* Dealing with more than one possible relative

[JerryNotts]

I have been fiddling about with my family tree for about 3 years; I have my scribbled notes and a boxfile with some information. I have recently bought FH 5 and am quietly learning how to use it.
This question may not be specific to FH but I am finding possible alternative relatives around the 1850-1920 period. I do not want to lose track of these individuals and the related source data. So my questions boil down to -
1. Can FH deal with this, and if so how, and
2 if not how do others deal with this?

It seems that in this computerised age there should be a means of recording the existence of either of the possibilities whilst I look for more sources for confirmation.
Suggestions would be most welcome.

JerryNotts

[DavidNewton]

There are numerous ways of doing this and I hope other forum members will share their methods (I am certainly interested to see what others do).

One fairly simple way is to add a new (unrelated) individual, enter the data that you have and then using the Edit Menu (Edit > Add to Named List) add them to a list in order to keep track of them. You can construct as many lists as you like and you can view them within the records window by clicking the Named Lists Pane icon in the record window toolbar and selecting the list. When you select an individual in a list there is a notes box at the bottom of the screen which allows you to enter notes - maybe why they are there, the possible relationship to other tree members, etc. When you are satisfied that you know 'who they are' then you can link them into your tree and remove them from the list.

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG Jerry.
All those possibilities should all be able to be resolved in the 1850 - 1920 period by obtaining BMD Certificates.

Essentially there are only two kinds of immediate family relationships where alternative possibilities may exist.

(1) Children
In this case just add the possible Children to their assumed parents, but add Notes to indicate the relationship is unconfirmed.

(2) Parents
Children can have multiple parents, so just add as many possible Father &/or Mother links as required, but add Notes to indicate the relationship is unconfirmed.

Typical places to add Notes are in the local Note of the Individual record, &/or the relevant Citation, &/or the Source record.

Other options include using the Associated Person link or Named Lists.

[JerryNotts]

There are numerous ways of doing this and I hope other forum members will share their methods (I am certainly interested to see what others do).

One fairly simple way is to add a new (unrelated) individual, enter the data that you have and then using the Edit Menu (Edit > Add to Named List) add them to a list in order to keep track of them. You can construct as many lists as you like and you can view them within the records window by clicking the Named Lists Pane icon in the record window toolbar and selecting the list. When you select an individual in a list there is a notes box at the bottom of the screen which allows you to enter notes - maybe why they are there, the possible relationship to other tree members, etc. When you are satisfied that you know 'who they are' then you can link them into your tree and remove them from the list.

Thank you David and tatewise,
I will give those methods a try.
I am reluctant at this stage to get the certificates as there are more siblings in each generation than I was aware of. I need to get my memory in order as I knew everyone back to birth date 1899, but over the past ten years they have all passed on, which is part of the stimulus to get on whilst I still have can.

JerryNotts

[AdrianBruce]

My answer would be that it really depends on how confident you are that these people are (a) related and (b) are each a person in their own right - rather than umpteen entries from an electoral register, say, that might or might not represent the same person.

In the case of one of my families from Cheshire because it's such a rare name I'm pretty certain that each person with that name is a relative so each is entered as an unrelated person first so I don't lose track of them. Then as evidence appears for their parentage I can connect them to the appropriate people. Sometimes of course I realise that they are already in, in which case I merge the 2 entries.

On the other hand if you are looking for Smith of London it may be that you have so many candidates who will be discarded that it becomes more sensible to just keep a list of them in a document somewhere.

[tatewise]

It is not clear how much researching of records you have done, or whether it is just your own personal notes of family relations.

There are many online records that may help resolve your doubtful details, some of which are free, and range mainly from 1837 to 1911.

See the research:index|> Genealogy Research for hints & tips with details of research web sites.

[jmurphy]

I agree with the earlier suggestions that a Named List is Family Historian is useful.

Other possibilities include --

• Keeping candidates in a separate database
• Using a source-based program like Custodian or Clooz to store the records
• Keeping notes in a journal (I use Scrivener)

I'm struggling with this myself because some of the people in the areas I'm studying have very common surnames. I'm thinking about doing a One-Name / One-Place study and keeping it in a separate database until I discover who needs to be in the main file.