Where to Start?

I hear this from clients a lot: “I don’t know where to start.” Even thinking about your family’s history can seem a little overwhelming. So many generations, all those different branches, all those people with the same or similar names. Which is why many folks come to Black Sheep in the first place. But when I ask them for some information to get the ball rolling—names, dates, whatever you have—there it is again, that overwhelmed feeling: “I don’t know where to start.”

Here’s a simple answer: Assuming they have passed away, start with your grandparents. Do you have an obituary? Send it along. If not, do you know the year they died and at least approximately when they were born? Where they lived?

That’s all I need to build a family tree. Start with what you know—it’s so obvious it sounds a little silly. With a family tree, though, one small mistake can render much of what follows inaccurate, sometimes without you even knowing. So start with someone you or your parents knew, and we’ll work backward from there.

Interested in hiring Black Sheep? First look at our services page, then go find that obituary!