Some ideas on making discoveries

My search for roots took a while - but they were where they have always been? This Irish-ism is what happens when you have family tales or legend that you know to be fundamentally true but you have to prove or disprove the case?

My tree was not discovered by the convention of working backwards, there was no realistic access to records, it was expensive and no one was sure exactly where to get them as the family had moved over generations. Both sides of my family had been migrants in previous generations. I was soon to realise that there were more than two sides and two cultures to my family

Eventually, I decided; I understood my life in England and knew most of my relatives living there but knew less about my other culture that I had more affinity woth. I had no grandfather in Ireland and the Crowe side was a mystery of sorts. Fortunately, my grandmother was that relative that knew everything about the family and supported by many stories from my grandmother, at the age of ten, I began a lifelong voyage of discovering who I am. We knew there was a place called Glenanee in Tipperary but no way to find it and no townlands.ie She also told me about the surnamevariations too. Sure enough it was right but htere were more variations than expected and I had to do my own survey.

So, no chance to do conventional research until I was an adult and all my grandparents had passed, I was able to focus on history, culture and oral history and traditions.

Eventually I found myself with a science degree, some money to get records, expertise with DNA and fuelled by a love of people, life and social history.

My strategy was never developed in a formal way but I was a 'constant magnet' for information and any angle of family history or Dna was examined and all kinds of information absorbed or retained for possible worth - the value of things are not always fully understood at the point of contact. I constantly suggest to people starting out that you need to start with what you know. Probably, there are thoughts, customs, attitudes, stories or habits from your family that you may not think important but are.

Directions

Despite the apparent randomness of this, it is important to start some kind of organisation and to be thorough in your research. Don't try to make a perfect system from the start, it will change over time. being organised, anticipating what knowledge you need before diving into a reository of records or information is prefereable to get thte most out of it.

Sometimes there are no set directions because we are looking for the end of the ball of string that has become hidden amongst all the other pieces of string. Try to investigate something that seems to be true, something firmer. If it works, fine, if it doesn't work, also fine. Then look for the next angle and try that?

Take all family information as gospel and write it down - regardless of your scepticism! Even victims of something unforgettable, like 9/11, can change their ideas about something as little as a year after the event. (ref Psych2go)

Never ignore an idea or a notion about something. A little like dreams, we have ideas for a reason. The idea may be a misconception but if you investigate it you will find out why you or the family had the idea.

Disbelieve everything and be prepared to change a view or even change back a view that you hold. Be your own devils advocate, challenge your own opinions.

Sometimes it is good to wander off the beaten track when you try various ideas. If you make a discovery it is good to try and expand some aspect. Maybe you found an occupation or a military experience. Can you understand what this was like for the ancestor, this may seem fanciful but it has a positive effect on how you do the next research steps. If time is not available hold the idea, arrange your information so that you can understand it when you come back later (note to self!).

Everyone diverges into side issues whether it be the social consequences, the history, the culture, self discovery......... I have met three people who wrote novels based on the discoveries of their ancestors. Maybe not best sellers but a real recreation of lives past, in one case of a mining community that was hidden by relatives as a 'shameful', working class past of their now affluent lifestyle. For me it is meeting the people, curious, normal unassuming people with knowledge and experiences and chatting, I do like chatting!

Building a 3D image of your research can be an important asset in directing your research and helping understand different lives, different decisions made living in different circumstances in a different world to our own.

It is ok to be 70 percent confident about something! Especially in Irish genealogy, it can not always be 0 or 100 percent? There is no way to establish definite links between one family and another but by association. Say so, if you are discussing your tree with another interested party? It helps the other party to talk about difficult issues? So many trees on the internet have obvious faults, some accidental but others are known and the owner is grandstanding. Tread gently, ask questions be supportive?

Be aware, it is a powerfully emotional subject with sometimes unexpected consequences? Anyone watching the perennial BBC television series, "Who Do You Think You Are?" will know how unexpected and convoluted family history can be but emotional events can happen to anyone in anyone;s history?

See the Famine Graveyard story here for my own surprise moment

Don’t be too obsessional. Have a cup of tea or a glass of wine and take time to reflect on 'where you're at' with your tree. It will be exhausting, challenging, frustrating - Enjoy the success and discoveries you make and do not worry excessively about what you can’t do.

Enjoy the discovery process as you would any other hobby or pastime?

As always discoveries are sometimes an indefinable blend of intuition, folklore, records, thinking laterally, making a 3D image of knowledge. Re-building not only families but social circumstances mixed with history takes time but the 3D image helps to tie in the loose bits of knowledge and form the reality. Usually we get facts and put some flesh on the bones but it can work in reverse too. Follow the notions and whims, the family folklore, sometimes getting knocked back in the process but it allows the different viewing angles that help us to look in the right places.

An important consideration is always, ;Timeto think', contemplation, the tea-break moment, allowing the subconcious to work and allowing a fresh approach when you return to the task?

My methodology described here  for anyone interested in Crowes in Tipperary

The very best of luck! Enjoy your research, enjoy the journey!

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