What should I do?

[maisiemo]

Some advice needed please.

I started my family tree just over two years ago.  For about a year I tried to do some every day and loved every minute of it.  I used mainly Find my Past for research, and Family Historian for recording everything.  I was happy with both of those.  I have a Mac computer and was using Family Historian in a Windows partition of the Mac.  I also have MacFamilyTree which I got with the Mac when new, but did not like it.  I have however kept upgrading it when prompted.

For the past year home circumstances meant that I was doing no family history at all although i did keep the Find my Past subscription up to date. 

I am now on my own and want to get back to my research, but I am not quite sure how to proceed.  Previously I was looking at both my own family history and my husbands.  I had them both in one tree.  Should I now leave his side dormant and carry on with my family?  Should I start again with only my family.  Secretly (shhhh)  I would be sorry to lose his family as there were a few interesting people in there, but I realise that it is probably not correct for me to keep them.

In a way it is a new start whatever I do. I have been so far from it all that I have forgotten a lot, plus now that I am back I discover that Find my Past is unrecognisable to me, and since my Mac operating system has been upgraded, Family Historian does not work so well in the Mac partition.  However MacFamilyTree is much better now than it used to be and I also have a copy of Family Tree Maker3 for Mac.

I know I can move the Gedcom file to other software.  I also know that this is an opportunity to get things better than before.  I was never sure what exactly to record as Source so printed a sheet for any census or BMD record that I found and confirmed.  I want to make the right decision but am not sure what that is.

So ......... do I?
1.  Split/separate the two families data?
2.  Leave one half of the tree dormant?
3.  New start with only my family?
4.  Move to a Mac program?
5.  Try to learn the new Find my Past?
6.  Move to something else for research and if so, what would you recommend?

I hope this makes some kind of sense.  I realise it is a bit messy but it is just how it is unfortunately.  I hope you good people can advise me. 

[janan]

Hi Maisiemo

Sorry things have been difficult for you but glad you now feel able to return to your research. I don't think there is a right or wrong way, just what you feel is best. However if at the moment you are feeling you shouldn't continue with your husband's side then perhaps leaving it dormant and/or separating it may be a way forward -  the people you researched on his side are still part of your history afterall. You can always change your mind later.
As for learning the new Findmypast - I found it difficult initially but am getting the hang of it as I don't want to be without the Westminster and Hertfordshire records!

Good luck with your research
Jan

[Finley 1]

Sorry that things have changed for you.

But I feel that you should not disregard what you have already done - put it all safely tucked away as a basic reference (both sides  - cos what ever happened it is part of your life)

Then make a completely new start - concentrating on your side, picking out notes etc to help you along.

Yep everything has changed on the Net - but you will soon get used to it.
Up and at em... I say

xin

[Craclyn]

Your families were joined for a while during your marriage and it makes sense to me to leave everything in one tree, but focus on developing your own side further.

[Mike in Cumbria]

If you have children, carrying on with researching your ex's history on their behalf seems perfectly sensible.
Even if not, and you are interested in his history, I don't see why you shouldn't continue. We don't own our ancestors, they are public property.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I totally agree with Mike in Cumbria. As I was reading through I thought " but what about any children? His tree is part of their heritage" - keep it as it is, then at least it's there, at least. If you find you want to look further - why not?

[hullnow]

Hi maisiemo
I don`t think you should stop researching your husbands side ,you can keep it dormant but still research as you feel comfortable with doing so.Who knows in the future someone from his family may decide to get into family history and you have a useful record for them.I feel we do not research family history just for ourselves but for future generations too.Whatever you choose I wish you well

[maisiemo]

Thank you all very much for your replies.  They have been very helpful.  The consensus seems to be that I should continue with both sides of the family which pleases me as I would not like the work I have done to go to waste.  Although my husband is from a large family with many large branches it seems that nobody has much interest in any family research - I always thought they were missing out on that as it can be so interesting.

Rather than deciding everything right now which is what I was trying to do, I should continue as before with more emphasis on my own family, and give the new FindMyPast a chance before discarding it for some other research tools.  I have purchased several software programs in my indecision on the recording side, but I will export the Gedcom file to them and see which suits me best, before I embark on any new 'tree'. 

So thank you once again for the advice.  I have no doubt I will be back with more questions at some stage.  I will need to get a move on though as I am 71yrs old already!

Anne
(Maisie is my little cat)

[janan]

Happy hunting Anne

Jan