Let’s face it—it can be hard
to tell your ancestors apart from others with similar names, ages, and
residences. It’s especially hard when all you have to go on is a single record, a short listing
in an index or database, or a name in someone else’s online family
tree.
In fact, it’s kind of like
picking your suitcase out from a long line of similarly sized and colored bags on the baggage claim belt. How can you be sure you’ve got the right one?
That’s a problem every
genealogist faces at some point. So it’s good to have a few strategies up your
sleeve. After all, who wants to waste time tracking a false lead, or have to go back and prune stray branches off their tree later?
Which is precisely the reason
I wrote my latest article, “Mistaken Identities,” for Family Tree Magazine. In it, I offer seven strategies for making
sure the records you claim actually belong to your ancestors.
All seven strategies are easy
to implement, and can help you keep your genealogy hunt on track. I talk about:
- the best way to use online family trees
- how to see what’s behind an index or database listing
- how tools like charts and timelines can help
- what a map can show you
- why you should get to know your ancestor's network
- the danger of making assumptions
- how to play devil’s advocate to settle tricky questions
The article is filled with details and examples. You’ll find it
in the January/February 2016 issue of Family
Tree Magazine. For a little preview, check out my interview with Lisa
Louise Cooke in this newly-released podcast. It was a real thrill for me to
talk with Lisa, who I’ve admired for a long time.
The current issue of Family Tree Magazine has a lot of other
great articles too, all aimed at being “Your 2016 Genealogy Discovery Guide.” Authors include Sunny Jane Morton, Harold Henderson, David Fryxell, Karin Berry, Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, Denise Levenick, and Maureen Taylor. If
you’re not a subscriber, you might be able to find a copy at your local
bookstore (my Barnes & Noble’s carries it), or see the Family Tree Magazine website to order one. You can also get it as a
digital download if you prefer.
I hope you find the article
helpful and inspiring. I’d love to hear your feedback, as well as any other
tips you might have for avoiding mix-ups. Here’s wishing you a successful year
of finding your ancestors!
--Shelley
Photo of flight baggage by skeddy in NYC, used under terms of Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license