Genealogy Chat

Glad that I'm not the only one that gets a bit carried away with my tree! I tend to put my main tree into my family tree programme and on here, (most of it proven with certificates), but I also have a PAF from Family Search which I use for anyone who is slightly related, from census records etc. When I hit a brick wall with my main tree I plod along happily with the other one! My hubby thinks that I am a real saddo!! At the end of the day your tree is yours to do whatever you want. Maggy

Hi Alice, I've got very little on here - just direct rellies I am sure about. I haven't traced many family 'twigs' either - I've been chasing friends of the family. For example, I have a 'Marjoram' as a witness on a marriage certificate in the late 1830's. I didn't think much of this until I read some letters to my gran in the 1920's from her cousin, whose surname was Marjoram!! Then traced back, the two families had lived in close proximity for 90 years, and my G G aunt had married a Marjoram!! My GG grandfather and his siblings had a joint christening with the Toomey family. Found them moving around the country together as well. These people chose to live together - after all you choose your friends - not your relations, so I think they're a lovely view of social history. maggie

My tree is very 'sideways' indeed. Without the benefit of census returns and bmds going directly back can be a bit boring....so I find myself pursuing the lives of the marriage witnesses, the families of people who married my relatives...even the neighbours. Yes, it's a wonderful opportunity for a glimpse of social history. I don't think we should be too pedantic about all this. My direct line is well documented and certified but I am very curious about everyone they came into contact with as well. Find myself sending off for certs of really obscure people!

Thank you everyone for replying. Lots of tips for me and I'm sure other people picked up things too. I think I will carry on chasing my twigs - but make sure I know where info etc came from as suggested by na=many people. I still have not found a genuine rellie - however distant - to share my research with - so maybe I'll strike lucky with my new tactics! Alice

Alice It's through going for the broad brush approach that I have contacted, or been contacted by, dozens of contacts in the two years I have been on here, several of whom have supplied information which has assisted in the main tree. In return I have been able to give several people information that has helped them back three or four generations on their main line.

Hi Alice just remembered your thread, I've been putting a lot of extremely distant rellies on my tree and just today realised it is a good idea as anyone looking for these is eventually going to get to the person I started with and I can then help them get back to my earliest ancestor if needs be. AL

Alice Just a thought, if u add something in family tree maker that u are not sure about just add the comments in the sorce box, good idea to do it anyway so u can always refer to it if u wonder where the info came from Tony