Getting back into it

[vinpip]

Hi
I've not been working on my family research for at least 3or 4 years.
I've accumulated a fairly extensive tree that for the most part I'm reasonably confident about.
I no longer have subscriptions to any paid websites.

What I would like help/ suggestions with/about is how to approach getting back into it all!
Anybody got any suggestions?
Thanks

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

The areas and eras will play a part as there are more resources available now than ever before.

The GRO website has a partial birth index, 1837-1920 now includes maiden names for example. The pay sites have added images of registers, freereg and freecen coverage has improved. Post 1858 probate registers and orders can be done from a gov .uk site. The newspaper archives are getting bigger with more coverage either through FindMyPast or the main BNA website, the latter is updated more frequently but is a separate subscription.

Personally I'd probably look back at my existing research and see if there is anything new out there to add to it from the varied sites before taking a leap into subscriptions, make use of any free trials or access through libraries that are available.

[Spidermonkey]

What about telling your ancestors stories?  Setting up a blog via wordpress or wixsite is easy (and free!) and you might find that by taking an ancestor and writing up the story of their life, it makes you start thinking more about the everyday details of the life (not just the births, marriages and deaths!).  This in turn, may give you more ideas of avenues to follow and what research you could do.

[vinpip]

Thank you Glen in Tinsel Kni, a lot to think about there. Very good advice.

Thanks Spidermonkey that may be a way in for the ones that I have a lot of information for.

[iluleah]

What I did after a 'time away' from researching was to start again....... obviously it is easier second time around as you already know the names/dates/places, so for me it was about checking what research I had done, reminding myself about the individual/s I was looking for and checking I had found each and every real  record in their lifetime.

I have never had website subscriptions and have to say when I used library versions or 'free weekend' offers I was always disappointed with the number of transcriptions, hints, collections and trees none of which are real records, they are only ever a clue, then you go prove that clue by finding the real record ( or not as the case is too many times)...

I work on you only need to make ONE mistake and you are no longer researching YOUR family and I want MY ancestors in my tree, not someone who might fit, or someone with a similar/same name or  being reasonably confident in having the right person or what everyone elses tree states... as none of that is research or proof.

I also chose one ancestor and did a timeline for him so between 1860 when he was born to 1936 when he died I knew where he was every year ( except one) and did a national timeline and international timeline so I knew what was happening nationally and internationally during his lifetime... that really helped me understand the world according to him.... it also pushed me to find other real records that I very likely would never have looked for and gave me lots of additional info ( like farm survey) so it was great learning

[vinpip]

Thank you iluleah Yes I like the idea of doing timelines for people. I've done that a bit with a few people I felt a special connection with but could extend that to others.
Totally agree about the one mistake aspect, I've seen so many trees going down the wrong route and hate the many useless hints that are offered. I often researched multiple possibilities and other names to clarify my research.

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

I've been probate heavy recently as some family groups have common names and it could be a nightmare to find the correct death, I worked out on or two were still alive as they were named in wills.
Huge success having burial transcriptions from the FHS too and matching them to probate register entries then revisiting the burial transcriptions for other burials in the same (and sometimes adjacent), plot.

Going back over a much longer timeframe I've managed to find and photograph the headstones of 7 consecutive generations in my direct line and add them to a couple of websites as well as my own tree site.  If there's an obit in the paper I've been able to edit the obit and headstone photo into one image.

I keep saying "no more names" but the more detail I find the more influential "married in" names come to light. When the same name comes up in 6 probate records and the odd census I can't leave them alone