Have you ever felt the exhilarating rush of clarity wash over you like a wave, finally dispelling the shadows of a mystery that has consumed your thoughts? Genealogy research fills me with these addictive moments of interpretation. It’s a pursuit that transforms the tangled threads of information swirling in my mind into a compelling obsession.
Recently, it dawned on me to find my great-grandfather’s regiment. Despite weeks of frustration and near surrender, this revelation clicked into place like a missing puzzle piece.
At the heart of most of my genealogical research, I need to be adept at piecing together fragments of information scattered across centuries-old records, dusty archives, and online databases. I also have millions of snippets on file in my head— blurbs of text, photographs, and stories I’ve heard waiting in the wings to illuminate a current thread.
Like a detective unraveling a case, I eagerly connect the dots. This process requires patience, persistence, and a keen eye for detail. It also never ends. Layers of information create further pursuits and lines of inquiry.
I often circle back along paths I have traveled before.
Yet, I have never felt I was “back where I started.”
One of the defining characteristics of how I analyze each fact involves scrutinizing records for discrepancies and inconsistencies. Whether deciphering handwritten census records or interpreting faded gravestones, valuable insights may be in the most obscure sources. Time, hunger, and limbs that jab me with pins and needles fade. The next unexpected revelation must be right around the corner.
Genealogy is much more than crunching numbers and deciphering documents. It’s a deeply personal pursuit. I am emotionally invested in my research as I uncover forgotten stories and lively details about long-lost relatives. Each new discovery is a triumph, yet it only deepens my thirst for more.
Beyond active research, my mind is never at rest. In my downtime, I ponder the possibilities and connections and wrack my brain for the next steps and new angles.
Whether mulling over potential leads or brainstorming new research strategies, I always think about my work.
Recently, one of my ongoing transcription projects stumped me. Digitizing my great-grandfather’s handwritten “Recollections” has been particularly frustrating. In 1968, in his eighties, he wrote over 230 pages in pencil on several legal pads. I am about halfway through typing it into a document, which is ridiculously time-consuming. To keep myself from giving up, I periodically dive into side research about something he mentions.
For example: ‘As Christmas approached, Jimmie and I earned money making wreaths to sell in town. Later, as the snow melted, we gathered the lovely trailing arbutus, made bouquets, and sold them to a town florist.’ I had to look up trailing arbutus. Zig-zagging keeps me from losing my mind staring at Great-Granddad Harry’s handwriting. Eventually, these sidebars will make the project more engaging for future readers. Weaving them into his piece deepens our understanding of how he lived and what mattered to him.
Trailing Arbutus, or the Mayflower Plant, is a small shrub that produces clusters of white flowers in the early spring. Because of this, it makes for a gorgeous perennial accent piece and is also considered one of our most important native flowers.
My great-grandfather also listed the names of friends with him on various adventures. I have no frame of reference to decipher personal names, and even when I think he is mentioning the same person, I waiver because he forms his letters differently each time.
I carry the weight and responsibility of honoring his words as he intended, and he included his comrades in his piece.
One day, walking through the woods near my house, I was thinking about his friends and contemplating leaving them out of the document. That didn’t feel right to me, and I started thinking about how much better stories are when peppered with the characters’ full names. Or how funny it is when people tell stories of middle school with just last names- “McClintock and Baker came around the corner, and we ran.”
I have learned to step away from work. To let my brain do what it does. My synapses fire up with white noise, like running water at the sink or the shower. Getting outside or changing tasks is actually a vital part of the work.
I was wandering along the trail near my house, distracted by the dappled light of late March and noticing the greening-up that you can only see if you blur your eyes when the idea of hunting directly for Great-Granddad Harry’s Regiment came to mind with a jolt.
Of course! Comparing the list of men against his chicken scratch might get me the correct names.
Use FAN! It didn’t take me long to find the 13th Regiment of Cavalry in the US Army Military Registers on the Boston Public Library website. Astonishing. They are all there. Hatfield, Finley, Neill, Clopton, and Lowe. No matter how long I stared at the pencil marks, I would never have gotten his friend Aubrey Lippincott right.
I have been applying the FAN principle to my research for as long as I can remember. Still, I forgot half my toolbox because I was stuck deciphering handwriting.
What is FAN?
The FAN principle in genealogy research stands for Friends, Associates, and Neighbors. It’s a methodology that encourages us to broaden research beyond direct ancestors to include the social network of individuals connected to them.
Here’s a breakdown of each component of the FAN principle:
- Friends: Friends refer to close personal connections of your ancestors, such as lifelong companions, confidants, or individuals with whom they shared common interests or experiences. These relationships can provide valuable context and shed light on various aspects of your ancestor’s life, including social activities, community involvement, and shared beliefs or affiliations.
- Associates: Associates encompass a broader network of individuals with whom your ancestors may have had professional or business relationships, such as colleagues, business partners, or fellow members of organizations or societies. Exploring these connections can reveal information about your ancestor’s occupation, economic status, and involvement in community affairs.
- Neighbors: Neighbors are individuals who lived near your ancestors, typically in the same neighborhood, town, or rural area. Researching neighbors can offer glimpses into your ancestors’ community dynamics, local customs, and social interactions. Additionally, neighbors may have witnessed significant events in an ancestor’s life or been involved in shared community activities.
By applying the FAN principle, we can uncover hidden connections, fill gaps in the family narrative, and overcome research obstacles.
I have used this method most successfully when a last name is wildly misspelled or indexed incorrectly. I’ve had to search the census records by narrowing down the field with neighbors’ names to reach my ancestor.
I love thinking outside the box.
When faced with dead ends and roadblocks, I approach the problem from different angles, exploring alternative sources and methodologies. Flexibility and creativity are vital traits of successful genealogy research, and historical research is an ever-changing landscape.
In my imagination, I see myself somewhere between a mad scientist and one of those TV detectives with a wall covered in data points, photos, and Post-it notes stuck everywhere. Maybe yarn is stretched between thumbtacks to brighten the connections.
In the digital age, genealogy has undoubtedly emerged as a favorite pastime, with online resources making it easier than ever to trace our roots. But even as technology advances, the fundamental skills of a genealogist remain unchanged. It’s not just about collecting data; it’s about weaving together narratives, piecing together the stories of our ancestors, and preserving their legacy for future generations.
My work requires analytical rigor,
emotional depth, and unyielding curiosity.
The more I search and find, the more vibrant the stories are. They illuminate the hidden corners of history and palpably connect me to it. Remembering to create space from your work so your mind can tease ideas apart and mull over possible avenues for exploration is critical.
As I type, spring is appearing in the mountains, and any day now, it will be time to explore migrating warblers in their finest plumage. Dazzled for the first time by many of them in dull winter colors last fall, I ordered guidebooks. I read up on behavior to be prepared for showy versions of them passing through. While I listen for new calls and wait for flashy colors with my camera around my neck, I will turn over a new question about my ancestors until clarity lands another puzzle piece for me.
Check out the gems for genealogy research on the Boston Public Library site and read more about my great-grandfather’s handwritten recollections in my post: Too Close.
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