Using timelines to bring new life to your research.

A time line can be an effective step in the genealogy research process and can help you to plan new areas of research as you track your ancestor through his life and that of his family.

Successful Research requires the following items:
1. A knowledge of the Research Process
2. A knowledge of the sources of information available, their time period, and their availability.
3. A knowledge of the reference works common to your area of research. These can help guide you through the historical and geographical background of the areas you are working in.
4. A knowledge of the history of your area of research. What was happening on a local, state and national level that might have affected the life of your ancestor?
5. The different jurisdictions that might have affected your ancestor and a knowledge of where to access the records for that area.

A time line can help you put each of these basic research techniques into proper perspective and better help you evaluate you next step by doing the following:

1. Helps place the ancestor in a historical setting by identifing the events of the local, state, or national events which might have been relevant to your ancestor and by helping you to evaluate the possibility of an event happening in the life of your ancestor.
2. As you plot your ancestor’s family you will find ideas for new areas to search.
3. A time line can help to evaluate the possibility of a family tradition and will help to identify international events that could have directly affected your life.
4. A time line can help to figure out Discrepancies.
5. A time line can help to put your ancestor in the right place at the right time.

When considering local, state, national, or international events consider:
Wars, immigration patterns, epidemics, statehood, migration patterns, Indian actions
Building of railroads, Indian displacement patterns, battles in the Civil War, Religious Patterns, military bounty lands, and any other event that might have affected your ancestor and his family.
Consider Encyclopedias, History Books, Source Books, Family History Center Research Outlines and other resource books when considering the events that might have affected you ancestor’s life.
Items you might want to include could be:
Name Place Event Date Historical Event Comments

Remember a time line can be done whatever form which will best suit your needs. It is helpful to leave room at the bottom to site your sources to help with later evaluations. Many genealogical databases now help you create a timeline for your ancestors but sitting down and plotting it your self the old fashioned way helps you understand the movements of your ancestor much better and will lead to the breaking down of those brick walls in your research.