Genealogy Tip: FOCUS!

Genealogy is not an exact science.

You will have to look for clues and be open to possibilities and “develop leads.”  You'll run into “dead ends” and even have “cold cases” that lie for years before something comes up that you need. Other times you'll have fantastic finds and treasure troves of success!

To make work easier – focus on one family at a time. Meaning, one set of parents and their children at a time, or one individual.  It's very easy to go “hog wild” and run down roads of links and get lost in the work and end up with a mess you can't sort out.

As you find info, you're going to come across other branches of family.  Save them as you come across them but keep focused on the family or individual you're working on so that you can complete your work.  Take your time to verify your work and document it in your family tree software as you go.

Meanwhile, don't get so hung up on an elusive/difficult individual that you completely stop working on your family tree.

Some info may not be available yet.  Sometimes you'll need to take a break. If you feel like you're not having success, set that person aside and try someone or something else!

Think Outside the Box!!!

Some branches of family history are going to be easier to track and find than others.
The easiest records to find are those of white, male property owners, government officials, of royal descent or historical figures.

Meanwhile, often in genealogy there's a tendency to focus on “Going back.” Don't forget you can also branch out to the sides and come back to the future – or at least the present! Marriages, cousins, in-laws, all are part of your family that you can add to your tree!  Don't get totally hung up on just “going back.”