Tip # 7: How to Use Other Family Trees

Online family trees can be a blessing or a curse in your family research.

They are a curse if you…

• Dismiss them as having no value to your research
• Take them as “gospel” truth without question
• Use their information without confirming its accuracy
• Copy them to just fill in the blanks on your family tree

They are a blessing if you…

• Use them as clues providing direction to your research
• Ask, “Can I confirm or disprove these statements?”
• Use them as affirmation when they agree with your completed research.
• Connect you with other researchers interested in your family line

When I began researching my Byrd family, I met a 1st cousin I didn’t know.  Harold invited me to view his family tree on Ancestry and it has served as an invaluable guide in my Byrd family research.  Thanks Harold Byrd!  Some of the most exhaustive work done on our Byrd family has been done by Randall Byrd.  Much of his work was done in the difficult old fashion ways of the past.  Thanks Randall!

How you use family trees built by others is entirely up to you.  Keep this in mind.  Your decision will be a blessing or a curse to your family research.