Rootsfinder Tips
Thu, 01 Feb 2007
I've discovered (on my own!) a handy way of mass deleting sources from a GEDCOM/family file.
I am helping a new client who is also a distant cousin of my husband. Therefore, I started by creating a new family tree database for her, then importing the relevant ancestors into her new database.
Unfortunately, Family Tree Maker pulled in *every* source from my husband's master family tree file. It would have taken too long to delete the sources that weren't pertinent to her tree, so I exported the tree as a GED, to view it in Notepad. Even deleting line by line in Notepad might be slow. But then I noticed that the extra sources weren't there.
So, I imported the GED into a new family tree file. It worked! The extra sources were gone. My RSI-riddles wrists thank me. category: [/tips] permanent link
Mon, 03 Jul 2006
Anyone, client or researcher, should look to the web for the various County Record Office online catalogues. They are wealth of information and research ideas.
As tempting as it is to only search for surnames, try searching for the name of a farm, village, hamlet, or street -- or even a river. You might learn something of the history of the places they lived, which helped broaden your understanding of their time there.
What was your ancestor's occupation? Try searching for his occupation -- you may find there was a local guild which left records. Or a rival firm that left records.
Any other more ideas to add? category: [/tips] permanent link
Tue, 18 Apr 2006
If you are researching ancestors who lived in a major city, after 1840 (or so), chances are they have been buried in a non-church cemetery. Some of these cemeteries have wonderfully detailed records. In Portsmouth, Mile End cemetery have recorded the grave numbers and depth for each burial. As I was research Rex records, I decided to look up each Rex burial. You can bet I was glad I did -- I found several Rex individuals buried in Row 6 north, Grave #39. Through this, I discovered I had paired the wrong wife with my husband's ancestor! category: [/tips] permanent link
Mon, 17 Apr 2006
A wonderful resource to accompany your family history research is Old Maps. The UK has changed a lot since the 1950's and these maps (often pre-1900) offer researchers a chance to see how a town or village was laid out in earlier times. So many fields have been swallowed up by car parks, so many old houses have been knocked down, and so many tiny villages are now part of the suburbs.... not to mention the damage to buildings by bombs in WWII. category: [/tips] permanent link
Fri, 14 Apr 2006
A wonderful resource to accompany your family history research is Old Maps. The UK has changed a lot since the 1950's and these maps (often pre-1900) offer researchers a chance to see how a town or village was laid out in earlier times. So many fields have been swallowed up by car parks, so many old houses have been knocked down, and so many tiny villages are now part of the suburbs.... not to mention the damage to buildings by bombs in WWII. category: [/tips] permanent link
