Family history information you must provide
In order to research your family Avalon Family History needs a starting point.
The more accurate information you can give me the better. Names, dates of birth and marriage
dates for ALL the family members you know of and where they were born. Create a simple hand drawn tree
so I know who is related and how. Talk to as many of your family as you can, Aunts, Uncles,
Grandparents - every one available to you. Make a note of names, including nick names. My Great Grandfather
was always called Jack Smith, this put me on the wrong track, wasting much time and effort, until one day
Dad just happened to use the name John instead, I didn't recognise that name so pressed him and, hey
presto, research became easier (if researching John Smith can be said to be easy).
Has the name changed? If you have any divorce papers, adoption papers or other name change information it
will all help. Even a simple spelling change can cause problems. My wife's mother was registered as 'Bennett',
her grandfather was registered as 'Bennetts'.
Was anyone in the armed services, if so their service details, regiments, ships, squadrons etc, their service number
and years of service will all help.
If you have them copies of birth, marriage, death or baptism certificates can help.
Basically my time costs you money so the better armed I am the more successful my research will be.
There is
a blank form which you can download to help you prepare. Use as many of these as you can. Complete a form for each family i.e.
- yourself, partner and your children;
- your father, mother and all their children;
- your father's parents and all their children (your grandparents, uncles and aunts);
- your mothers's parents and all their children (your grandparents, uncles and aunts).
If possible continue with great-grandparents. It is important you also complete the notes section. I need to know how reliable the information you provide is. e.g. 'Great Aunty Eliza said...' may not be as reliable as 'dates taken from old family bible'.
