In the first of my series of family history mini-classes,
here are some do’s and don’t’s to remember when writing down your family information:
☙ Print rather than write – you may
like to use block capitals to highlight surnames.
☙ Pick a format and stick with it.
For example, if you prefer to put the surname first, be consistent.
☙ Use pencil when adding information
to charts, then go over it in black ink (for permanence) once you’ve confirmed it
as accurate.
☙ Write names out in full if known –
avoid abbreviating for speed’s sake as you may not remember what the
abbreviation stands for!
☙ ALWAYS record a married woman’s
details using her maiden name, if known. Don’t be tempted to fill in a blank
space with her married name, as this can be confusing.
☙
Write dates in standard
genealogical order – e.g. 8 Oct 1840 rather than 8/10/40 which can be
interpreted in more than one way.
☙ Write places with smallest area
first – parish, county, country – with any farm names or townships before the parish.
Please comment below if you have any questions about this lesson!
The next mini-class
will cover identifying record sources.
Things I wish I'd known when I was starting out.
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