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How to Start My Family History Research – Start With Yourself

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How to Start My Family History Research - Introduction
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How to Start My Family History Research:

Start With Yourself!

Start With Yourself!

Starting with yourself, write down everything you know about your family.

This can include but not be limited to:

  • Yourself,
  • Your Partner,
  • Your Children,
  • Your Parents,
  • Your Siblings,
  • Your Aunts and Uncles,
  • Your Cousins, and
  • Your Grandparents.

The type of information you may wish to gather at this stage may include:

  • Names,
  • Birth dates,
  • Marriage Dates,
  • Death Dates,
  • Occupations,
  • Home Addresses,
  • Event Locations, and
  • Family Stories.

Exactly how much information you wish to collect, is entirely up to you.
You may not utilise it all at the moment, but you may find it valuable in your future
research endeavours, especially if you get stuck and need to use it to find an
alternative way forward.

Some Quick Tips:

  •  When collecting this information, start with the known, yourself, and work
    backwards,
  • Stick with the facts and the information that you know to be true … and
  • Disregard rumour, and here-say, and
  • Remember that you are just starting out and that you do not need to find every little piece of information at this point in time.

We’ll leave it here for now and allow you to go away and gather as much information as you can.

In the next video, we will cover how you go about visualising the information you are about to put together, so you can obtain a full understanding of what information you have, what information you need to find, and, what your path forward will be.

How to Start My Family History Research

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Why is Genealogy Important?

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Why is Genealogy Important?

Why is Genealogy Important?

Why is Genealogy Important?

Although it may seem like researching your genealogy is only going to satisfy your own curiosity and thirst for knowledge, you will find that there are many other benefits to be gained from it as well. Knowing and preserving your family history, not only yourself, but for your children can provide a multitude of unforeseen advantages that you may not be aware of.  Some of these advantages are listed below.

1. Family Identity

Knowing where our forebears came from and what their cultural background is can help us develop a strong sense of who we really are and understand those “family stories” and “Myths” from the perspective of those that lived them.

2. Strength and Resilience

In learning our family history we can see that not only did our ancestors survive natural disasters, wars, poverty and all the other hard times thrown at them, most where able to improve their lot and live better lives.  By learning of these things and seeing how our ancestors enhanced their lives, despite everything that was thrown at them, we can use this knowledge to help strengthen our own resolve to get through any hardships we currently may be facing.

3. Historical Events

Many, if not all, countries celebrate and/or remember important events and occasions in their history. Researching your Genealogy can sometimes lead you to find ancestors who actually participated in those important events.

4. Long Lost Ancestors

Undertaking research into your family’s history may help you find out about relatives that you may have lost touch with over the years. It may also allow you to find family members or branches of the family tree you never knew existed.

5. Finding  Famous Ancestors

We all want to believe that we descend from a famous historical figure. Researching your Genealogy may uncover someone in your tree that was famous or historically important.

6. Family Legends

Going hand in hand with point number 1 (Family Identity), nearly every family has a legend, myth or story involving their ancestors that has been passed down through the generations. Through time this myth or story can grow and get exaggerated. Undertaken research into your Genealogy can possible confirm what is true and what is exaggeration about the story and the circumstances surrounding it.

7. Medical Conditions

Researching your Genealogy can sometimes uncover medical conditions that are being passed down through the generations that you may not be aware of. Finding these conditions can allow you to take proactive action and maybe head it off before it becomes a major problem.

8. Walk where your Ancestors walked.

Once you have done the research and have the information about your ancestor or ancestors, make the pilgrimage to their hometown. Vist their home, walk the streets they walked, visit the places they visited. Bring your research to life.

9. Genealogy Can Encourage Understanding and Compassion

People who understand that their ancestors were immigrants or know where their family originated from, hopefully, will feel some compassion towards both modern day immigrants and, the citizens of the country of their family’s origin. Knowing your genealogy can help with creating compassion and understanding for these communities, even though they are not part of your own family’s tree.

10. Understanding and Protecting Family Traditions

Almost every family has a tradition or two that have been around for what seems like forever. Most of us just go with it because it is what has been done since we where children. Genealogy can sometimes bring these traditions to life with an explanation as to why they occur and why they are so important to the family.

 

 

Previous: << What is Genealogy?

What Is Genealogy?

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What is Genealogy?

So, what is Genealogy?

Genealogy is the research and tracing back (in time) of the ancestral lines of your family. It is the study of your direct ancestor lines.

It is the research conducted into your direct ancestors, either Maternal, Paternal, or if required, both lines.

How far back in time you go, will depend on you, and what your reasons are for undertaking the research.

The results from the research, normally consist of, but are not restricted to, the Birth, the Death and the Marriage Dates, plus, the cause of death.

These findings are then normally documented in a Pedigree Chart, and can be used to determine if there are possibly any medical conditions that you may be likely to inherit, or assist in determining inheritance when a dispute arises and/or no definite candidate can be found.

The origins of the word Genealogy.

The Online Eymology Dictionary:

early 14c., “line of descent, pedigree, descent,” from Old French genealogie (12c.), from Late Latin genealogia “tracing of a family,” from Greek genealogia “the making of a pedigree,” from genea “generation, descent” (from PIE root *gene- “give birth, beget,” with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups) + -logia (see -logy). An Old English word for it was folctalu, literally “folk tale.” Meaning “study of family trees” is from 1768.

The Encyclopedia Brittanica:

The word genealogy comes from two Greek words—one meaning “race” or “family” and the other “theory” or “science.” Thus is derived “to trace ancestry,” the science of studying family history. The term pedigree comes from the Latin pes (“foot”) and grus (“crane”) and is derived from a sign resembling a crane’s foot, used to indicate lines of descent in early west European genealogies.

 

Next: Why is Genealogy Important?

How to Start My Family History Research – Introduction

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How to Start My Family History Research - Introduction
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How to Start My Family History Research – Introduction

Introduction

1. Start with Yourself

Write down everything you can thing of about your family tree

2. Visualise the Information

Take the Information you have written down in step number one and add it to a genealogy pedigree chart.

3. Determine where to start

Look at the genealogy pedigree chart you just created and determine what information is missing. This missing information is where you will start your research.

4. Find out what information already exists

Gather together everything you can find that may assist you with your research. This may include Birth, Death and Marriage certificates, Baptism, School and Military records. You may also have access to old family diaries or previous research that someone in your family has already undertaken.

5. Get yourself organised

Now that you have all this information you need to get organised so you can make sense of it all. As a bare minimum, create yourself a physical and a digital filing system to store it all in.

6. Decide the type of research you would like to undertake.

There are a number of approaches that are available to you. You can research either your mothers’ line or your fathers’ line, and, if you want to jump right in you can research both.

7. Keep Track of your Research.

With all the information and documentation, you are going to be viewing, it is extremely easy to forget what you have or have not done. Create yourself a research log, so you can walk away and then come back in days or even weeks and
know exactly where you are up to.

8. Share Your Research.

Show your research to your family. You may find other members who are interested and who can provide you with new information, and never before seen photos. You may even discover branches of the family tree that you never knew existed.

9. Join a local Family History Society.

Family history societies can offer you an amazing network of local knowledge, helpful contacts and access to publications and databases that individually you do not.

How to Start My Family History Research

Old Occupations and their Meaning – A

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Learning Centre

 

Old Occupations and their Meaning – A

 

 

A

Abactor:   

A person who is a cattle thief.

Abigail: 

A maid to a Lady (Ladies Maid).

Accipitary:

A person who breeds, trains, or hunts with hawks – falconer.

Accomptant:

A person concerned with the maintenance and audit of business accounts. (Accountant).

Ackerman:

A Plowman or Ox herder.

Ale Draper:

Someone who sells beer and ale.

Alewife:

A proprietor of a tavern.

All Spice:

A seller of Fruit and Vegetables (Grocer).

Almoner:

Someone who gives donations of charity to those in need.

Alnager:

A person who inspects wool.

Amanuensis:

Someone who is either a secretary or  a stenographer.

Aproneer:

A shopkeeper.

Artificer:

A soldier who is a mechanic and does repairs.

 

 

Old Occupations and their Meaning – A

 

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What Information is on a Western Australia Death Certificate?

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What Information is on a Western Australian Death Certificate?

 

The Western Australian Death Certificate contains the following information:

1. Deceased:

  • Surname,
  • Given Names
  • Place of Death
  • Date of Death
  • Occupation and Sex,
  • Age,
  • Place of Birth,
  • Years lived in each State.

2. Parents

  • Father’s Surname,
  • Given Names,
  • Usual Occupation
  • Mother’s Maiden Surname
  • Given Names

3. Marriage Particulars

  • Place of Marriage
  • At what Age
  • To whom Married

4. Children

  • Names and Ages

5. Medical

  • Cause of Death and,
  • Name of Doctor
  • Date last seen alive

6. Burial or Cremation

  • Place of burial or cremation
  • Date of burial, cremation or transportation
  • Person certifying
  • Certifying person company
  • Officiating Minister
  • Religious denomination of Minister
  • Witnesses

7. Informant

  • Name,
  • Address
  • Description

8. Registrar

  • Registered on
  • by.

What Information is on a Western Australian Death Certificate?

What Information is on a Queensland Death Certificate?

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What Information is on a Queensland Death Certificate?

 

The Queensland Death Certificate contains the following information:

1. About the Deceased:

  • Name and Surname,
  • Occupation,
  • Sex and Age,
  • Date of Death,
  • Where Born and if not born in Australia, period of residence in Australia.

2. Parents

  • Name and Surname of Father,
  • Occupation
  • Name and Maiden Name of Mother.

3. Marriage(s)

  • Where, at what age and to whom deceased was married

4. Children

  • Names and Ages

5. Medical

  • Cause of Death and,
  • Duration of Last Illness.
  • Medical attendent by whom certified
  • When he/she last saw deceased.

6. Burial or Cremation

  • When and where buried or cremated
  • By whom certified
  • Name and religion of minister and/or
  • Names of two witnesses of burial or cremation.

7. Informant

  • Name,
  • Description or relationship and
  • Residence

8. Registrar

  • Name,
  • Date.
  • Place of registration

9. Notes

  • If any.

What Information is on a QLd Death Certificate?

What Information is on a New South Wales Death Certificate?

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What Information is on a NSW Death Certificate?

 

The New South Wales Death Certificate contains the following information:

1. About the Deceased:

  • Family Name,
  • Christian or Given Names,
  • Date of Death,
  • Place of Death,
  • Sex and Age,
  • Place of Birth,
  • Period of Residence in Australia,
  • Usual Occupation and,
  • Marital Status at Date of Death.

2. Marriage(s)

  • Place of Marriage,
  • Age when Married and,
  • Full Name of Spouse.

3. Children

  • In order of birth,
  • Names and Ages.

4. Parents

  • Father’s Name,
  • Mother’s Name
  • Mothers Maiden Family Name.

5. Medical

  • Cause of Death and,
  • Duration of Last Illness.
  • Name of Certifying Medical Practitioner or Coroner.

6. Burial or Cremation

  • Date,
  • Place,

7. Informant

  • Name,
  • Address and,
  • Relationship to deceased.

8. Registration Authority

  • Name and,
  • Date.

9. Endorsement(s)

  • If any.

What Information is on a NSW Death Certificate?

What Information is on a Victorian Death Certificate?

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What Information is on a Victorian Death Certificate?

The Victorian Death Certificate contains the following information:

1. About the Deceased:

  • Surname,
  • Given Name,
  • Date of Death,
  • Place of Death,
  • Sex and Age,
  • Place of Birth,
  • Period of Residence in Australia,
  • Usual Occupation and,
  • Marital Status at Date of Death.

2. Marriage(s)

  • Place of Marriage,
  • Age when Married and,
  • Full Name of Spouse.

 

3. Children

  • Children (in order of birth),
  • Children (names and ages).

4. Parents

  • Name,
  • Birth Surname and,
  • Occupation.

5. Medical

  • Cause of Death and,
  • Duration of Last Illness.

6. Burial or Cremation

  • Date,
  • Place,
  • Funeral Director,
  • Name and Religion of Minister or,
  • Names of Witness.

7. Informant

  • Name,
  • Address and,
  • Relationship to deceased.

8. Registration Officer

  • Name and,
  • Date.

9. Endorsement(s)

  • If any.

 

 

 

What Information is on a Victorian Death Certificate?