Absolute Beginners Guide to Genealogy
Family History research is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world and South Africa is no exception. Be warned though, the hobby does come with a few hazards – for instance people might think:
a) you are nuts
b) you are a prying busy body
c) you have nothing better to do with your time
d) you are living in the past, or
e) all of the above
Don’t despair – you are not alone!!!! Research in any field is never easy but when you are researching the lives, families and actions of real people, you might encounter attitudes and opinions you never expected. The up side is that you will become somewhat of a Sherlock Holmes, a diplomat and a scholar and if this is not enough you will also end up with enough knowledge of history to qualify for at least a diploma. What more could you want! Welcome to the world of genealogy!
A few golden rules:
Like all things in life there are rules that govern how you go about doing things, so let’s take a look at a few that apply to genealogy:
Rule 1
Start with yourself and work backwards.
Start with what you already know. i.e. yourself and siblings, your parents, your grandparents etc. To help you get started you can fill in the details of your immediate family on the chart we have provided with this brochure, starting with yourself and going back as far as you can. If you do not know specific dates, don’t worry, we will get to them later.
Rule 2
Know where you want to go.
In the beginning, choose an ancestral line, which interests you, and concentrate on researching that one. If you try and research maternal and paternal lines simultaneously it might become too much for you. That is not to say that you should not store every bit of information you come across concerning all your ancestors but only that the bulk of your efforts be concentrated in one direction.
Rule 3
Always make a note of your sources.
When you go hunting for proof of family ties or stories, you must always write down where (the source) and when (the date) you got the information. Better still, always try and get copies of the original documents if you do not own them. E.g. If an Uncle has a letter written by an ancestor who fought at Delville Wood in WW1, try and get a photocopy of it for your own files. If you can’t take it away with you or photograph it, a handwritten transcription will do. Understandably most people do not want to part with original photographs or other material but you can ask for a copy. If you make use of material belonging to other people, it is courteous to acknowledge them in your footnotes.
Rule 4
Never make assumptions.
Assumptions can waste a lot of your time and are the cause of many a family historian abandoning their quest. For example, don’t assume that an ancestor married in the Anglican Church because he was English. This can send you on a two year wild goose chase after which you might find that he married in the Dutch Reformed church because that was the religious denomination of the new Missus. If you do not find grandfather in the place you thought he might be, look further afield, including unlikely places!
Rule 5
Respect the dignity and privacy of relatives.
Family historians, in their eagerness to ferret out information from family members, often make the mistake of pushing them for information that they are reluctant to discuss. Never push your boundaries to the point of disrespect. Remember too that some of your discoveries might shock or upset your relatives. A case of illegitimacy or a criminal record might not be known to family members so be sensitive to their feelings and use your discretion when discussing your discoveries. In the case of adoptions, for instance, professional counselling is essential before making contact with the people concerned.
Rule 6
Never trust a family rumour.
We all have them in our families; our own personal ‘Myths & Legends’. These often take the form of…”it is said that we are related to the Duke/Earl/Marquis of Blah Blah…and the country estate awaits us in England, that is if we can just find those lost letters to prove it etc. etc.” These are the things that usually get us interested in the family’s history in the first place so don’t be disappointed to find that there is only a grain of truth in the stories and they might not be anywhere near as romantic as they are made out to be. You might find that the only connection to the Duke/Earl/Marquis was that your ancestor was a footman in his household or something of the sort. As with any rumour, where there is smoke there is usually a fire of sorts but with the telling, things get a little embellished. It does not matter!! They are your ancestors no matter what their station in life.
Rule 7
You have to accept them warts and all
You might come across things your ancestors did (or did not do) that shocks you. You are not alone! There are skeletons rattling in every family closet so be prepared to accept them the way they were – after all they are your very own skeletons and there is nothing you can do now that will change what they did then. Be objective when evaluating your information and tell the truth.
Rule 8
Enjoy Yourself
Family history research will set you on a journey of discovery. You will learn things about history, about your ancestors and ultimately about yourself. Your time will be filled with piecing together the vast jig-saw puzzle of your extended family. The main thing is that you should enjoy doing it. Enjoy gathering and arranging the information, knowing that you will end up producing as accurate an account of your family’s history as you can, one that will be appreciated by your descendants in years to come.
By Sharon Warr alias Sharonus Scribus