogy can face a lot of challenges. It is advisable not to rely too much on what they find on the written records. However, any piece of information is important to help you in your research. No matter how small the information is, you can unravel many things once you dig deeper.

Never assume that the norms in the 20th and 21st century, made sense 50, 100, or 200 years ago. Try to learn and understand that norms vary according to time and place.  Considering all the records (both Irish and American) are helpful in solving the jigsaw puzzles of your life, in case your family already migrated in the U.S. This process is also similar in other countries.

There are factors that you should concentrate on when finding an invisible Irish relative. Checking the census can be effective in finding the persons who are related to the one you are looking for. Another is to learn some significant traditions associated with the place. For example, in Ireland, the naming tradition is very popular. Irish men name their oldest son after their grandfather. If the person is already married, then search for the marriage record. Take note, during the 1860′s, divorce was not favored in Ireland. So, better check for death records also in case the name changed.

Finally, be patient as your research progresses. After all, it is worthwhile to embrace your origin again and find the missing part of your life.

Scrapbooking Your Family Tree