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When considering the bonds and lineage, family tree diagrams are very often a useful way to get a good idea how people are interrelated. It can make it easier to get sense of where people fit within it and can even make it easier for other to contribute. They do not need to be overly fancy or detailed, (although it is almost certain that some within the family will have a propensity to be detailed) but it should, at the very least, contain the basic information necessary to get a good idea as to how people are actually connected to each other. If you are thinking about doing it, do it- because it will never be any easier for future generations to start… |
Here are 7 of the most useful things to know:
- Name (If married and applicable maiden as well as married name)
- Place of birth
- Date of birth
- Spouse(s)
- Children
- Employment or business
- Current address
As I mentioned you can go into more detail in making family tree diagrams or records and probably it will come up as a matter of course in any discussion or reunion of family members.
Those types additional details include but are certainly not limited to:
- Education
- Accomplishments
- Current endeavors
- Current employment or business
- Deaths of family members and those dates
- The birth or grandchildren or great grandchildren
If you aren’t sure where to start, start at the beginning. Family tree diagrams are easiest to start from the vantage point of yours since you are likely most familiar with them. Then go out as far as you can, answering at least the 7 starter questions outlined above.
Some effective ways of doing this are getting ahold of old letters, photos, and talking to members of your family, including the older members who will have more history to remember. Remember to document what they tell you.
Free Genealogy Websites
If you are interesting in seeing what information you can find on others there are many free genealogy websites on the Internet which can help you organize the information you collect, as well asfind a lot of useful and helpful information to fill in the missing pieces.
We don’t advocate any particular one, but among the free genealogy websites that are most well known are: