How to Make a Family Tree Chart – Keep it Simple

Would you like to find your family roots? Who wouldn’t? Well, that’s what Genealogy can help you to do. It is not enough for some individuals to only know about themselves from the limited world they see The very idea that your ancestor may have been a famous person, perhaps even royalty, or someone who was a hero from the ancient past is an exciting adventure and can at times determine who a person turns out to be in life. But beyond what you can get from your older relatives and what they can dig up in the attic, most people haven’t the vaguest idea how to research their family history.

There could be no better place for one to find information today than on the Internet. Happily there is no lack of information there. You can find anything on the internet – you just have to know how to locate it. But where on the Internet can you find such genealogical information about your family history? Well, have you heard of such web sites as Ansestoy.com, Rootsweb or My Heritage.com? These and other sites like them have been setup specifically to assist you in tracing your family roots accurately.

And what sort of data can you find on these genealogy web sites? On these sites you can look up marriage licenses, birth or death certificates, military records, census records, wills, or even old tax information. But don’t think for a moment that researching the history of your family is without its challenges. You’ll need to make special effort to identify who your relatives really are. Why the difficulty? Believe it or not, you will find a whole lot of people with names similar or identical to those of your past relatives. But take heart, you will be able to gather enough information to help you fill in the blanks and build a complete genealogical picture.

The more information you put into a search engine on these sites, the easier it will be to find you relatives. One great advantage of the Internet as a source of such information is that vast amounts of records have been uploaded to the above mentioned genealogy sites. These are records that the average person would not normally have access to. You can sometimes find records of your ancestor’s trip into America. The important thing to remember about these records is that they were handwritten at the time. It is possible for the names to be spelled incorrectly.

Another great way to do your family history research is with the aid of court records. Like the genealogy websites, you can find marriage licenses, birth or death certificates, or divorce records. You may also find these records through your state department. Often times these types of documents contains links to other information or will fill in the holes that you might need to complete a more accurate search on the internet. And, by the way, don’t overlook funeral homes and cemeteries in the towns where your relatives lived as these can be a source of pieces of historical information regarding you past relatives. In addition to death records, funeral homes may provide clues like the names of spouses, children, or parents.

Unlike some other hobby genealogy is a hobby that is rewarding for not only the person who is doing the work but to other family members and generations to come. After all if someone else is to continue the record you started to compile about your family, it is vital that you provide them with with the most accurate foundation possible. They’ll be glad you did. and you will be proud of a job well done.

Want to learn more about researching and constructing your own unique family tree? Expert and Author Tony Nelson invites you to access his Free 10-Part Mini Course [http://GenealogyFamilyTreeSite.info/sign-up] and discover step-by-step how to unearth the history of your ancestors even if you’ve never studied genealogy before.

Also for more great articles on genealogy visit his site at [http://GenealogyFamilyTreeSite.info]

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Family Tree Charts – How to Use Obituaries To Fill in Your Family Tree Chart

When building family tree charts, obituaries along with birth, marriage and death certificates yield some of the richest information. However, unlike publicly available documents stored in government digitized archives, obituaries can be much harder to find, even online. They are well worth the effort it takes to find them, though.

Sources of Newspaper Obituaries
When most people think of obituaries, they think of newspaper obituaries. However, while in the past, newspapers did print obituary columns, they often only printed those of more prominent citizens, especially in large metropolitan newspapers. To complicate matters, not all of these obituaries have been digitized and most of them are not available from a single large database. Funeral homes and mortuaries also historically have written obituaries, but these too have not been exhaustively digitized.

It is an enormous job, but some organizations, such as online obituary organizations are attempting to compile free obituary databases. Others are offering fee-based obituary searches. Still others are compiling exhaustive links to newspaper obituaries and provide maps that you can access links to newspapers by state. Using one of these free searches is an educational way to find out more about what is contained in obituaries.

How to Find Newspaper Obituaries for Your Family Tree Research
If a U.S. or U.K. map is your starting point, try clicking on a state or district that interests you. You will then see a list of newspapers, alphabetized by their location. Click on one of these links and you will be directed to the most recent obituaries from that publication. The information included in a newspaper obituary will be much more than you will need for family tree templates, but will be invaluable for building a timeline and for giving you hints for your search for other descendants. For example, it will mention the place where the funeral was held. You can then contact the funeral home or church and get more information from them.

Searching Obituaries Online
If you are searching for obituaries online, the more information you have to begin with, the more likely you will be of success. Entering a first and last name in a search engine is going to yield thousands of unrelated results. Entering a first, middle and surname will narrow the field down considerably. Entering a date of birth will probably yield more than one result, but will make finding the person you are looking for considerably easier. You can also whittle down your results by entering their place of birth or death and whatever else you may know. Learning to use the advanced search facility on a search engine will be a big advantage, as well.

A good obituaries website will also have links to old newspaper obituary archives. It may take a bit of luck, but if you know where someone distantly related to you lived, it is likely that they passed away there as well. The old newspaper archives may have their obituary. Since these are often free services, it is certainly worth a try.

Building family tree charts is a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It can look like a complicated mess, but once you start fitting some pieces, others follow. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it can get frustrating at times. Using online resources like obituary sites will help you complete your family tree templates and timelines faster and more accurately.

ObituariesHelp.org is an excellent genealogy and family tree chart resource. With 20 pages of Free Family Tree Templates, both beginners and experienced genealogists can find the charts they need to display or keep track of their family tree research. ObituariesHelp.org has links to newspaper obituaries, free genealogy resources, free guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for genealogy, obituaries, sympathy and funeral help. Download free family tree templates and a free 30-page guide to filling in your family tree template. Research your ancestry using our free genealogy resources. Find newspaper obituaries listings. Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

Family Tree Templates – Why You Need Genealogy Family Tree Templates

A printable blank family tree template is a concise place to store vital information about your ancestors and keep it all in a portable, easy to read format. With the increasing popularity of genealogy research and the range of tools available, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Knowing how tools like family tree templates work and how you can use them makes your genealogy research much more enjoyable.

When you research your genealogy, there can be a lot of information to record and keep track of so it makes sense you will need a method of organizing your findings. Before you download the family tree templates and start to add your information, it’s important that you understand the principles behind these family tree charts.

Genealogy researchers have devised a standard method of completing the charts. If you follow the methods, it will be easy for anyone reading your information to follow your ancestral path without questions. There is also the numbering system, used in genealogy research, which you need to be familiar with as well.

Benefits of Using Family Tree Templates
o Organizing your information on a template is easy
o No matter how much information you have, there is a family tree template to meet your need
o Helps you keep track of your progress
o At a glance, you can see where you are missing data
o With the click of the mouse, you can get a printed copy

Types of Family Tree Template Charts
There are 2 basic types of charts used to record family genealogy.
I. Ascendant Charts
II. Descendant Charts

Ascendant Charts
Ascendant is defined as “inclining or moving upward,” “ancestor.” Simply put this family tree chart is used to feature your ancestor. The first space at the bottom of the chart is for your information. Then you trace your family history back through the generations.

There are two types of ascendant charts:
i. Pedigree Chart
ii. Ahnentafel – German ancestry table

The Pedigree Chart
This is the most common type of family tree template chart in use. You use it to record the information for a single person. Let’s say you want to chart your family history, you start with your name at the bottom (in position 1 on the chart). Then you add your mother’s information on one side and your father’s information on the other side. It doesn’t include spouses and siblings. It’s a simple child->mother & father relational outline. You can also use it to trace only one parental relationship. For example, you can use it to trace only your mother’s side of your family.

The Ahnentafel German Ancestry Table
I agree, this is a difficult word to pronounce.
An Ahnentafel (German for ancestor table) or Ahnenreihe (ancestor series) is a genealogical numbering system that allows you to list a person’s ancestors in a particular numbered order.
Here is how the table works:

o The subject of the Ahnentafel is listed as #1,
o father as #2 and
o mother as #3,
o Grandparents as #4 to #7, and so on back through the generations.

In this type of family tree template chart, any person’s father has double that person’s number, and a person’s mother has double the person’s number plus one. Apart from #1, who can be male or female, all even-numbered persons are male, and all odd-numbered persons are female.

When you use this system, it makes it easier to understand the different familial relationships, without having to write the entire list of names.

The Descendant Chart
It’s best to refrain from using the descendant family tree chart if you are a beginner. These charts are more suitable for more advanced researchers. The person is position one is usually your ancestor. If you haven’t done any research, you won’t have a name to enter here.

Descendant charts are more commonly used when you are trying to find the first person in your family to live in a particular country (immigration records are vital) or live in a particular region (county records).

Family Group Sheets
A family group sheet is a basic genealogical worksheet. Use it to collect data for one family unit, which includes:
- Husband
- Wife
- Children

You should record the following family events for each member:
- Dates and places of birth
- Dates and places of marriage
- Dates and places of death
- Burial place

The worksheets also have extra space to add the date and place of the marriage of children.

Download different types of family tree templates for free. Once you see the types of family tree templates available, you can decide which one is right for your genealogy research.

Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for Free Family Tree Templates, free genealogy resources, guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for genealogy, obituaries, sympathy and funeral help. Download free family tree templates and research your ancestry using our free genealogy resources. Find newspaper obituaries listings; Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

Family Tree Templates – How to Use Family Tree Templates For Your Genealogy Research

It isn’t enough to understand the different types of family tree templates commonly used in genealogic research. It is even more important to know how to enter the information you collected in the charts.

We are fortunate that a standardized method of using family tree templates was developed. It makes it easy for anyone who is reading it to understand and provides you with a means to verify you have all the data.

There are three key elements to documenting your findings:

1. How to record names
2. How to record places
3. How to record dates

How to record Names

Writing the full name – Standard genealogical method is to write the names in the conventional way. First Name, Middle, last name (surname). Write the full names of each person. Here is what the entry should look like on your family tree chart: Charles Napier BELL

Writing the last name (surname) – Last names are always written in capital letters (upper case). This makes it easier to find the names in the charts. It is also a way to differentiate the last name from the other given names. Here is what the entry should look like on your family tree template: Charles Napier BELL

Writing Women’s Names – When recording information for women, the convention is to use their maiden names instead of their married names. If you are not able to find her maiden name, write her first name and follow it with empty parentheses ( ). Sometimes the woman’s married name is added to the chart. Here is what the entry should look like on your family tree:Margaret Ann ( ) or Margaret Ann ( ) BENNETT

And if she was married more than once? – In this case you would enter her first and middle names, her maiden name in parentheses ( ) then list her last names in order of marriage. If you have her middle name, enter it also. Let’s say your ancestor Isabel Jane Brown was first married to James Smith and later married your ancestor William Blair. Here’s how you would enter her information: Isabel Jane (Brown) SMITH; or Isabel Jane (Brown) BLAIR

Include nicknames – If you found the nickname of your ancestor during your research, don’t forget to add it to the chart. Use quotes ” ” not parentheses to note nicknames. Remember parentheses are used to show maiden names. You don’t want to cause any confusion in the way your chart is read. Here is what the entry should look like on your family tree template: Alice Margaret “Madge” JOHNSON

What if there are multiple names – Your ancestor may show up in your research with different last names for a number of reasons, by means of adoption or a simple name change. Write the name and then note the second name in parentheses and use the following abbreviation, a.k.a.- also known as; Here is what the entry should look like on your family tree chart: Alexander Thomas BROWN (a.k.a. Alexander Thomas WILSON)

What to do when the spelling is different? – In your research, you might find different spellings of your ancestral last name. This could be the result of:

- phonetically spelling,
- immigration to a different country
- a spelling error on the birth certificate

When writing the names in your chart, it is important to note the earliest usage of the name first, followed by the later usage. Here is what the entry should look like in your family tree template: David JOHNSON/JONSON/JONSSON

You can always use the “note” field on your chart to enter any information you want to clarify. Remember you want your family tree chart to be preserved and to be read by other people.

Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for Free Family Tree Templates, free genealogy resources, guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for genealogy, obituaries, sympathy and funeral help. Download free family tree templates and research your ancestry using our free genealogy resources. Find newspaper obituaries listings; Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

Family Tree Charts – The Best Way to Record Your Family Lineage

Using family tree charts is the easiest way to trace your family lineage. There are many types and styles of these, but they all have one thing in common: they are blank. In other words, it’s up to you to do the research and fill in the blank spaces. In the past, it was very difficult for an amateur genealogist to find the records he needed, but the Internet has changed all that. You still have to do your detective work, but if you know where to look, you can find the information you need.

Descendant Family Tree Charts
If you know your family lineage is traceable back to a Scottish clan, British nobility or any other prominent bloodline, you are miles ahead of most, whose lineage is more obscure. If that is the case, you are probably more interested in creating the links from a historically famous personality to you and your family. In a case like this, you will start by using a descendant chart from the many family tree templates you can find online.

A descendant chart begins with an individual in the past and traces his or her descendants to the present time. If the person was born prior to the 19th century, you will have to rely on historical records to trace much of their family line. In earlier times, people often had large families. Out of eight children, maybe six survived and had children of their own. Of those six, 3 of them were male. Which one are you related to?

One way to find out is through a process of elimination. When you reach a dead end with one, try another. Another way is to trace one son’s descendants as far as you can and then contact a living relative of his and see if they can help you. The descendants of large, prominent historical figures often have family tree charts of their own or if not, they will have titbits of valuable information they no doubt will be more than happy to share with you.

Ascendant Family Tree Charts
Still another way to conduct your search is to use ascendant family tree templates. Choose one that goes back enough generations to fill in the details about the figure you believe are related to. Fill in his details as best you can and then start your ascendant search from yourself and your immediate family. You can even work in both directions until you have finally filled in the missing links.

In England and Wales, birth, marriage and death certificates have been compulsory since 1874. These certificates were introduced back in 1837, but were not compulsory. However, they were widely obtained, so there is a good chance that you will be able to find one or more of these public records online. If you are lucky and find a birth certificate of a distant relation who was born in, say, 1840, you will also have the names and birth dates of his or her parents and the mother’s maiden name.

Tracing your family lineage is not going to be easy, but it will be a very rewarding experience. As you proceed, you will find yourself reliving history and making amazing discoveries. Family tree charts will be invaluable to you, because they keep everything you have learned in order. Without them, you would get lost in the maze of your family history. With a good template and good online source material to help you, you will successfully find your way.

ObituariesHelp.org is an excellent genealogy and family tree chart resource. With 20 pages of Free Family Tree Templates, both beginners and experienced genealogists can find the charts they need to display or keep track of their family tree research. ObituariesHelp.org has links to newspaper obituaries, free genealogy resources, free guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for genealogy, obituaries, sympathy and funeral help. Download free family tree templates and a free 30-page guide to filling in your family tree template. Research your ancestry using our free genealogy resources. Find newspaper obituaries listings. Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

Family Tree Charts – How to Use Free Family Tree Charts

If you have ever thought about tracing your family history, then a great place to start is with free family tree charts. There are many of them available for download online. While they are just blank family tree templates, they give you a great starting point because they allow you to graphically grow your family tree. However, in order to get the most out of them, you need to pick the best style for your level of experience and know where to obtain the information you need to complete your chart.

Choosing A Family Tree Chart
You will find the family tree charts you need on a good genealogy or obituaries website like Obituaries Help. There are several styles to choose from, so have a look at a few before you start. The simplest style is a pedigree chart that begins with a single entry, your name and birth date on the left hand side of the document. Another common pedigree template is called a landscape pedigree. This one branches upwards.

Yet another popular and easy to use version is the bowtie family genealogy chart. This one gets its name from the fact that it resembles a bow tie, with a single entry in the centre and increasing numbers of entries to each side. These typically come in three or four-generation styles and are perfect for beginners.

If you are very ambitious or have some experience, you may want to download a version that extends to even more generations. You can find templates go up to ten generations. Be warned, though, these ten generation circular ancestor templates are not for beginners! Since they are all free, start with a basic pedigree or bowtie and proceed from there.

How to Get the Information You Need to Fill in Your Family Tree Chart?
The first source of information will be publicly available official birth, marriage and death records. Each of these will contain vital information. Law in the U.K. has mandated all of these documents since 1837, so you should be able to complete or nearly complete a four-generation tree with these alone. Your parents or grandparents may even have their own birth certificates still in their possession. If not, you can easily obtain them for a small fee.

While the registration Acts were enacted in 1836 and 1837, they did not become mandated as compulsory for all citizens of England and Wales until 1874. Prior to that time, they were requested by the Registrar of the districts at his discretion. Therefore, you might find some gaps in your search if you are looking for records before 1874.

Almost without a doubt, once you start using family tree charts, won’t want to stop as soon as you hit your first dead end. There are many other online sources of information besides birth, marriage and death certificates. A good newspaper obituaries site, for example, can find obituaries that go back generations. These are rich sources of information. Keep on digging. No doubt you will eventually go back to the free templates and find a six, eight or ten generation tree to extend your ancestral knowledge even more.

ObituariesHelp.org is an excellent genealogy and family tree chart resource. With 20 pages of Free Family Tree Templates, both beginners and experienced genealogists can find the charts they need to display or keep track of their research. ObituariesHelp.org has free genealogy resources, free guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for genealogy, obituaries, sympathy and funeral help. Download free family tree templates and a free 30-page guide to filling in your family tree template. Research your ancestry using our free genealogy resources. Find newspaper obituaries listings. Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.