SIMPLE STEPS TO SOLVING FAMILY HISTORY MYSTERIES
As you undoubtedly know, researching your family history is an experience quite like no other. There’s no rhyme or reason to what you might find and the journey is uniquely your own. Whether you start from nothing or already have some kind of insight into the names and places scattered across the branches of the tree, discovering where you come from is a deeply personal – and very exciting – journey. And as we all know, it can also be incredibly frustrating, too. Don’t despair though. I’ve got some tips to help you climb over that research roadblock, or even smash it down. In family history we call these seemingly unsolvable problems ‘brickwalls’.
If you haven’t found yourself gazing at the genealogy brickwall before, know this much: it will happen at some point. That’s not a warning so much as it is a fact – and if you’ve been there, then you know exactly how infuriating it can be. It might hit you unexpectedly; the ancestor who you just cannot find in the 1901 Census, for example, or the marriage record that simply doesn’t exist, even though you know said nuptials almost certainly took place.
Equally, it might be an entirely expected source of mystification. You could find yourself stumped trying to track down the offspring of a longlost aunt, or trying to find out what happened to your great-grandmother after she emigrated to the other side of the world. Either way, there will almost certainly come a time when you’re left scratching your head and feeling utterly confounded and bewildered.
Need a hand?
Ask your question on the Family Tree Facebook page or email the Family Tree team on editorial@familytree.co.uk There will be lots of people willing to help you, so keep searching and never be afraid to ask for assistance!