Genealogical Proof
I am currently undertaking the FutureLearn course set up by the University of Strathclyde (see linked article for more information). It has been quite interesting thus far and up came the question on 'genealogical proof'. As I haven't fully wrote an article on this section of genealogy - I thought I'll write up about it today!
Firstly, in each record you use to find out information on your relatives there is a chance of mistakes occurring. A simple example would be illegitimate children putting their grandfather's name or even making up one on marriage records.
However, mistakes can arise from inaccuracies in the records (I have one I'll write about soon) that can lead you off track. As well as common surnames or combinations of names in an area - not necessarily national as Smith or Jones could be quite a rare surname in some parishes of the UK (hard to imagine, I know!) so proofing your work can be valuable to you and other related researchers.
Other than your close immediate family, which you would probably know if you were related to or not, proof has to come from written documentation or sometimes artifacts. Interviews can be very important for you to find out information about an individual, however people may have 'scrambled' memories from an event and therefore checking their responses against documents can help you reliably learn more about your relative.
In order for you to comfortably state you are related to an individual; each conclusion you make has to have a sufficient amount of credibility.
The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), consists of 5 main points:
A written conclusion does not have to be long but should take into account all of the above points stating why your explanation to the problem is to be considered proven.
On a small side note:
Due to external reasons for the next few months articles can't be released weekly. I will state article release dates soon on the home page - however there will not be an article next week so I hope I can make one available on the 21 April.
Published: 7 April 2016
Firstly, in each record you use to find out information on your relatives there is a chance of mistakes occurring. A simple example would be illegitimate children putting their grandfather's name or even making up one on marriage records.
However, mistakes can arise from inaccuracies in the records (I have one I'll write about soon) that can lead you off track. As well as common surnames or combinations of names in an area - not necessarily national as Smith or Jones could be quite a rare surname in some parishes of the UK (hard to imagine, I know!) so proofing your work can be valuable to you and other related researchers.
Other than your close immediate family, which you would probably know if you were related to or not, proof has to come from written documentation or sometimes artifacts. Interviews can be very important for you to find out information about an individual, however people may have 'scrambled' memories from an event and therefore checking their responses against documents can help you reliably learn more about your relative.
In order for you to comfortably state you are related to an individual; each conclusion you make has to have a sufficient amount of credibility.
The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), consists of 5 main points:
- A 'reasonably exhaustive search', this assumes that you have used a wide range of genealogical records to come to your conclusion and thus minimises the chance of undiscovered documentation disproving your theory on an individual. E.g. census records, BMDs etc.
- Sources have been fully cited, this makes the extent of the evidence of sources used easily seen so other related (or unrelated) people can come to the a similar conclusion to you.
- That you have analysed and correlated the information you have collected, this shows that you have interpreted each and every source allowing you to make a conclusion that reflects all your research on an individual.
- All conflicting information has been checked and proved/disproved, making you conclusion more credible. Be aware that all conflicting information must be resolved.
- You have created a reasoned, written, conclusion, this should eliminate any bias or preconceptions created as well as being able to adequately appreciate the evidence found.
A written conclusion does not have to be long but should take into account all of the above points stating why your explanation to the problem is to be considered proven.
On a small side note:
Due to external reasons for the next few months articles can't be released weekly. I will state article release dates soon on the home page - however there will not be an article next week so I hope I can make one available on the 21 April.
Published: 7 April 2016
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*Note - No copyright infringement was intended. If there is a breach in copyright contact me through the 'Contact' section so it can be removed. All photos are Copyright © 2016 Harry Clarke. All Rights Reserved. The photo on the 'Home' page for this article is courtesy of Sacerdotus.