What Is a Family Tree?

Perhaps so called because of the number of branches emerging from

it, a family tree is very little more than a diagram with stems

originating from one individual and leading to two parents, from whom

two branches stem to each of another set of parents, and so on almost

ad infinitum. Going back in time from the individual researching the

history, the tree gathers branches with every generation; hence the

name.

What Qualities does the Researcher Require?

Sometimes, especially where unusual names are concerned, and

where families have remained in a particular-area over several

generations, a family tree can be created in a very short space of time.

On other occasions you will reach a dead end, perhaps spend weeks

searching for one odd but essential fact, which might not materialize,

but which might nevertheless halt your work perhaps indefinitely.

Qualities then for the researcher include those of patience and clarity

of mind, an ability to keep going when the going gets tough, an aura

of confidentiality, discretion, subtlety.

What Problems might you Encounter along the Way?

Not the least of which problems will find the researcher sometimes

faced with relatives who have the exact key required to open a few

more doors on the history currently being researched; but they won't

give you access to those doors. Sometimes they might even go so far

as to directly hinder your work, their intention being to stop you at all

costs from discovering that X is not the natural child of Y, or perhaps

that Grandma might have been heavily pregnant at the time of her

marriage with Grandad, who as Y is not quite happy to have his

relationship with X called into question. All these secrets and more,

which we in the modern world tend to accept and tolerate, were very

real problems for our ancestors.

Problems not necessarily associated with the living might include

inaccurate entries in records of births, deaths, marriages and other

occurrences, sometimes deliberately, sometimes accidentally. Again

you might find your work severely hampered because an illiterate

relative has had his or her name entered in official records by a well meaning clerk who then proceeds to spell it incorrectly. That 'Smythe'

then, could very well be the very same Mr. Smith for whom you have

searched for so long.