Where to Start? - Some ideas on making discoveries

My search for roots took a while. 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 came from migrant generations. I was soon to realise that there were more than two sides to my family

Many people have similar problems, they might "know" where they came from, possibly some names but it is patchy and often undocumented and/or without photographs

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)

The best place to start, is with some paper and a pen or perhaps the computer. Make a list of things you know, even the most colourful or ridiculous. It doesn;t have to be factual - you are going to brainstorm the information. Make a note of who gave the idea, told the story or whether it was common knowledge. Include anything and everything. If you have old photos make a scan of them and add notes about what you know, what you might know and what do you not know. Review any old photos and discuss them with relatives if you can, This all seems a bit crazy but the process starts to define where you should start and that doesn't necessarily mean go ing to the reord depositories! Choose your own path and pick your own projects.

Recent family hisotries in 'Western' countries are well documentes back to the 1860s. It is not necessary to have certificates unless you need them for other purposes. In most cases an image can be found online and the information taken for your records.

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.

There is also the possibility of starting several directions of research, Rather than wait for three weeks for some record to be available why not persue another line of enquiry? DNA is often needed as an extra way round problems and sometimes an important tool to verify or not paper evidence. Don't worry, at family history level it is easy to understand - promise!

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.

Some Further Thoughts

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 jobs or roles ancestors had, 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, some curious, some normal, unassuming people with knowledge and experiences and chatting to folk, 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? Maybe there is no way to establish definite links between one family and another but only by association. If you are discussing your tree with another interested partym say as much? It helps the other party to know how to reply and talk about difficult issues? So many trees on the internet have obvious faults, some covering up, some are accidental but others are known and the owner is maybe 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 too? Some things are a chore but doing things one job at a time makes it less onerous and chips away at the mountain without exhausting yourself

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, ;Time to 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.

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

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