One Family at a time???

[redtail]

Hi all,

Kate here from Western Australia.
I started out researching my family a few years ago, but have had to put it aside for a while. 
I have just got back into it, and am loving it. 
My question is, should I stick to one branch of the family tree, and follow only that or research what branches I have information on???

Its so interesting and exciting, especially when I came here and found someone else looking for a branch of my family..but I don't want to get carried away  and bogged down...

Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Oh I am also a memeber of the Australind Family History Society, and hope to get back there soon

Kate

[Jetdragon]

Hi Kate

I had very much the same dilemma when I started my researches a couple of years back - but have finally concentrated on the 4 parental branches of my tree (i.e my parents and my wife's parents).

It is very easy to get dragged onto tangents when you find a plethora of information available to take you in that direction - but there's no harm in looking when you have the time and it's part of the fun isn't it

The real fun starts when you get the same surname cropping up in a number of families but in the same geographical target area - trying to understand the dynamics of those relationships (i.e. how does Bill Blogg's family tie in with Joe Blogg's who lives a few streets away) can be really challenging - but very rewarding when you discover another line of relations you were not aware of.

Thus I would say go where you have the time and where your main interests lie - but don't be too hard on yourself when you find you are drifting from the main focus of your researches - just enjoy yourself

Best wishes for your researches

Dave

[redtail]

Thanks Dave,

Its all so intriguing, and interesting. 

I find it interesting that my Dads Family, and my Sisters Husbands family both lived in the same wheatbelt town at the same time.....  It really is a small world.

Looking forward to spending some time here

[Billyblue]

Hi Kate and welcome to RootsChat
I'd echo Dave's sentiments.
If you restrict yourself to one family, you might miss something that crops up on one of the others'.

I note that you belong to Australind FHS.  I visited their rooms a few years ago (when the big FH Congress was in Perth) and found people very helpful.  So talk to other members there, too, whenever you can.  It's amazing how often you hear of cousins being 'united' at their local FHS.
Recently, two friends of mine at QFHS, who've known each other for some years, discovered they both belonged to one big family!

Happy hunting
Dawn M

[redtail]

Hi Dawn,

Thanks for your reply.   I shall keep doing as I have been then 

Yes I love the Australind group, have only been there a few times, but felt so welcomed.

[Craclyn]

You can miss out on so many interesting finds if you just restrict yourself to one line. You will probably also find that branching out sideways and downwards may be the only way to pick up on some leads that will take you further back on the lines you want to focus most on.

Happy hunting

[weste]

I agree with not restricting as I find there 's quite commonly more than one marriage between families and sometimes like as said you may find a lead .

[redtail]

thank you, glad I have been doing the right thing. 

[Newey]

Hi Kate,

Sewell, Parker, Wyborn -  all very old W.A. names from the wheatbelt area.

My son-in-law has these names in his family.  I think his grandmother was a Sewell from around Northam.  I bet someone has written books on these families so it could be worth checking at the State Library of W.A. 

Jan
Perth.