Over the last several weeks, we have been walking through the tools and techniques for beginning genealogy research using the acronym F-A-M-I-L-Y. In step one, Find Someone to Research, we used descendancy research to find Francis Donaldson, who had no wife or children on the tree.
Next, we Analyzed What Was Already Known about Francis by looking at the records that were attached to his FamilySearch profile. We found the answer to the first part of our research question hiding in the sources that had been attached to his profile. A marriage record revealed the name of his wife, Anna Burgess.
Using the information we discovered in step two, we used the Map and Time Line features at FamilySearch to check for inconsistencies, then accessed the FamilySearch Research Wiki to learn a little more about Perry County, Ohio, where Francis and Anna were married.
Moving on to Instant Records, we analyzed record hints and performed a broad search of the FamilySearch database to see what more we could learn about Francis and his family. We learned how to use FamilySearch’s Source Linker to attach records to Francis Donaldson. From the new records, we discovered Francis’s exact birth and death dates.
In Step Five, we learned how to Look for Additional Records to help answer our research question. We used the Record Finder on the Ohio Genealogy Page to learn what types of records might provide the answer to the question, “Did Francis and Anna Donaldson have any children?” Using census records, we discovered that Frank and Anna were the parents of four children. We used Source Linker to attach the records and add the new family members.
We now completed the first five steps for beginning research. It’s time to celebrate our accomplishment! Let’s go back to Francis’s ancestor’s profile page and click the About tab. We will be able to see a life summary that was automatically generated based on the records we attached to Francis. We can also see his family members, a list of sources, and photos or documents that have been attached to his profile, and a nice timeline of his life events.
You did it! You have now learned the steps for beginning genealogy research! If unanswered questions about your ancestor remain, return to the beginning and repeat this process. If not, choose another ancestor and work through the process with them. The more you repeat the process, the more comfortable you will feel. Before long you will find yourself tackling more complex research questions with confidence!
Resources:
Watch the walkthrough video for the last step in this process.
View my RootsTech presentation, Research 101: Tools and Tips for Beginning Genealogists.
