How much does it cost to hire a professional genealogist to help with your application?

This is the question no one ever wants to ask, but one that's crucially important. I'll be speaking here in general terms, so if you have questions about a specific case, please don't hesitate to contact me. When you're working on a lineage society application, you generally are deal with four sets of costs: TheContinue reading "How much does it cost to hire a professional genealogist to help with your application?"

Direct line? Collateral? Why does it matter in my lineage society application?

These terms can feel confusing the first few times you hear them: Direct line means that you are descended from the ancestor through a parent-child relationship, ie. great-great-great-grandchild. Collateral line means that you are descended from the ancestor through their sibling, most often through an uncle-niece/nephew relationship. Whether you are direct line descendant or aContinue reading "Direct line? Collateral? Why does it matter in my lineage society application?"

Can I use Ancestry ThruLines as proof for a lineage society application?

The simple answer: no. The reasoning lies in how "ThruLines" are created. The following is from Ancestry's description: "We use the family tree linked to your test to find people who are in your tree and are also in your matches's linked trees. [...]" In short, ThruLines searches the submitted family trees of your DNAContinue reading "Can I use Ancestry ThruLines as proof for a lineage society application?"

Just the research or research and the application? :A question you need to answer when seeking professional assistance with a lineage society application.

Not every offer of professional assistance with lineage society applications is created equal. When you're searching for professional help with your lineage society application, it's important to consider whether you need help with just the research or with the entire application process, including the application forms. Choosing the wrong option may slow down your applicationContinue reading "Just the research or research and the application? :A question you need to answer when seeking professional assistance with a lineage society application."

I’m going home for the holidays. Is there anything I should do on my application?

The holidays can provide a great opportunity make some progress on your lineage society application. (Even better, the project can give your family something to talk about and work on together!) Here are a few steps you can take: If you're just getting started, ask questions! There are often family stories about an ancestor's claimContinue reading "I’m going home for the holidays. Is there anything I should do on my application?"