Mapping Out Your Ancestors
This week’s article is hopefully going to show techniques of mapping out how your ancestors moved around (or anything you want the map to show). Obviously, you can get a real map and pins, but I like this way.
To start you need to create a Google account, if you haven’t already done so, but this is completely free and quick to do. Once you’ve done this, click on the box where you would usually type in (shown below).
To start you need to create a Google account, if you haven’t already done so, but this is completely free and quick to do. Once you’ve done this, click on the box where you would usually type in (shown below).
There you should see an option saying ‘My Maps’, click that and you see something similar to that shown below. Then click ‘Create’, this should open up a new tab. From there, you type in the first place on your ancestor’s journey, which should come up with a green pin, click that and click ‘Add to Map’. You can then choose to have all the pins in the same colour or different colours and to label the places on your map. Then you can continue to add to places but remember to add them to your map.
You can then add lines to connect these places. To do this you click the icon that has 3 circles connected together by two lines, then click ‘Add line or shape’ and drag between two of the places, clicking once you've reached the destination, you can either: have one solid line going to each place or individual lines between each place. You can also change the colours of the lines or not have them at all.
I think this is a great way to map places, showing how your ancestors moved across the country. I've made this map as an example. It shows how my Shire's moved across Somerset & Devon. Starting at A is the most recent Shire's and F is the furthest back I've gone.
I think this is a great way to map places, showing how your ancestors moved across the country. I've made this map as an example. It shows how my Shire's moved across Somerset & Devon. Starting at A is the most recent Shire's and F is the furthest back I've gone.
To take a screenshot; you press 'Control' (Ctrl) and 'Print Screen' (Prt Sc). To crop it; 'paste' it into a program of your choice that you can crop in, like paint, and crop it. You can then copy and paste it into a word document and then save it.
*Note* As I'm pretty busy for the next 2 months, articles will be released fortnightly when possible. This means article days will be 23 April, 7 May, (I can't do the 21 May, so I'll do the next Thursday), 28 May and back to normal from the 11 June.
Published: 9 April 2015
*Note* As I'm pretty busy for the next 2 months, articles will be released fortnightly when possible. This means article days will be 23 April, 7 May, (I can't do the 21 May, so I'll do the next Thursday), 28 May and back to normal from the 11 June.
Published: 9 April 2015
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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 © 2015 Harry Clarke. All Rights Reserved. The homepage photo for this article is courtesy of Luis Pedrosa. The images of maps are courtesy of Google Maps.