The
rules of good genealogy form are right here - DON'T SKIP ANYTHING.
You
are engaged in a quest for truth so, nothing short of absolute accuracy
in your information gathering is required. VERIFY is the FIRST rule in
genealogy. There is no substitute for it.
If you can't verify the information, you need to mention that in your
notes. Take nothing at face value. In the world of genealogical
research there are only two certainties - no, not death and taxes -
fact or hearsay. If it's not fact (verifiable) you cannot take it as
such.
Remember, you are on a quest for the truth. If
Great Grandfather Burls wasn't born in Sussex but in Essex, there is
little point in stating that he was. Sticking with the truth is good
genealogy form. Once you stray, you're credibility as a researcher
becomes questionable.
So, DON'T DO IT!
Standards
For Sound Genealogical Research Recommended by the National
Genealogical Society
Remembering always that they
are engaged in a quest for truth, family history researchers
consistently—
record the source for each item of information they
collect.
test every hypothesis or theory against credible
evidence, and reject those that are not supported by the evidence.
seek original records, or reproduced images of them
when there is reasonable assurance they have not been altered, as the
basis for their research conclusions.
use compilations, communications and published works,
whether paper or electronic, primarily for their value as guides to
locating the original records, or as contributions to the critical
analysis of the evidence discussed in them.
state something as a fact only when it is supported
by convincing evidence, and identify the evidence when communicating
the fact to others.
limit with words like "probable" or "possible" any
statement that is based on less than convincing evidence, and state the
reasons for concluding that it is probable or possible.
avoid misleading other researchers by either
intentionally or carelessly distributing or publishing inaccurate
information.
state carefully and honestly the results of their
own research, and acknowledge all use of other researchers’work.
recognize the collegial nature of genealogical
research by making their work available to others through publication,
or by placing copies in appropriate libraries or repositories, and by
welcoming critical comment.
consider with open minds new evidence or the
comments of others on their work and the conclusions they have reached.
I am
grateful for the use of the following extract, which is a succinct and
essential guideline for everyone who is serious about genealogy.
Basic Rules for Undertaking Genealogical Research
by Brian Hutchison, B.Comm., C.M.A.Gen-Find Research AssociatesDate:
February 1, 1998 (Edmonton, Alberta)
Some guidelines to research by:
1. Work from the
Known to the Unknown. Begin with yourself and then work back in time
through your ancestors.
2. Start with your 'home-search'. Glean whatever information you can
from old documents, letters, family Bibles/journals, visits with family
members (especially elderly ones), old wedding invitations, birth or
death announcements, church or local history books, yearbooks, etc.
3. Refer to women by their maiden surname. This allows you to better
document and refer to family members as well as easily follow their
connections through the lineages.
4. Evaluate all data for reliability. Concentrate on extracting as many
primary and secondary class records as possible in establishing the
reliability of your search results.
5. Do NOT get 'hung-up' with spellings of names.
Make a collection of all possible ways of
spelling the names you are searching. It is not unusual to find a
person's name spelled one way on a birth certificate then other ways on
the marriage, death or other documents.
Spellings frequently changed when people
emigrated, especially if the alphabet of the new country differed from
where they had come from.
Often forms were filled in by clerks who spelled
by phonetics, then were signed with an 'X' by the person referred to on
the form/document (e.g. Marriage certificates, wills, etc.).
6. Recognize naming patterns and family traditions. Many countries use
or have used naming systems (surname and/or given names) unique to
their own area.
7. Estimate dates of events, where necessary. If you don't have an
exact date, estimate it as closely as you can then indicate how you
came to that conclusion. Generally it can be thought that a women
married at the age of about 22 years while a man at 24 years. When you
get farther back in your research, you will find that there is a change
in the calendar system from Julian to Gregorian. As this occurred at
different times depending on the country, you will have to familiarize
yourself with the history of the country you are searching in, however
the change generally occurred sometime before 1800.
8. You MUST have a location associated to an individual and an event.
You will find references to 'where' your relative lived in many places,
letters, journals, documents, newspapers, etc.
Gazetteers can help you locate where unfamiliar
places are.
Make a habit of keeping a large-scaled map of
the areas you are searching, with your research papers.
Noting three geographical areas will help you to
'zero-in' on the location. You need:
a country
a subdivision of that country (i.e.,
province, county, state, etc.) and then, a smaller judicial area within
that subdivision (i.e., city, town, parish). You will find that the
term 'parish' is used also for an ecclesiastical district as well as a
'church'.
9. Keep records that other people can understand and follow. You are
putting a lot of time, effort and money into this project so don't
waste it by having records that are confusing. Should you discontinue
your effort in this work, your documentation should be well enough
organized that anyone could take over from where you left off. By doing
this, however, there is also a spin- off benefit for you as one of the
key criteria for a successful project is the level of organization and
record- keeping one does. The relationship is directly proportional.
10. Cite your sources of information. If you need to go back over your
work you will want to know where you got your information from and be
well aware that who ever reads your final product will question what
specifics you have included there, relentlessly, unless you can
substantiate you claims!!
11. Write letters and emails!! The key to obtaining information is to
go after it and unless you can research it for yourself locally or by
visitation, the only other alternative is to write someone else.
Probably the majority of your final information will come from this
source.
Letters should always be clear, concise,
correct, courteous, and clean.
Keep a carbon copy if you do not have a copy
saved on your word processor or computer.
At the risk
of repeating myself......
...good
genealogy form is mandatory if you wish be a family historian. You owe
it to your ancestors to be accurate, and in the long run your records
will be much easier to maintain if you determine to follow good
genealogy form from the beginning.
There, I'll say no more
about it....BUT I WILL BE WATCHING!
The
rules of good genealogy form are right here - DON'T SKIP ANYTHING.
