How To Complete 5-Generation Pedigree Trees?

Filling in five-generation pedigree trees will involve researching your family history as far back as your great-great grandparents. This will inevitably involve some in depth research, and knowing where to look can save an incredible amount of time and effort. Devoting some time to a little preparation work will enable you to utilise your time and resources efficiently and avoid some of the common pitfalls encountered in genealogical research.

One of the most frustrating experiences for any genealogist is to realize they have misdirected their energies. Research can be very taxing, and to find out that a misspelt name or wrongly recorded birthplace or date has led them down the garden path can be very discouraging. For this reason it is imperative that names of people, places and dates in your family tree are recorded clearly and accurately.

PEDIGREE TREES: Free printer quality 5-generation pedigree trees

The first three generations of a pedigree tree are usually fairly easy to fill in. You only need to know your name and those of your parents and grandparents. After the third generation, information can be hard to come by. You may need to spend long hours gleaning data from sometimes obscure areas. When you go this far back into your family history you may be researching in a different country, so variations in name spelling may come into play.

Constructing a simple line chart with the information you already have will assist you in immediately seeing where the gaps are in your family history. Begin with your full name and draw a line to your parents, then your grandparents, great-grandparents, and finally your great-great grandparents. You might not be able to go much farther than your grandparent’s generation, but at least you will know where to begin looking. If you lack exact dates of birth or marriage dates or locations, don’t despair. An overview of both the extent and the limits of your knowledge will give you a clearer view of the task ahead.

When recording names make sure to add any nicknames or aliases your relatives may have.

A simple omission of a middle name or lack of an alias could steer future generations down the wrong path if they’re continuing your search. Make sure place names are accurate also, as specific village and county registries will be very helpful in providing helpful information. Different records are categorised by various geographic divisions, and these names will provide the necessary key to using the correct records.

A five-generation pedigree tree may involve searching records from the nineteenth century. The National Archives of many countries can be a valuable tool in filling in your family tree. National Libraries may contain parish registers and other useful resources such as census reports and land valuation records that may provide address details of your ancestors. Many countries have deed registries, which contain data about land transfers, marriage settlements, and tenure contracts, which could provide that missing link you’re looking for in filling out your five-generation pedigree tree.