1. 5
Steps to Climbing Your Family Tree

2. 5 Steps to Climbing Your Family Tree
What do I already know?
What specific questions need to be answered?
What information sources might answer my question?
What do the information sources actually tell me?
What conclusions can I reach?
Genealogical research, like any other kind of research, involves a cycle of basic steps.
Here, I break it down into 5 . The sequence matters in the sense that one step builds on the previous one.

3. Identify what information you already know to be true
1. What Do I Already Know?
Identify what information you already know to be true
Your own experience
Stories other family members told
Documents in your possession
The first step in doing genealogical research is to identify what information you already know to be true. This information generally comes from your own experience or from documents already in your possession.
It is important to gather as much information as possible frorn living relatives. Even if the information is inaccurate or incoplete it can still server as a useful reference point when you locate documented information.

4. Keep Good Records 1. What Do I Already Know?
Papers and photos in file folders
Scan / photograph documents and store on computer (have a backup plan!)
Because human memory is fallible, it is important for you to keep permanent records of the information already known to you. For many years, genealogists have recorded information using printed forms such as pedigree charts and family group sheets. (These forms are explained in detail later).
Today, it is becoming increasingly common for genealogists to record their information into databases on their personal computers, and then print out pedigree charts and family group sheets as needed. Therefore, you may wish to begin by obtaining and installing genealogy software for your home computer, and then recording the information already in your possession. Don't forget the importance of backing up your information!
Even if you store your genealogical research in a computer database, you will usually want to print out copies for your files. This means that you'll need to organize a filing system to keep track of what you already know and what you are working on. You may want to create a separate file folder for each surname in your family, and then file these alphabetically in a filing cabinet.

5. Record Formats 1. What Do I Already Know?
Spreadsheets Pedigree charts Family group sheets
Pedigree charts are a graphical way to represent the ancestry of an individual. Usually each individual on the pedigree chart is identified by full name, date and place of birth, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death. Lines connect the individual with the individual's father and mother. You will want to begin your genealogical research by completing a pedigree chart with yourself on the far left, and then information about your parents and grandparents on the right, writing down as much information as you already know. Don't worry if you're unable to fill in all of the information at this time -- you'll be collecting more information as your research progresses.
Family group sheets are a way to record information about the basic unit of genealogy: the family. Each sheet records information about the father, the mother, and all of their children. The date and place of marriage is recorded for the parents, and for each individual, the full name, the date and place of birth, and the date and place of death is recorded. If the dates of birth are known, the children are listed in order of birth. In some cases, the names of the children's spouses are also recorded. There is often space on the family group sheet to record additional notes about the family, as needed.

6. Several Questions To Ask
2. What specific question needs to be answered?
Several Questions
To Ask
What was their name?
When and where were they born?
Where did they live?
When and where did they marry?
Who did they marry?
Were the names of the children?
When did they die?
Where were they buried?
Doing research means trying to find the answers to questions. With genealogy, there are an unlimited number of questions that we could ask about each of our ancestors and other relatives. The basic ones are listed here:
Name? (You cant go much further without this information)
Birthdate – Important for tracing back to prior generation.
Location - Way to verify that you are tracing the correct family.
Spouse - This leads you to another branch in your tree.
Children - A cross-reference particularly if those descendants are living Death /Burial - More useful for completeness of the record .

7. Focus on One Individual and One Question
2. What specific question needs to be answered?
Focus on One Individual
and One Question
What was their name?
When and where were they born?
Where did they live?
When and where did they marry?
Who did they marry?
Were the names of the children?
When did they die?
Where were they buried?
Focus on just a few individuals at a time (usually several closely related members of the same family), and also focus on just a few questions about those individuals. In many cases, it is best to focus on only one individual, and only one question at a time. Make sure to use your pedigree charts and family group sheets to help you identify the questions that need answers.

8. For each individual, make a "research plan" document
2. What specific question needs to be answered?
Keeping Track
For each individual, make a "research plan" document
Question
Steps to take
At this point, you will probably want to use another form to help you keep track of your research. For each individual, make a "research plan" document. On the left you'll list which questions you want to answer, and on the right you'll list the steps you plan to take in order to obtain the answers.
Name of paternal grandfather
1) Ask living descendants
2) Parent’s marriage docs

9. Types of information sources
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Types of information sources
Primary Sources: sources that were created at or near the time of an event by someone who was a direct observer or participant.
Secondary Sources: created either much later than the time of the event, or by someone who was reading or interpreting a primary source.
Primary sources are sources that were created at or near the time of an event, usually by someone who was a direct observer or participant in the event.
Secondary sources are sources that were created either much later than the time of the event, or by someone who was reading or interpreting a primary source.

10. Primary sources Personal Courthouse Federal/State
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources
Personal
Courthouse
Federal/State
Parish/Diocese office
Other sources
Primary sources are generally preferable to secondary sources because they are more likely to be accurate. (It is interesting to note that the same source might be a primary source for one kind of information, and a secondary source for another kind of information. For example, a tombstone may be a primary source for the date of death, but is usually a secondary source for the date of birth.)
In the absence of primary sources, however, you may have to depend on secondary sources. Even when primary sources are available, using secondary sources first may speed up your ability to locate a primary source. For instance, it is often a good idea to locate research that has already been done by others. While it is possible that this research may contain errors, it may save you a great deal of time in locating the primary sources you need.
There are many different types of primary and secondary sources. They include vital records (births, marriages, deaths), census records, obituaries, cemeteries, church records, military records, and many others.

11. Records in Family Bible
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources: Personal
Journals can contain a wealth of social history, giving the reader a slice-of-life view from someone who was there. This information can then lead the reader to other records for further information
Bible records can be used as a substitute for vital records, if the publication or printing date of the Bible was prior to the date of the event. If the entries are all in the same penmanship and ink or writing tool, that is an indication they were probably copied from another source and written at a later date. Those entries are an indirect source and may include clues to locate the vital records. Sometimes they are the only record available.
Most Bibles contain more than one surname, especially in the marriage records section. Bible records will often be the key to that elusive maiden name or a clue to locate the birth date and place of an ancestor. Some Bibles may also include baptismal information and/or names of godparents.
Personal Letters , postcards and photos can be a great source of uncovering details about relationships and related events.
Diaries/Journals
Records in Family Bible
Personal Letters

12. Primary sources: Courthouse Records
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources: Courthouse Records
The process of researching your family tree will eventually lead you to a courthouse, library, archives or other repository of original documents and published sources.
Deeds or records of indenture answer questions abut where the ancestor lived and when they lived there.
Grant Maps are essentially answer the same question but may provide more information about other family members who lived closeby.
Wills are a n excellent way to verify a descendant’s relationship to the deceased.
Deeds
Grant Maps
Wills/Probate

13. Primary sources: Federal/State
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources: Federal/State
Census
Birth, Marriage, Death
The census contains a weatlh of information. Depending on the census year, it can report the spouse, number of years married , children, address, occupation, and ages (and by inference, birth year) of all household members.
Military records usually indicate age and address.
Birth, Marriage and Death certificates - usually from the state government - contain overlapping information such as birthdates and parents that, when used in combination, are a good way to compare separate sources for consistency of data.
Naturalization records are another resource for establishing a birthdate.
MilitaryRecords
Naturalization

14. Baptismal Certificate
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources: Parish/Diocese office
Matrimony
Similar to government records, Church or parish records often contain enough information to cross-reference with other types . The Baptismal records are particulary useful for determining the maternal maidnen name.
Baptismal Certificate
Burial

15. Newspapers: Marriage or Death Notices
3. What information sources might answer my question?
Primary sources: Other
Obituaries are small articles in a newspaper that offer a piece of the story of a person’s life - adding details that would otherwise be unknown. The names of relatives, location of birth, final resting place, occupation, religious affiliation, volunteer work, and other details of how someone spent their life are but a few examples.
City Directories May be useful in not only locating the individual, but finding the occupation as well.
Passenger manifests were compiled by the ship’s clerk at the point of departure. These often give insight to points of origin and expected destination.
Newspapers: Marriage or Death Notices
Passenger Manifests
City Directories

16. Online Sources Bookmark sites for further investigation
4. What Do the Information Sources Actually Tell Me
Online Sources
Bookmark sites for further investigation
Subscribe to relevant blogs (ex. surname-specific)
Selected Library databases
Once you have decided which type of information source is most likely to answer your specific question, you will need to obtain a copy of the information, and examine it. This may be easy or difficult depending on the type of information source, its availability, its location, and the ease with which it may be searched. In any event, make sure to include which information sources you plan to search on your research plan.
There are plenty of online resources – many of which a re free of charge – to explore.
However, in many cases you will be dealing with a ‘transribed’ record and need to realize that it is a secondary source.

17. Putting it together Draw conclusions based on independent information
5. What Conclusions Can I Reach?
Putting it together
Draw conclusions based on independent information
Look for contradictions; Which source is more reliable?
Be sure to document the source
Share your findings
MARY MCCOLGAN
PATRICK DWYER
PETER MCGOUGH
Once you have obtained information sources, searched their contents, and made some notes as to what you have found, it is time to evaluate the results. The new information you have learned may have answered your original question, or it may have been unsatisfactory. It may even conflict with other information that you already have.
If new information conflicts with existing information, you will have to decide which, if either, piece of information is more likely to be accurate. Is one from a primary source and the other from a secondary source? Is one from a more authoritative or believable source?
As you accumulate new information, be sure to document its source. Identify the source in such a way that others can easily find it if they wished to check your sources. This will help you, as well, if you decide later to recheck the original source.
Incorporate the new information into your pedigree charts and family group sheets, if appropriate.
Check this information against the information already in your pedigree charts and family group sheets to see if the new information makes sense.
Don't forget to share what you have learned with those members of your family interested in family history.
CAROLINE MOREHEAD
SAM FREE
ELINOR MCGOUGH
ED DWYER
SAM FREE JR
MAGGIE MOELLER
JOHN GLYNN
ELIZABETH SIEMENS
MARY MOELLER
WILLIAM GLYNN
TOBIN
CASPER MOELLER