Genealogy Research Plan Worksheet

[@kathemartin2707]

Thank you, Connie, for all you do to educate us. I love all your videos. I learn something new each time i watch one.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you so much!

[@donnaroberts8791]

Wow. I'm just starting my transition from Microsoft (Word, Excel) to Google Sheets. Learnt so much today. Thank you ❤

[@GenealogyTV]

Fantastic!

[@annatomasso5226]

Attending via online and I am so pumped! First timer for RootsTech but have previously attended FGS conferences.

[@GenealogyTV]

Enjoy!

[@dragonflylady8031]

Thank you so much Connie! Great video.

[@GenealogyTV]

You are so welcome!

[@Scdudley725]

Thanks for the information - it comes at the right time. I am now preparing my research plan worksheet (using excel) for my trip to the Family History Library during RootsTech!

[@GenealogyTV]

Yay!

[@brendaphillips1430]

This was super, I was so inspired that I created a sheet while watching you, and organized many of the questions that have been only in my head into a sortable tool. Thanks!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Nice! Good job.

[@suzee_]

I really like this !

[@advancedloiterer1820]

Brilliant idea for those without MS Excel. I am so hooked on DNA, my thought was that a marriage that doesn't exist might mean a "not the parent expected event" and you might find the father's name documented on a christening or baptism record. I would add that to my plan if I cannot find a marriage linking a child to its parents. It was just one of my side thoughts. Thank you for the video and I hope you enjoy RootsTech in Salt Lake City. I'm enrolled online as I reside in regional NSW in Australia and then I can watch a session in my daylight hours.

[@SJlarsen100]

It’s like you were reading my mind! I was wondering if you take a laptop with you when researching or something smaller. I plan to utilize all of this. I’m developing research notes for each ancestor as I work on them and this just goes along with that. As always, great info!

[@GenealogyTV]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@Bigburma]

You mention going to repositories and looking for things not on the internet. My question is how do you handle when you find the person you are looking for and the book or other resource ends up giving you 3 or 4 generations that includes all 4 grandparents families and parents. How do you gather and organize the information once you collect it and get back home?

[@donnaroberts8791]

I'd like to know this too.

[@GenealogyTV]

Great question. It depends on how many pages, but I typically whip out my cell phone and start snapping pictures or scanning software. I have used TurboScan forever. I don't know if they still sell it, but it was just a couple of dollars. You can copy the front matter of the book, the select pages you need, and the index (typically what I do) all in one PDF document, label it and email it to yourself in a matter of minutes. Then when I get home or have time to study it closer, I do. I first create a source citation, then abstract into my research notes for all those I desire.

[@cathyholcombe4674]

McComas is Scottish and there was a "pocket" of them that settled in Hartford County, MD. There is still a McComas clan in Scottland. Maynot be the same family, but thought I would mention it.

[@BonnieDragonKat]

Yep some of them married into the Napier's of Virginia/Kentucky

[@janwhitaker2430]

I have McComas as well from Harford in the 1700s. Rev John Whitaker married Mary McComas. Any connection, Connie? It looked like you also have Monongahela county which is where he moved his family around 1772.

[@GenealogyTV]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@talentonboard2456]

Thank you, this is helpful.Are you going to video any of the process once you get there and begin using these notes?

[@GenealogyTV]

Good idea. We’ll see.

[@shelleymonson8750]

I will see you there!

[@chars1184]

I have seen and greatly appreciated some of your videos, so I subscribed and am catching up on specific topics. 😊 Did you say there’s also a video for this research plan using Excel? (I’m not a fan of Google in general.) Thanks for all you do to help us!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes... Genealogy Research Plan Worksheet kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4eldnqAZdyDhMU

[@Chicosmama]

Thank you!!!!! This is going to be very helpful!!! I live in Asheboro if you need any help in researching 🙂

[@GenealogyTV]

Oh nice. Thanks.

[@tjones4302]

This has given me a whole new idea on how to keep research notes/plans! You say you do not use Family Tree Maker much anymore. Can I ask what you do use?

[@GenealogyTV]

I keep my primary tree on Ancestry and all my notes neatly organized in folders on my computer. It's a process I teach at the Genealogy TV Academy.

[@bv2858]

Thank you for another great video. Santa brought me a new computer and monitor so I have been learning Google Sheets thanks to you. My question for right now is, can Google Docs be used for Research Notes instead of Microsoft Word. Don't want to pay for that. I'm just learning all this stuff. Thank you.

[@GenealogyTV]

Sure you can use Google docs. Then you can easily access them anywhere.

[@JamesBurtonWorld]

Hi Connie, I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for all the great content that you put out there. Random side note, I was in Sacramento in 2022 for the NGS conference and I saw you there. I should have introduced myself. :) I’m curious to know what family tree software you use, if any. I have RootsMagic and i have it linked to my Ancestry tree, but I’m reconsidering whether or not that’s a good idea. It’s wreaking havoc with the facts and sources section in Ancestry. Do I give up the convenience of being able to quickly swap information between RootsMagic and Ancestry. In 2024, is it even still necessary to have separate software? Thanks again for another great video. 😊

[@GenealogyTV]

You should have said hi. I don’t use software much anymore. I still open FTM once in a while but don’t trust the sync functions on any of them anymore. I use Ancestry primarily and good quality research notes and file management.

[@JamesBurtonWorld]

@@GenealogyTV thanks, Connie. I may give that method a go and unlink my RootsMagic from Ancestry and focus on making Ancestry my primary tree. I imagine any sources you find on Ancestry, FamilySearch, or any other online platform, you download and save in your digital file system? Does it go the other way as well? Anything you find offline you scan, upload, and attach to your Ancestry tree? In that case, do you do free-form citations in Ancestry?

[@cynthiamartin2197]

Willimenia "Coss" or "Cross" is spelled both ways in your spreadsheet, in case you have a problem pulling info out.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes.. good eye. It is spelled differently in different records too. Good catch.

[@cynthiamartin2197]

@@GenealogyTV I’ve noticed in my migrating branches; by the third generation it appears the family agrees on a specific spelling/pronunciation of the family name. There are outliers though; one branch splits from the majority and retains as much of the original name as possible. 😂

[@peterf.thorne4987]

My screen says I'm subscribed. However, I've never found the notes to your videos. Peter Thorne

[@GenealogyTV]

Hi Peter, go here and scroll down. www.youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/membership If you are at the Information Access level, you will see a post with the handout.

[@Ascertain20]

Google Sheets is telling me it's unable to open the template file.

[@GenealogyTV]

I just tested it. It worked for me.

[@Ascertain20]

@@GenealogyTV I checked it before and it's still not working for me.

[@tammyray8464]

All I got to say is I'm so confused I don't work the computer like you. The way that you were zipping around on the computer. I am so confused

[@GenealogyTV]

I'm sorry. I'll try to slow down.

[@tammyray8464]

It's not just slowing down. I am not a computer person

[@CharleneCTX]

My local public library has free computer classes. You might check in your area for classes -- libraries, community centers, etc.

[@tammyray8464]

I know how to work a computer. And they do have computer classes and I have gone to them. She was using her mouth and going to different areas. And I wasn't catching it and it was going too fast