How to Begin - Remembering

To begin your family tree or research write down what you already know.  Write what you remember first.  Later you are going to determine if this information is accurate. Begin by writing your own name, birth date and place of birth.  Next add spouses and children to your list.  Now write your parents names and their information. List your siblings under your parent’s names.  You can also add stepparents or stepsiblings and half siblings.    Next add grandparent’s names and information.  Add your aunts and uncles and your cousins’ names and information.  Perhaps you also remember great aunts or great uncles names and some information concerning them. Anything you can remember – write it down!  The more you think about this the more you will remember.   This process may be quick for you or it may take time.  The more you work on this the more you will remember from family reunions and information you have heard from family members.

What got me started on my obsession - the story behind it all.

When the last census was beginning in 2010 I heard about how people could actually look at census records on the computer - I began the search for a few family names I knew - and I was hooked.  First of all I love research so spending hours (as many as possible) alone in front of a computer screen was my cup of tea!  It also involves a mystery - like Sherlock Holmes (or any other detective you enjoy) I have to find a clue here and a clue there to solve the puzzle.  Typically the answers are found a tiny piece at a time.  It requires great patience to search for answers to build a family tree.