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Author Topic: How Do They Do It In The U.S.  (Read 3872 times)

Offline LAgenealogy

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #18 on: Saturday 15 November 08 23:58 GMT (UK) »
As an American I can tell you how I do it in the US.  I read books. I visit libraries.  I search for facts.  I document sources.  I do NOT research *exclusively* on Ancestry.com.  I *do* utilize the internet and search abroad for much the same - books, vital statistics, parish libraries, universities etc. I post querys to message boards,  mailing lists and search for contacts who may have the information I'm looking for outside of the US and inside of the US.  It's fun. I can appreciate those on-line family trees that are extensively sourced and cited.  One day maybe I will have a tree that is just blooming fantastic. (I don't hold out and  hope for blue blood though.)

The question was a fair one.  I hope that my American "root digging techniques" have  helped.

Offline Comosus

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #19 on: Sunday 16 November 08 11:29 GMT (UK) »
Tracing back your family tree can only go so far. Quite frankly, anyone who claims to have traced back to Adam and Eve or Jesus has been using inaccurate/incorrect information. This thread just shows why information submitted to the LDS should be taken with a handful of salt.

Andrew

Offline Siamese Girl

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #20 on: Sunday 16 November 08 11:32 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: LAgenealogy on Saturday 15 November 08 23:58 GMT (UK)
As an American I can tell you how I do it in the US.  I read books. I visit libraries.  I search for facts.  I document sources.  I do NOT research *exclusively* on Ancestry.com.  I *do* utilize the internet and search abroad for much the same - books, vital statistics, parish libraries, universities etc. I post querys to message boards,  mailing lists and search for contacts who may have the information I'm looking for outside of the US and inside of the US.  It's fun. I can appreciate those on-line family trees that are extensively sourced and cited.  One day maybe I will have a tree that is just blooming fantastic. (I don't hold out and  hope for blue blood though.)

The question was a fair one.  I hope that my American "root digging techniques" have  helped.

Hello and welcome  :)

I'm sure the subject of this thread isn't in any way a dig at at Americans any more than any other nationality - more a reflection of the huge amount of rubbish and disinformation there is on the web - and not only genealogical rubbish!

Carole
CHILD Glos/London, BONUS London, DIMSDALE London, HODD and TUTT Sussex,  BONNER and PATTEN Essex, BOWLER and HOLLIER Oxfordshire, HUGH Lincolnshire, LEEDOM all.

Offline Bilge

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #21 on: Sunday 16 November 08 11:57 GMT (UK) »
Ummm! ???

Some fall on stoney ground! ::)
ABELL-Hfds & Glouc. AWFORD-Glouc, Hfds & Worcs. DANTER-Glouc,Hfds & Worcs. DAUNTER-Hfds, Glouc & Worcs. BAYLISS-Worcs & Glouc. BILLINGHAM-Hfds. JENKINS-Glam, & Hfds. PIPER-Suffolk, Glam & Hfds. CULLUM-Hfds, Suffolk & Mom.
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives

Offline RJ_Paton

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #22 on: Sunday 16 November 08 19:30 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: Bilge on Sunday 16 November 08 11:57 GMT (UK)
Ummm! ???

Some fall on stoney ground! ::)

Threads on RC often get sidetracked  ;)

To get back to your original point - pre 1837 it's (in England & Wales) very much a matter of checking and rechecking the Parish registers, Grave references etc and often following a side branch just to provide that piece of confirmation needed.

If you are really lucky you may find a link to what is known as a "Gateway Ancestor" -  generally from one of the Nobility Houses whose genealogical lines have been preserved - although again the watchword is , as always, caution. Some medieval histories are honest endeavours while others may make wild and unsubstantiated claims.

The references regarding  Mathew Pinsent on the TV show referred to a gateway ancestor of his whose lineage was traced back through several high ranking families to the Royal Family. The original medieval researcher to show that the king was governing by divine right somehow managed to trace a link to Christ.

Offline LAgenealogy

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Re: How Do They Do It In The U.S.
« Reply #23 on: Wednesday 19 November 08 20:47 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: Comosus on Sunday 16 November 08 11:29 GMT (UK)
Tracing back your family tree can only go so far. Quite frankly, anyone who claims to have traced back to Adam and Eve or Jesus has been using inaccurate/incorrect information. This thread just shows why information submitted to the LDS should be taken with a handful of salt.

Andrew

Make that two handfulls, please.
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