Starting Your Genealogy

How Do You get Started in Genealogy?  Start with what you know.  What were the names of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc.?  Where were they?  Born, lived, died?  Here we make a pedigree chart.  We place you on the line in the middle of the left hand side of the paper.  Near the top, put your father (2) and near the bottom, (3) put your mother's name.  Father's father and mother are at the right of father (grand parents) and mother's mother and father to the right of mother.

Add dates and places of birth, marriage, death and burial.  Next start family group sheets for each set of parents.  Record all the known children and their spouses with dates and places of birth, etc.  Each time you have a name, record health information, since in today's health care, it is possible to recognize patterns which "run in families".

At this point, many turn to the computer and use a search engine such as Google.  Be aware that not all information on the Internet is accurate.  Primary sources are those that are recorded close to the time of the event by a witness.  Vital records, state archives and obituaries are examples.   Published family histories may list primary sources.  Ask older relatives and friends.  Come to a Genealogy Workshop for more information.

Notes:
(1)  Call the Historical Society (603-756-3449) for more information on upcoming Genealogy Workshops.
(2)  The Pedigree Chart and Family Group Record were designed specifically to help record the information you gather.  Print copies on 8½ x 14 inch paper.  There is also a Research Log (8½ x 11 inch paper) for recording of your work in case you need to revisit a source. 

Walpole Historical Society ♦ 32 Main St. ♦ PO Box 292 ♦ Walpole, NH  03608 ♦ (603) 756-3449 ♦ info@WalpoleHistory.org