The Best Genealogy Advice
I Ever Received…
Niall Cullen from Findmypast
We asked the family history community for the best advice they'd ever heard when it comes to tracing ancestors.
Their feedback, as always, was fantastic.
Who better to get tips on genealogy research from than the people who do it all the time?
We took to our Facebook page and asked our followers what the best piece of advice they'd ever received was. We were inundated with replies, most of which are really useful rules for all genealogists to follow, whether you are a complete novice or a seasoned pro.
We ask them to finish this sentence: The best genealogy advice anyone ever gave me was...
Here are our 10 Favourite Responses:
1. Ask questions now while people are still here to ask and record your sources.
2. Don't throw anything away. Future generations will value it.
3. Go back and check some of your earlier discoveries. As more records are released you may
find some of them are proved incorrect.
4. Familiarise yourself with registration districts...I discounted many bmd records because I
thought they weren't in the right area.
5. Don't ever jump ahead, always work backwards and check all records for yourself, don't
just copy what someone else has put.
6. Keep looking, they will turn up eventually. Just broken through another brick in my wall,
couldn't have been more excited.
7. Be prepared to get addicted!
8. If you can't go back, go sideways!
9. Start with yourself
2. Don't throw anything away. Future generations will value it.
3. Go back and check some of your earlier discoveries. As more records are released you may
find some of them are proved incorrect.
4. Familiarise yourself with registration districts...I discounted many bmd records because I
thought they weren't in the right area.
5. Don't ever jump ahead, always work backwards and check all records for yourself, don't
just copy what someone else has put.
6. Keep looking, they will turn up eventually. Just broken through another brick in my wall,
couldn't have been more excited.
7. Be prepared to get addicted!
8. If you can't go back, go sideways!
9. Start with yourself
And finally.. #10.
