Descendancy Research�in �Family Tree

Why do Descendancy Research?

Why do Descendancy Research?

Why do Descendancy Research?

Why do Descendancy Research?

Where to start?

You

Traditionally, people researched back only through the direct lines.

Where to start?

When they looked at their family, they thought the work had all been done.

You

“These people are all sealed together, and I can’t do anything more.”

Where to start?

When they looked at their family, they thought the work had all been done.

You

Where do I start in my family?

Let’s reverse the family line from Mordecai to you.

Mordecai

Children

You

Grandchildren

Great-grandchildren

Great-great-grandchildren

Great-great-great-grandchildren

Great-great-great-great-grandchildren

Beyond Me and My Direct Line

Mordecai

I am just one single line.

Wow!! �We have work to do.�

In a direct line, 5 generations back, you have 186 people.

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In 5 generations from your great-great grandfather, you have approximately 75,000 cousins (from Ambrose, Mordecai’s grandson to you).

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If you go to Mordecai (7 generations) and come down to you, you have approximately 1.8 million cousins.

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[This is with no multiple marriages, no polygamy, and an average of 5 children per family.]

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Six Steps to “Finding Our Cousins”

• Choose an ancestor.
• Select a descendant.
• Find a record.
• Attach the record. Add people from the record.
• Reserve ordinances.
• Print the FOR.

Finding Our Cousins – Tools

• Use FamilySearch/Family Tree to select ancestor using fan chart.
• Good tool for visual access is Puzzilla.org, which also interfaces with FamilySearch and is accessible through FamilySearch.
• “Finding Our Cousins: Using New Tools on FamilySearch.org.” [Descendancy View on Family Tree]
• Other third-party programs may also be used.

Finding Our Cousins: Using New Tools on FamilySearch.org

Click Here to load Lesson and Video in another window

Verifying Our Cousins

• FamilySearch reminds us many times to verify our cousins by using at least two different records.

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• Always observe the 110 year policy. For those born after 1908, you must have permission.

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• Recommendation: Start descendant research no earlier than 1750 because of lack of record availability.

Try Descendant Research

Enjoy the experience of finding your cousins.

Good luck.

Web Site Sources Used:

• “Descendancy Research: Finding the Past in the Present”, Tim Bingaman, Consultant Webinar “Step-by-Step Descendancy Research,” Presentation slides with handout, http://broadcast2.lds.org/elearning/fhd/Local_Support/Consultant/Webinar/Webinar-DescendancyResearch-presentation-final.pdf (August 2014)

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• “Finding Our Cousins: Using New Tools on FamilySearch” (July 2014) https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/finding-our-cousins-using-new-tools-on-familysearch-org/931

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• “New Tools for Finding Your Missing Cousins”, Beth Taylor, Consultant Webinar, Consultant Webinar: New Tools for Finding Your Missing Cousins, link on Lesson: (July 28, 2014)

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