my response Your family Tree - Beginners in Genealogy explore Need to Save Every Document & Record!
Over time, beginners in genealogy will come to be knowledgeable about all the potential clues embedded in every document and record, every history and photograph, every gravestone and medal. But in the early months of research, beginners may make the mistake of taking only the definite facts they were looking for from a document and then move on, discarding the record. That description does not get saved to be pored over in a month or perhaps a year later, when more facts suddenly comes to light! Oh dear, now where was that description found? Here are a few tips on recovery documents, records, and other items of historical and genealogical importance.
Your family Tree - Beginners in Genealogy explore Need to Save Every Document & Record!
Start a folder - either a paper file folder in your desk, or a computer folder in your Genealogy section - and label it "Potential Treasure". Or, use other title that reminds you of these clues.
For an "Index" of these treasures, start a Notepad note (or similar) with the same label, with numbers down the left side. Some habitancy may prefer to use an Excel-type document for this purpose. other exquisite selection is to have 4 folders with their own Index notes: each of the 4 folders corresponding to the 4 grandparent house lines in your pedigree chart. Pick a theory that you are comfortable with using.
Next, list on the Index and save/label every item that goes into this folder thought about with the surname of the house you were researching, plus the corresponding estimate from the Notepad Index. Use surname, name of document, date if known, and other helpful details. I will also copy and paste the web site url (address) into the Index as well. You have lots of room on these notes, so do not try to abbreviate or skip details.
Here is one example: "#4: Pettigrew,Thomas 1790 Us Census, Kittery Me, next to Francis Pettigrew." Here, I'm not positive I have the literal, Thomas Pettigrew ancestor, and I also noticed that a neighbor with the same surname might be a relative to follow. As I procure more facts in the future, I may come back to these potential Francis & Thomas house listings. These singular 1790 hand-made Census forms can be arresting to search! So many Pettigrew families, with the very same names - I needed every form I could find for time to come reference.
Another example: "#17: Campion, A. Plus E. And 9 ch. 1852 Census, Earnestown On." Even though first names of all in the house were only listed as initials, I already knew the names of 6 of the children, and they were listed in the apparently literal, order. It seemed likely to be my ancestor house so I saved it. Later I was able to confirm each child in the list as I gathered more details of birth, marriage and death.
As you save a document or record, remember that you are able to save it by right-clicking on the item, then pick "save as" in the menu that pops up, and give it your detailed title. You can specify where to place that item at the top of your larger menu. Save to your potential Treasure folder, or to your computer Desktop.
If you print out an personel item, be sure that your Index has the details you may need in order to find that item in the future. The entire purpose of this exercise is to be able to quickly lay your hands on your potential explore document/record, and to evaluate its usefulness in your house tree.
Remember that if you have found a Census record, you might wish to also save the pages on either side of your family's page; house members tended to live nearby, and those neighbours four or five households away could be maternal aunts and uncles or grandparents. Once you recognize your greatgrandmother's maiden name, you may be able to confirm those additional relationships. Plus those additional individuals may lead you to other generation back in time, or some cousins who also are complex in genealogy!
Every document you find can be full of treasure - if not now, then perhaps in the future. Take a occasion to save, index and file that potential item. Once a month or so, go through the Index to see if you are able to use more information, or if it is truly clear that this item is not your ancestor family. A estimate of times I have been positive of the uselessness of a document, but later found it contained a very prominent clue: the same page had a relative's bride's house living colse to (son of my house married a neighbor's daughter). Those "Ah-ha!" moments are so exciting. Enjoy your searches - and save your treasures!
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