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Are The Unborn & Unwed Needed In A Tree?                2017 10 01
Lesson 024...                                                                                                 Published Monthly

Defining The Problem...
Time, resources, interest and other "valid" reasons are all at the forefront of the omission list.
Every individual listed in a family tree will take a certain amount of time to research and record.

By their sheer definition, these are not a direct-line ancestor to the tree most are interested in.
They are aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, great-great aunts and uncles, and so on as such.

They are also not likely to be found in most trees for various reasons-including interest.
Stillborn, infant and adolescent deaths have no decendandents that will come looking for heredity.

Sometimes refered to as "Spinsters", the unwed are usually given space in larger trees.
Additionally, normally missing for lack of interest are children of a previous or second marriage.
Further left out are the children from an ancestors previous or secondary spouses other relationship.

All of these omissions come down to prioritazation of time/manhour utilization, or a lack of interest.
Both of these are the same thing, as we tend to put our time into the most important parts.
The problem is that we tend to make this decision without realizing the significance.


How Does This Happen?...
With few exceptions, we desire to create a tree of direct-line genealogy.
As modern descendants attempt this, there are none searching for a stillborn ancestor.
The same is true of none searching for a grandparent spinster. It's a simple concept about interest.

As a person and their cousin each research their genealogy, two slightly different trees emerge.
Though 50% of each are the same, 50% of both are very different-even if they reconnect.
With an unborn or youthful death there are no interested descendants recording them.

As people normally do, they become more interested in others that they see most frequently.
Pictures, records and other nostalgia become more easily found by researchers.
Rare items recording anothers presence can become invaluable!

Without them, a person can be forgotten within a generation or two.
Sometimes this is a natural result from death, unwed persons or a geographical move.
It can also be the result of deliberate omission after divorce, war conquest and unnatural disasters.


What's Been Done To Fix This?...
Actually a lot has been done along the way, just as with other genealogy!
Adult-unwed persons are no different except for the lack of spousal and parenting records.
Their records are much the same as their counterparts according to the same timeframe of existance.

Many times school registrations can be an unexpected look into family life!
Farther back in time, birth and death records are still very informative if accessable.
The secondary information on most forms are generally far more than just a name and a date!

Stillborn and infant deaths will have fewer records of course, but there are still many good sources.
Birth and death certificates, burial records and obituaries can yield a wealth of information!
Even an entirely new unexpected person can arise-as was the surprise in this case!

Other sources include "Vital Records" which may help acount for births and deaths between censuses.
Between federal censuses are also many state censuses which can be of help adding info.
These "died young" persons also show family togetherness and parental life.

As expected in either case, the more modern their time, the more records that can be found.
Additionally, the software used here keeps statistics on all members including these.
Best of all, more records and record types emerge as available each year.


Where Can We Find The Lost Data?...
Birth and death certificates are by far the best available for both youth deaths and spinsters.
The information varies from child-to-child, even within the very same household!
Information on parents as well the deceased are on the same form.

Burial records and cemetary listings can be extremely helpful as well.
They can provide names, dates, location, ages, and more.
It's another way of placing entire families!

Vital Records are a less common way of validating births and deaths, but helpful in early years.
Though not all states held censuses, wherever possible they should be incorporated.
In the case of "unwed", marriage records may reveal short marriages.

As a "Last Resort"-(Unfairly named as it should always be used anyway)-Try a generic search.
Using only the surname and the state(s) in question, attempt to find something you're unaware of.
The snipit's provided should be enough to tell you if it's a known or unknown person within your tree.


What Did We Learn From This?...
These are people as well as family members and deserve our respect and rememberance.
They are by no means less important than those we see more frequently.
Our genetic makeup/DNA is shared equally with them.

The stillborn information gives family placement at certain times and fills timegaps.
It can also give other information like parental birthplaces, occupations and maiden names.
At the very least, besides validating previously known information, it sheds insight into family life.

The records of the stillborn and the unwed are no different than that of the others more easily found.
There are simply far fewer of them and less likely to be recorded by as many researchers.
Theirs will be the basic... Birth, death, burial. Any further records will be a bonus!

Because we are all connected-information about one, will likely contain information about another.
With few exceptions info generally regards parentage though obituaries may yield siblings.
This in turn may lead to another aspect of their previously unknown family life.

Without a doubt, somewhere there is a record of their existance.
More than likely it will be stumbled upon without fanfare.
Accept it as fact, then look to verify even further!


The Basic Rules...
First...
Remember that they are all persons within your very same family tree.
Each has something to offer for the betterment of the tree.

Second...
There will be a record of their existance somewhere to be found.
The most likely places are the same as any other member.

Third...
Widen your search methods when looking for "unknown" persons.
A generic surname search works unexpectedly well!


As always...
What you'll choose to do with this information is up to you.
It will at least serve as a stepping stone for further knowledge.
You should be applauded for your willingness to educate yourself.

These are only basic guidelines, and can always be adjusted to suit your personal needs or budget.
Hopefully the knowledge gained here will help you to be better positioned as a family historian!

      Happy searches!!

        Massachusetts

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