How do you know that your data is accurate?
Everything
on the website, other than information in italics, is
based on primary data:
| • |
that
I own eg birth, marriage and death certificates I have
purchased; |
| • |
that
I have been given eg photographs, certificates, death notices; |
| • |
that
I have seen the originals in Chesterfield Library,
County Record Offices and the National
Archive such as census returns, burial
ground records, birth, death and marriage certificates,
parish records; and |
| • |
that
I have seen and photographed eg the actual church,
tombstone, house, road sign, foundation stone etc. |
Why are parts of your website in italics?
Where
I have gleaned the data from the Internet and other sources
but do not have actual proof that the data is accurate, I
have shown this information in italics. However I have only
entered data in italics when it comes from a reliable source
(eg National Burial Index CD and other competent genealogical
sites) and where I have some supporting corroborative evidence.
Why do you not show your information
in the form of a Family Tree?
It is
very difficult to show the data in this format on a small
screen. Most Family Trees are at least A3 in size. It is also
difficult to scroll down a tree and if you scroll from left
to right it becomes very complex.
Why on your banner do you say ‘Researching
my Ancestors’?
Family
history is a hobby that has no end. As you have seen I have
been researching four families simultaneously, which means
I still have a lot of missing information. The biggest problem
is not going back in history but all the aunts, uncles and
cousins – where do you stop?
Is it expensive to do so much research?
If you
live in the town where your ancestors lived then it costs
very little. The biggest costs are travelling to the County
Record Offices and, exceptionally, the travel cost to go to
the National Archive or alternatively paying for some birth,
marriage and death certificates. It is a very good idea to
get a software package such as Family Historian (£50)
and a lever-arch file for each family group.
Do you have to spend a lot of time
researching?
It is
one of the most time consuming hobbies you can have. Many
family historians remind you that your research is like looking
for needles in haystacks.
How do you cope with so much evidence?
This was
the driving force in setting up this website – to try
and get some order into my work. I do have a lever arch type
file for each family group and keep all primary source material
in plastic wallets. I also keep all my ongoing research in
four clear plastic folders – one for each family group.
A good software programme is a great help.
Is it a rewarding hobby?
It is
a very satisfying and rewarding hobby. You get a real buzz
when you find someone in a burial index, locate a death date,
find a tombstone (very rare), establish a link beyond doubt,
manage to read an entry in for example the Census - how I
wish enumerators and vicars had been taught to write clearly!
When did your interest in Family History
begin?
I am a hoarder and have collected bits and
pieces of family history for many years. My great aunt Rebecca
BARKER gave me her family photograph album when I was 14 years
old and asked me to take good care of it – she could
never have envisaged that some of her photographs would end
up available for anyone to see! Two recent events have made
me work more systematically on my family history:
| • |
time – I
have just retired; and |
| • |
my
grandchildren - especially the Naming Day in 2001
for two of my grandchildren when we were
asked to take a gift for each of
them costing no more than £5.00 and I decided
to purchase some cheap software
and drew up some Family Trees for
them. |
Are you researching your living relatives?
I do have an enormous number of records but for data protection
reasons have only included detailed information about relatives
who have died. If you are one of my relatives (however distant)
then do email me – I would really like to hear from
you.
|
