"Solving the Impossible" over the past several years has developed a unique "15 Point Genealogical Compass" process to help enthusiasts thoroughly explore the history of a particular area, or that of a family. This free system can quickly focus the gathering of comprehensive and important information to make your final family history documentation much more interesting.

     Point 1: Gather highlights of the family's life and times: look in local newspapers and ask friends/relatives about what they know - these areas are golden opportunities for additional information

     Point 2: Search the Migration and immigration records for details of how your ancestor left or arrived from a specific port.

     Point 3: Birth, baptism/christening and marriage details through official certificates noting the dates and those who witnessed the ceremony but also take the opportunity to gather photographs of the religious entity (such as a church) in which the ceremony took place

     Point 4: Family Tree is an excellent way to fully understand the many connections of birth, marriage and death at a glance: be aware of particular difficulties in making clear the linkage of ancestors who divorced, were adopted, childless families, women who took their maiden name as their major name, marriage between cousins, multiple spouses, nicknames, unmarried parents, twins and multiple births.

Point 5: Newspaper cuttings can produce many stories about your ancestors, some can be quite chilling and others a source of extreme admiration. Many major newspapers have switched to an on-line version which gives the added advantage of easily searching for any references of your ancestors over many decades.

Point 6: Photographs of previous residences is something I introduced to add another dimension to the story of our ancestors. Depending on the time that the house was lived in, it may have been demolished or remodelled once you arrive at the scene. There is a great sense of discovery when you find the house once lived in by your ancestor, is still standing. Taking the photograph may be the final evidence that it ever existed. Beware there are privacy issues associated with taking photographs: especially be careful not to capture a car's number plate in your picture.

Point 7: Historical stories of surrounding locations adds to the theme of where your ancestor lived, and it is quite easy to look up the history of suburbs and towns on the internet, or purchase an historical book at the local library or information kiosk. This will bring a new and more exciting dimension to your account of your ancestor's life.

Point 8: The Death Certificate gives a large amount of information on the deceased including exact date of death, burial/cremation date and location, witnesses, last known address, last occupation, the informant's name which usually is a family member and their address/sometimes occupation, the Registrar's name, the and the Undertaker. Cause of death is a major find but many times it is described in purely medical terms. I have taken the broad medical details and then look up on the internet what it means in "plain English". This is very enlightening especially if you are monitoring a particular disease through several generations.

Point 9: Deceased siblings are an important addition to the ancestor's story as it often highlights terrible diseases and major accidents that may have occurred within the family, and the resultant suffering. In the 1800's and early 1900's it was not uncommon for over 50% of siblings to pass away at a very early age from these dreadful causes.

Point 10: Death notices which are commonly found in the final pages of newspapers are an excellent source of information as they give details on the deceased including full names, address sometimes, and relatives and friends names,

Point 11: Obituaries often found scattered through a newspaper, or in some cases lodged with the funeral notices are an extension of the Death Notice which give much more interesting detail about the life and times of the deceased. Most are written in terms of a tribute and recount the life of the person and their adventures, hobbies, travel and significant achievements and events in their lives.

Point 12: Funeral arrangements lodged in newspapers with the Death Notice are a very good source of being able to find where the deceased has been buried or cremated. Many times the deceased may have requested that they be placed in a locality different to where they lived. For a genealogist this is a major help in being able to visit the final resting place without spending hours trying to find which cemetery they may have been interred.

Point 13: Grave photographs are a lasting memorial to the deceased and especially important where other genealogists may not have been able to travel to the location. Be sure to take photographs from various angles so others can get a better feel of how the grave or plaque has been positioned. Be cautious, especially with graves that have a shiny appearance and can reflect back the flash of the camera and spoiling the picture. Small plaques in rose gardens and similar are notorious for spoiling picture clarity. The other area that can be disappointing are graves that have weathered badly and many photographs cannot pick up the inscription detail. From my experience the pink granite monument seems to erode the fastest.

Point 14: Grave Inscriptions are an important source of information, sometimes revealing birth and death details, other family member names, and many times, inspirational verses as a tribute to the deceased.

Point 15: Probate notices are a requirement by solicitors to publish the death and will requirements of the deceased. It is generally published several times in a local newspaper over three or four months and reveals the executor of the will, and those that may potentially benefit.

Want To Know More? Contact Us for additional information