General Chat

How far do you go putting twiglets on the twigs on the branches if you see what I mean and do you stick to one family at a time. I think I am getting bogged down, just wondered how other's felt Ann,Darlington

I get bogged down. Look on LDS and then start looking at complete strangers who lived next door!! Not nosey by nature really! Then hours pass and I'm none the wiser!!!!

I must admit that I also research the twiglets as well as the direct lines. I just put that down to me being nosy! My mum-in-law only researches her direct line ancestors, which I think is a bit boring! I also get a bit bogged down with it all and wonder which line to follow next. Maggy

I'm a bit of a flibberty jibet(?) and don't stick to researching any one person at a time. Hit a brick wall with my GG Grandfather though so decided to concentrate on him for a while. If it hadn't been for the twiglets I wouldn't have found him! Naomi

At the moment, all my information that everyone keeps giving me has taken me sideways and not upwards which is a shame. I have sort of come to a halt at the moment

At the moment, all my information that everyone keeps giving me has taken me sideways and not upwards which is a shame. I have sort of come to a halt at the moment

Hi Ann, Glad to know I'm not the only twiglet chaser!! I jump from one side of the family to the other, when the going starts to get really tough. I follow the twiglets till the info dries up! Debbie

I am all over the show! I started my research with my paternal grandmother's family when most people would be itching to find out about people with their own surname and I actually found a distant relative from that side on this site! Now I'm more involved with my maternal grandmother's side- still not researching Sturt which was my maiden name- still haven't got a system but I'm having fun any how!

Twigs, branches leaves...I look at them all. when I get stuck on one I go look at someone els and go back to the other one later. You can find out a lot by looking at who your great grandmothers brother married (or whoever) after all 9 times out of 10 they lived in the same area mixed with the same people and worked in the same places lol I also end up looking at the neibours on LDS site...well, you never know who's lurking round the corner so it's worth a look Sheila

I let people determine my directions- I have messages on so many sites, most of which I forget, then another living relative pops up and we have fun putting it together. Thats at least 20 living relatives in the last 12 months, who all do it differently...some worry one detail for weeks...others want to go off photographing gravestones...some are into old pics...others just love the records office. The research is secondary to the mutual enthusiasm of the thing. Probably explains the success of this site.

Yes Sheila, I also look at neighbours on the census, you never know who you might find! I found 5 families of ancestors on 2 consecutive census pages. I even found someone from one side of the family married to someone on another branch! My hubby thinks that we are a family of inter-breeds, especially as my grandparents were also cousins! Maggy

I started - intending to trace both maternal grandparents - direct lines only. Well, now I have twigs - leaves etc. Hit one brickwaal, moved sideways, went back and forward. Think brickwall might be smashed - just waiting on certs to confirm!! Now starting on paternal line too!! and also include people who "married" into family. It never stops - wish there were more hours in the day!! Liz

I put loads of twigs on because it helps me gets leads. I have a strict rule to stop it getting out of hand - anyone related to the main bloodline is fair game and I also record their spouses, but no other non-blood relatives. I think it helps you understand a lot more about people's lives to understand the whole family too. I found a GG grandparent directly as a result of doing this and think I now have his parents too. I also made contact with the wife of a third cousin I never new I had through GC as a result of keeping info on possible brothers & sisters of another G grandmother. Despite these good reasons I'm also obsessive ! Rick.

I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one who gets muddled and stuck at times. It's usefull to see how other's deal with where to go next Ann