Genealogy! Where it all begins! Starting your family tree could never be any easier.
The history of our ancestors can be a source of pride and inspiration, and for me, that history is rooted in the yeoman farmers of Upper Canada in the 1800s.
On my paternal side, my third great-grandfather Thomas Gibbs came from East Grinstead, West Sussex England, and settled around London, Ontario, where he and his sons began farming. Eventually, he and his son John moved to Maple Lake, near Carnarvon, Ontario, to continue their farming legacy.
If you are new to genealogy, or the study of family history and ancestry, it can seem overwhelming at first. However, with some basic steps, you can begin to piece together your family’s history and learn about your ancestors. In this blog post, we’ll cover the main things you need to do to get started with genealogy.
1. Start with what you know
The first step in genealogy is to start with what you know. Write down your own information, such as your full name, birth date and place, as well as your parents’ names, birth dates, and birthplaces. Then, move on to your grandparents, and so on. Try to gather as much information as possible, including full names, dates of birth and death, marriage dates, and places of residence.
Genealogy research is a fascinating and rewarding pursuit that allows individuals to explore their family history and connect with their ancestors. However, it can also be a challenging task, requiring significant time and effort to gather and organize the relevant information.