Recently, after intensively researching a family line, I realized that for the past 35 years I had included a branch that should not have been there.
How and why did this happen?
Sometimes, you believe what a local authority says; this especially happened in the pre-computer days when documenting things was a lot harder. What a lady told me with great assurance was also what all the local kin seemed to believe, but now it has proved to be false. Well, at least, they’ve moved from blood kin to step-kin.
So we had to pull out the old saw and cut off a huge branch of the tree. Of course, many people might want to prune their family tree of current relatives they don’t like. I knew one relative who didn’t include one branch because of a separation that she didn’t approve of — so she acted like the line had died out. That is deception, not pruning.
Once you make such a discovery, you should write a memo documenting how you proved this and share it with anyone who will listen. If you can get it in the local society’s genealogy journal, that would be a help to future researchers. Also, place a copy in the files at the local genealogy room and post the new information on a blog or in a query online at such sites as GenForum, RootsWeb, Ancestry and USGENWEB so that you can begin to clear the air and set the record straight.
As in the case of my discovery, it might not be easy to get the truth accepted, as some people are so entrenched in their beliefs. Luckily, I was able to find a replacement branch rather quickly, but others may have a barren branch hanging there for some time.
A late-night prowl in Athens
The Athens-Clarke County Library’s Heritage Room and the Clarke-Oconee Genealogical Society are planning a Night Owl Prowl in the library’s genealogy collection from 6 p.m. until midnight Oct. 25.
These events are a lot of fun as well as a chance to research and learn tips from others.
The cost is $15 for security and food. Mail your registration by Oct. 23 to Theresa Graham, Athens-Clarke County Library, Heritage Room, 2015 Baxter St., Athens, GA 30601. Call 706-613-3650, Ext. 350, for more information. The website is www.athenslibrary.org.
The Heritage Room (open Wednesdays through Sundays) has just reopened after extensive renovations. The room includes more than 6,000 books and nearly 4,000 rolls of microfilm and covers many states. It is always well worth a visit — just don’t go on football weekends.
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