Soundly Reasoned, Coherently Written Conclusion | Genealogical Proof Standard | Ancestry

[@bwsmyhero]

I have seen in some Ancestry members’ trees where 2 ancestors lived in the early 1700s in Virginia, but tree owner had them marrying in England, giving the marriage registry record, etc. The owner of the tree didn’t even question why they would have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing ship to get married! Why would the ancestors have even gone to England for ANY reason, when conditions in the old world was the reason their recent ancestors left there in the first place? Sure, the name of the couple who married in England was the same as the Virginia ancestors, such as John and Mary (last name), VERY common names, and the timeline for a marriage was consistent, but it would have been a totally unnecessary hardship in colonial Virginia to journey that far to do something they could have safely done right there in Virginia! That’s an excellent reason to assume the couple who married in England was NOT the same as the Virginia ancestors.

[@cherylmedlin2769]

I binged this 6-video series yesterday and it has completely refocused my genealogy work. I started a couple years ago after getting my DNA done and had no idea what I was doing. My tree is a mess. Those magical green leaves and ThruLines were just so enticing, so I clicked them when I shouldn't have. I'm now going back and beginning at the beginning because of your videos. I have also now stalked you everywhere and followed. Just so you know. lol

[@mikkimurray6154]

Thank you so much for putting these together in a format that is easy for us newbies to understand!!! It has been very helpful and will make my job alot easier.

[@TheGreatBear57]

Thanks for the series! I've been rather intuitively adding more and more of the process of GPS to what was more of a casual hobby. So I got lots of great ideas on how to further improve my work and was affirmed in what I have already begun.

[@florafaunaful]

Love this. I am always hung up on this step. I always think there is not enough evidence to come to a conclusion. That's probably why my research has been at a relative standstill for 20 years. I have tons of collected things, but I'm worried about making the wrong conclusion!

[@AncestryUS]

You've got this! Follow the Genealogical Proof Standard and you can be reasonable confident in your conclusions.

[@BarbGressel]

Thanks Crista, I have used this to create a conclusion for one of my ancestors.

[@suecerri2686]

I would like to see you have two more shows about the last two blog and website examples you gave us. Thank you

[@tanelise4673]

EXCELLENT!!!

[@kaypatterson1742]

Thanks so much for this clear outline. Here's my question -- I have many ancestors, especially women, ho lived their lives before documentation was regularly kept and evidence is scant.. Do the evidence standards accommodate that in any way?Example: 2g grandmother who is listed on two of her sons death certificates, one son's obituary and - I recently found - a death registry at the town clerk's office which includes her age at time of death.. After her death (can't yet independently verify date) her children show up living with three different families in the same town. One family has her birth name and from birth/death dates are the right ages to be her parents. I have found their grave sites. My research remains open (always!) but I suspect it's the only evidence I will find. The family bible has disappeared. Is there a best evidence caveat for ancestors for whom data is scant?

[@AncestryUS]

Sounds like you've got some great evidence there, though some of it may be indirect evidence. For a quick lesson on classes of evidence, I HIGHLY recommend Elizabeth Shown Mills' website, Evidence Explained, particularly this post: www.evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-13-classes-evidence%E2%80%94direct-indirect-negative