The rapid advances made in digital technology over the last couple of decades has helped to fuel a massive surge of interest in genealogy. More and more people are tracing their own ancestry with just a computer and an ordinary ancestor's name, such as Pat Lawrence, as a sign post with which to begin their search. Using the internet and some patience, it is now possible to extend that search further back than you might think.
Obviously, the place to start any ancestry search is with a name of an ancestor, preferably one as far back in time as possible to whom you have a direct link. If the ancestor that you have chosen had the name Pat Lawrence, then there are a number of things to do in order to take the next step. Firstly, it is a good idea to try and find a date of birth for the individual.
These two dates make beginning a search back through the documentary evidence, which can often be scant, a much more straightforward process. A definite date is also a great boost to your confidence and morale, which can become important when searching for elusive ancestors. Not many individuals in history have shared an exact match in terms of birth date and name.
It is also essential to try and find a place of birth or death. If your ancestor has emigrated to another country, then they may well have been born in one place a long way away from where they died. If you are not sure which country they were actually born in, ask relations if there are any family stories about a another country.
Another good clue as to which country to begin looking in can come from the type of surname the ancestor had. A name like Lawrence would suggest an English speaking origin, either in one of the countries of the British Isles, or in a former country of the British Empire. Names can change though, especially when emigration is involved, so do not let yourself be drawn into blind alleys through having a closed mind.
Church records are a great source of information for anyone who is searching for greater detail on their family tree. It therefore helps if you can establish what religion your ancestor followed. Remember that certain nationalities are often strongly associated with certain religions, which can help you to trace graves and marriage records more accurately.
Marriage and death records from churches and other sources mean that you often have enough detail to proceed even further back through the generations. Specific detail can often be harder to come by as you go back further though. Things such as military service or a particular type of job your ancestor did though can help you to refine your search further.
So even with a relatively mundane sounding name like Pat Lawrence as a point of reference, it is possible to dig out more detail than you might suspect when searching out your ancestry. Always keep in mind that significant events like births and deaths are when otherwise obscure people suddenly appear in the historical record. Knowing those dates will always help you to dig out more details along the way.
Obviously, the place to start any ancestry search is with a name of an ancestor, preferably one as far back in time as possible to whom you have a direct link. If the ancestor that you have chosen had the name Pat Lawrence, then there are a number of things to do in order to take the next step. Firstly, it is a good idea to try and find a date of birth for the individual.
These two dates make beginning a search back through the documentary evidence, which can often be scant, a much more straightforward process. A definite date is also a great boost to your confidence and morale, which can become important when searching for elusive ancestors. Not many individuals in history have shared an exact match in terms of birth date and name.
It is also essential to try and find a place of birth or death. If your ancestor has emigrated to another country, then they may well have been born in one place a long way away from where they died. If you are not sure which country they were actually born in, ask relations if there are any family stories about a another country.
Another good clue as to which country to begin looking in can come from the type of surname the ancestor had. A name like Lawrence would suggest an English speaking origin, either in one of the countries of the British Isles, or in a former country of the British Empire. Names can change though, especially when emigration is involved, so do not let yourself be drawn into blind alleys through having a closed mind.
Church records are a great source of information for anyone who is searching for greater detail on their family tree. It therefore helps if you can establish what religion your ancestor followed. Remember that certain nationalities are often strongly associated with certain religions, which can help you to trace graves and marriage records more accurately.
Marriage and death records from churches and other sources mean that you often have enough detail to proceed even further back through the generations. Specific detail can often be harder to come by as you go back further though. Things such as military service or a particular type of job your ancestor did though can help you to refine your search further.
So even with a relatively mundane sounding name like Pat Lawrence as a point of reference, it is possible to dig out more detail than you might suspect when searching out your ancestry. Always keep in mind that significant events like births and deaths are when otherwise obscure people suddenly appear in the historical record. Knowing those dates will always help you to dig out more details along the way.
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