Genealogy Do Over

Take a closer look at the research documented in your software database, FamilySearch Family Tree, and your online trees. Do you have dates and places without sources, poorly documented research, broken links to websites that no longer exist, and other problems? Put aside past research and start with a blank canvas in which you will verify and source all data entered into your tree and START OVER.

Thomas MacEntee of High-Definition Genealogy has issued a challenge for the third year in a row, and that is a “Genealogy Do-Over.” MacEntee put together a guide “The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook” that is free to download for Amazon Prime members. He created the Facebook group, Genealogy Do-Over, for those who have questions and need help. He has his own Genealogy Do-Over YouTube channel with tutorial videos. MacEntee recommends that you read the “27 Golden Rules of Genealogy,” by Alona Tester before you start. Those that have participated in previous Do-Overs have found that their genealogy skills have improved, they have learned the latest in technology, and more.

There are some who have chosen not to do their do-overs as MacEntee has promoted, but they are doing modified versions of the “Do-Over.” Some are working on cleaning up the data on their FamilySearch tree starting with their first four generations. FamilySearch is particular about how you enter the dates and places and getting your dates and places in right format can increase the record hints that you will get. They are checking to make sure there are sources for the birth, marriage, and death data. They are linking census records available during this ancestor’s lifetime.

I have done several “Do-Overs” on various lines in the past. From these “Do-Overs,” I have found that entire lines have been wrong because a researcher had linked a husband with the wrong spouse. Another line had the children lined with the wrong parents. I have found children that were previously unknown to exist. If I hadn’t done a reset on a line that I was researching, I would never have found these problems or children. I also learned research skills that have helped me as I research other lines. A “Do-Over is a big undertaking and can seem overwhelming, but the results will be well worth the work. Your family tree will be clean and accurate. Good luck and happy “Do-Over.”