Author Topic: Family History Software Programs  (Read 621 times)

Offline jmp

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #9 on: Thursday 10 April 25 18:14 BST (UK) »
Thanks Nick for the advice re Ancestry etc. I have never put a tree online myself as I didn't like the very very small print they had buried in their terms and conditions ( and may still have) which said that whatever was on there was "their property". I prefer a standalone program which I can check against Ancestry/FindMyPast from the outside if necessary ;)
Devon: Hortop, Phillips, Palmer, (Lamerton area)
Derbyshire: Hancock, Widdowson (Sheffield area)
Suffolk:Ratcliff ,Howlett, (Lowestoft area)
Kent:Ratcliff (Ramsgate area)
Norfolk: Stout, Fiske

Offline Biggles50

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #10 on: Thursday 10 April 25 22:00 BST (UK) »
Roots Magic.

It is cheaper than many other Apps.

It has good error checking tools.

You can upload a full tree to Ancestry, including media, documents etc and keep the two trees sync’d via its Tree Share feature.

It is a good idea to subscribe to and to have a tree on Ancestry (you can make the tree Private but searchable).

If you have not taken a DNA test then your family tree is just a series of people with documentation to support their inclusion, the tree is not necessarily an accurate representation of your biological family.  Only with DNA validation of each branch back to say 4xGGP can you be confident that it is a Biological Family Tree.

Online Erato

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #11 on: Thursday 10 April 25 22:45 BST (UK) »
"Maybe we have to blame America"

Perhaps 'thank' would be a better verb.  There's no truckling to archaic French in our spelling.  It's simple and non-effete.   If Brits were in charge, we'd have wigwammes and spamme.
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Offline jmp

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #12 on: Thursday 10 April 25 23:00 BST (UK) »
Thanks Biggles for another vote for Rootsmagic. I will pass it on.

No, I havent gone down the DNA route myself and don't intend to in the near future. I have had extensive dealings in my professional life with DNA results produced by Government departments for Court cases to know that even they are fallible. Let alone companies which make a profit without the proper checks and balances being in place.

I suppose that Family History is now two separate entities. Do you want a biological tree based on DNA or do you want the "family tree" based upon who actually was responsible for bringing the child up and who they, the child, regarded as their parents or step parents? At the moment I am happy to go down the latter route with the accompanying documentation and historical implications. I know I have a couple of illegitimate lines in there already some of which I know who the parents are and some I dont.  Maybe sometime in the future one of my descendants might want to look at the DNA version when the results are a little more accurate.  ;)
Cheers
Jackie
Devon: Hortop, Phillips, Palmer, (Lamerton area)
Derbyshire: Hancock, Widdowson (Sheffield area)
Suffolk:Ratcliff ,Howlett, (Lowestoft area)
Kent:Ratcliff (Ramsgate area)
Norfolk: Stout, Fiske


Offline Biggles50

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #13 on: Friday 11 April 25 08:31 BST (UK) »
Thanks Biggles for another vote for Rootsmagic. I will pass it on.

No, I havent gone down the DNA route myself and don't intend to in the near future. I have had extensive dealings in my professional life with DNA results produced by Government departments for Court cases to know that even they are fallible. Let alone companies which make a profit without the proper checks and balances being in place.

I suppose that Family History is now two separate entities. Do you want a biological tree based on DNA or do you want the "family tree" based upon who actually was responsible for bringing the child up and who they, the child, regarded as their parents or step parents? At the moment I am happy to go down the latter route with the accompanying documentation and historical implications. I know I have a couple of illegitimate lines in there already some of which I know who the parents are and some I dont.  Maybe sometime in the future one of my descendants might want to look at the DNA version when the results are a little more accurate.  ;)
Cheers
Jackie

Another to me very useful feature of Roots Magic is that you can create a USB Memory Stick which has the software and the full family tree on it.  The software will run off the device and all the tree is fully viewable including the documents, media etc.  Useful for supplying copies to family members for inclusion in their own version of the family archives.

DNA testing is a personal choice and its accuracy for genealogical research is well proven.  However I understand the views of others who are less enamoured with using DNA with their family research.

If I have a DNA match who shares 100cM of DNA with me, we are related, and I have the documents and citations to verify the tree branch pathway between us hence DNA validates that pathway. 

My birth certificate has my father shown, it is a false document, from a Genealogical perspective we cannot now rely on the accuracy of documents alone in proving a relationship.

DNA has shown that he was not my Biological Father, a DNA test has shown that my Half Sister shares 1800cM with me, and hence I know who my Biological Father was. 

So 15 years of family research has via a DNA test revealed that Half my Family Tree is incorrect.

Now is the time to generate a Family Tree that is both Biological and Familial in nature, and that is the case with my own as the branch lines from both my Biological Father and my “adopted Dad” are included in my tree.

Offline jmp

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Re: Family History Software Programs
« Reply #14 on: Friday 11 April 25 13:47 BST (UK) »
Well that is very useful information Biggles and I will certainly pass it on to her. I am pleased you discovered your  biological father as a result and the inclusion of your familial family is also nice to hear :D
Devon: Hortop, Phillips, Palmer, (Lamerton area)
Derbyshire: Hancock, Widdowson (Sheffield area)
Suffolk:Ratcliff ,Howlett, (Lowestoft area)
Kent:Ratcliff (Ramsgate area)
Norfolk: Stout, Fiske