Some of these are very good!
Top Ten Genealogy Mistakes to Avoid
Genealogy can be a very fascinating and addictive hobby. Each step that you
take in researching your family's history can lead you to new ancestors,
delightful stories, and a real sense of your place in history. If you are
new to genealogy research, however, there are ten key mistakes that you will
want to avoid in order to make your search a successful and pleasant
experience.
Mistake to Avoid # 1
Don't Misspell the Word Genealogy
This is fairly basic, but many people new to genealogy research have trouble
spelling the word genealogy. This may not seem as if it is a big deal, but
if you wish to appear professional when you are posting queries or want
people to take your family history research seriously, you will need to
learn how to spell genealogy correctly.
Mistake to Avoid # 2
Don't Trust Everything You See in Print
Just because a family genealogy or a record transcription has been written
down or published does not necessarily mean that it is correct. You should
never make assumptions about the quality of the research done by others.
Anyone can make mistakes, including certified genealogists. Most printed
genealogies are likely to have at least a minor error or two, and some may
even be completely off base. Books, which contain transcriptions (cemetery,
census, will, courthouse, etc.) may be missing vital information, may have
transcription errors, or may even make invalid assumptions (i.e. stating
that John is the son of William because he is the beneficiary of his will,
when this relationship was not explicitly stated). Always take the time to
verify the information found in books with the primary source, if possible.
Visit the cemetery or courthouse and see for yourself.
Mistake to Avoid # 3
We're Related to Someone Famous
It must be human nature to want to claim descent from a famous ancestor.
Many people become involved in genealogy research in the first place because
they share a surname with someone famous and assume that it means they are
somehow related to that renowned individual. While this may indeed be true,
it is very important not to jump to any conclusions and begin your research
at the wrong end of your family tree! Just as you would research any other
surname, you need to start with yourself and work your way back to the
"famous" ancestor. You will have an advantage in that many published works
may already exist for the famous individual you think you are related to,
but keep in mind that any such research should be considered a secondary
source. You will still need to look at primary documents for yourself to
verify the accuracy of the author's research and conclusions. Just remember
that the search to prove your descent from someone famous can be more fun
than actually proving the connection!
Mistake to Avoid # 4
Don't Be Satisfied With Names and Dates
Genealogy is about much more than how many names you can enter or import
into your database. Rather than be concerned about how far back you've
traced your family or how many names you have in your tree, you should get
to know your ancestors. What did they look like? Where did they live?
What events in history helped to shape their lives? Your ancestors had
hopes and dreams just as you have, and while they might not have found their
lives interesting, I just bet you will.
One of the best ways to start learning more about your family's special
place in history is to interview your living relatives. You may be
surprised at the fascinating stories they have to tell when given the right
opportunity and an interested pair of ears.
Mistake to Avoid # 5
Beware the Generic Family History
They are in magazines, in your mailbox and on the Internet - advertisements,
which promise " a family history of [your surname] in America."
Unfortunately, many people have been tempted into purchasing these
mass-produced coats of arms and surname books, consisting mainly of lists of
surnames, but masquerading as family histories. Don't let yourself be
mislead into believing that this could be your family history. These types
of generic family histories usually contain a few paragraphs of general
information on the origin of the surname (usually one of several possible
origins and likely having nothing to do with your family); a coats of arms
(which were granted to a specific individual, not a specific surname, and
therefore, in all likelihood, do not belong to your specific surname or
family); and a list of people with your surname (usually taken from phone
books which are widely available on the Internet).
Mistake to Avoid # 6
Don't Accept Family Legends Without Question
Most families have stories and traditions, which are handed down from
generation to generation. These legends can provide many clues to further
your genealogy research, but you need to approach them with an open mind.
Just because your Great-Grandma Mildred says that it happened that way,
doesn't make it so! Stories about famous ancestors, war heroes, surname
changes, and the family's nationality all probably have their roots in fact.
Your job is to sort out these facts from the fiction, which has likely grown
as embellishments were added to stories over time. Approach these family
legends and traditions with an open mind, but be sure to carefully
investigate the facts for yourself. If you are unable to prove or disprove
a family legend you can still include it in a family history. Just be sure
to explain what's true and what's false, what's proven and what's
unproven,
and write down how you arrived at your conclusions.
Mistake to Avoid # 7
Don't Limit Yourself to the Current Spelling of you Surname
When you have trouble locating a specific ancestor in genealogical records,
the first thing you should do is search for variations of your ancestor's
surname. The more that you can think of, the better. You will find that
surnames are commonly misspelled in official records. People were not as
well educated in the past as they are today, and sometimes a name on a
document was written as it sounded (phonetically), or perhaps was simply
misspelled by accident. In other cases, an individual may have changed the
spelling of his/her surname more formally to adapt to a new culture, to
sound more elegant, or to be easier to remember. Researching the origins of
your surname may clue you into common spellings. Surname distribution
studies can also be helpful in narrowing down the most frequently used
version of your surname. Searchable computerized databases are another good
avenue for research as they often offer a "search for variations" option.
Mistake to Avoid # 8
Don't Neglect to Write Down Your Sources
Don't neglect to write down where you get your information, including the
name of the source, its location, and the date. Right now you may think you
have no need to ever go back to that source, but that probably isn't true.
So often, genealogists find that they overlooked something important the
first time they looked at a document and need to go back to it. Write down
the source for every bit of information you collect, whether it is a family
member, Web site, book, photograph, or tombstone. Be sure to include the
location for the source so that you or other family historians can reference
it again if need be.
Mistake to Avoid # 9
Don't Assume That Everything You Find on The Internet is Reliable
The first rule of genealogy is to always maintain a healthy skepticism and,
with the explosion of genealogy information available on the Internet, this
has become even more necessary. Even if the information you find on a Web
site, a database, or a GEDCOM file seems like the perfect match and the
answer to your genealogist's research prayer, don't take anything for
granted. Such sources should be considered only as clues and it is
essential that you verify and corroborate every detail for yourself.
Contact the researcher, if possible, and retrace the steps that they took in
their research. Everyone from professional genealogists to your own family
members can make mistakes!
Mistake to Avoid # 10
Don't Put Off Talking to Relatives
If only .is a lament that you so often hear from genealogists who regret
putting off visits with elderly relatives who have since passed away.
Family members are a genealogists # 1 source, and often the only source for
the stories, which bring our family history to life. Visiting with your
relatives should be at the top of every genealogists "to-do" list. If you
just can't get in a visit right now then try writing to your relative with a
list of questions, send them a memory book to fill with their stories, or
get a relative or friend who lives nearby to visit with them and ask them
questions. You will find that most relatives are eager to have their
memories recorded for posterity if given the proper encouragement. Please
don't end up as one of the 'if onlys'.
This article was written by: Kimberly Powell