where and how to start

Draw up a pedigree chart

• It is wise to begin by make a basic family tree from the facts and information you already have. The simplest form is a drop-line pedigree or family tree chart.
• Begin with the birth of the oldest child in each generation on the left hand side of the tree, and along the line through to the youngest on the right hand side.
• Fill in additional names, dates, places and facts as you go along.
• Work backwards from the known to the unknown, a generation at a time, starting with yourself.
• Describing family relationships in family trees

Ask the family

• Your oldest relatives are a first priority.
• Don’t forget second and third cousins!
• Be prepared to discover distant cousins you have previously been unaware of.
• Visit in person if you possibly can
• Prepare a list of questions
• Ask about any documents or photos, no matter how trivial they may seem
• Ask about naming patterns and past religious affiliations
• Ask about anyone who may have emigrated
• Ask about anyone else in the family who has been, or is, researching the family tree
• Record any family legends or anecdotes but never assume they are correct. Check all family stories against known facts.

Examples of useful family documents

• Pages from family bibles and record books
• Diaries, reminiscences, journals, scrapbooks, old address books and even notebooks
• Letters
• Apprenticeship indentures, employment records, paybooks, union membership cards, ration books
• War service records, discharge documents, flying logs, medals
• Certificates, confirmation cards, bookplates, school reports, awards and prizes
• Obituaries, memorial cards, funeral and tombstone receipts
• Business letterheads, billheads

Check genealogical guides to surnames

• Genealogical Research Directory (Sainty and Johnson)
• British Isles Genealogical Register (BIG R)
• Family History Society Members’ Interests Lists
• One Name Societies
• Family Tree Magazine : Readers’ Interests and Connections Sought pages Surname Lists on the Web

Recording information

• Transcribe exactly what has been written and not what you think it should be
• Record all references – source name and catalogue or reference number
• Record what sources you have searched, and any negative findings as well

A warning about surnames

• Stability in the spelling of surnames only came about in the later 19th century, with the advent of compulsory schooling and an emphasis on consistent spelling
• Think about WHO was recording the name; also be aware of the effect of illiteracy, inconsistent spelling, local dialects and accents
• Take a flexible attitude to the form and spelling of a surname

If you have followed the above and wish to delve further into your ancestry by using original documents,