How to trace ancestors and where to start?
If you are going to trace ancestors, you have to make your pedigree chart. It’s a form that lists an individual family member and his direct ancestors along with all the important data about his life.
And of course, you start this chart with you. Otherwise, the initial entry is the ancestor whom you’re documenting. This individual is placed on the first line on the chart. The father’s information is placed on the second line; the mother’s information on the third line.
From here, the chart takes two distinct routes. The first is following the ancestral routes of the individual along the father’s family history. This is the upper track of the form. The mother’s route uses the bottom track.
So, I can hear you say now, you’ve limited me to four generations. What do I do after that? Pull out another pedigree chart. Create a new one, starting with the fourth generation on your previous chart. Now, each individual in this generation is placed on the first line of his or her own pedigree chart. In order to keep track of “who’s who”, reference their number on the original chart.
Let’s say you’ve created your pedigree chart. Your father’s father father (normally referred to as your great-grandfather) is ancestor number 8 on your original pedigree chart. As you find more documentation, you’ll follow his family line still farther back into history.
You’ll need to create a new chart. Be sure to designate this as “Chart Number 2”. Right now it might not make a large difference, but as you begin to collect these charts, this simple tracking system becomes indispensable.
Family Group Sheet
The next most common form you’ll use as a genealogist is the family group sheet. This is when the pedigree chart focuses on an individual’s history, the family group sheet spotlights an entire family. This particular tool provides a space for a couple and their children. It also contains fields for you to record the birth, marriage, death and locations of burial for each member.
These are vital tools. This sheet allows you to include information not only on the individuals, but on the children of your ancestors – and their spouses. As you progress in your journey through your family, you may indeed discover how convenient and essential this tool is.
When you have difficulty locating a birth certificate on a specific ancestor, turning to this sheet and checking on his sibling may yield more clues.
The pedigree chart and the family group sheet go hand in hand. For each marriage you record on a pedigree chart, you’ll fill out a family group sheet.
The pedigree chart gives you a quick and easy glimpse into your family tree. The family group sheet provides you with a more up close and personal view of it.
