How to Get Started Tracing Your Roots
Start With You
When building your genealogy, start with yourself and your immediate family. Be sure to capture full names, birth dates and places, marriage dates and places, and death dates and places.. Once you have this information, gather documented proof for each fact.
It's also a good idea to talk to older family members while you still have the opportunity. Gather any family stories and photographs they may have. Additionally, you can use online genealogy websites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org to help you find additional records. Online resource can also connect you with other people researching the same ancestors.
Family Traditions
Do not accept family traditions as fact! They are tradition, often combining fact with some fiction. Keep in mind these traditions and stories have likely changed over time since written record keeping is fairly new in the scheme of things. These passed down stories may not align with the true historical events. It's not uncommon with any culture but we know that before the coming of Christianity, Celtic record keeping was done orally.
However, you also shouldn't just discard a tradition either. Instead, attach a note stating that it is family tradition. They can be a great source of information about the customs, culture and beliefs of your ancestors and the time period they lived in. Traditions can contain valuable clues or leads that can help you to find additional information and records.
Confirm any information obtained through family traditions. Typically, you will use primary sources such as census records, birth certificates, and other official documents to validate these stories.
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