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Discovering A Surprise Sideline Genealogy          Published Monthly
Lesson 046...                                                                                                            2019 08 01

Defining The Problem...
Unexpected finds can be a welcome surprise!
But what are we to do about them while we are following previously known lines?

Basic choices have to be made before we can continue on in any direction.
That is, whether to dismiss the newfound names, or to follow them to wherever they may lead.

Deciding what to do with or about the new information is the actual dilema.
Whichever choice is made then becomes the actual work of it.

Whether to follow and save the information, or to disregard it is based on several factors.
Available time is always a major consideration, and can easily be the sole factor.
Interest level follows, which can also be affected by any costs involved.

Regardless (nearly) of the impact on your current "plan", there are minimum guidelines to adhere to.
Ironically, larger groups of unknown/newfound members have more need to be included!
There are very few "reasons" that justify ignoring newfound members info.


How Did That Happen?...
Finding an unexpected similar surname genealogy is largely a matter of numerical odds.
If we were to devise a mathematical equation, it may look something like this.
There are a given number of names that colide with dates and places.

While this doesn't usually happen in earlier times, its frequency increases in more modern times.
Again, this is largely a mathematical problem, as populations grow, so does the frequency.
This is especially prevalant in areas where a family has stayed for many generations.

There can also be fluke happenings where a sibling was not recorded such as census or homebirths.
Any of a dozen or more factors can preclude earlier discovery including private family issues.
Siblings living apart can be easily mis-understood whenever research is minimized.

As a example: Born between censuses, parent(s) pass away or divorce, child relocated...
Unless baptismal or school records are found, later items may not have been recorded properly.
In many cases, the childs name is changed in addition to their location, making discovery even harder.


What Can We Do To Fix This?...
The key is to take action as soon as the new persons line is discovered!
Even if they cannot be connected right away, they should be followed until their ends.

Sometimes, we get lucky and can connect them immediately, other times we cannot.
If we feel they will connect to the main surname of a family tree, then this is the time to act!
Spousal sideline names may or may not come under this rule, depending on how "wide" your tree is.

At a minimum, time should be taken to connect father-to-father surnames to the family tree.
From this point there can be a good starting reference for working on at a later date.
This rule is only for family cells with the same surname as the tree itself.

The main goal is to do whatever it takes to insure the information can be located and built upon.
Finding this by accident means that finding again later may prove to be difficult.
If this line has been "hidden" this long, there has to be a reason!

Follow only the main surname both forward and back in time by only the information readily available.
Do not introduce additional searches until their scheduled research times are met.
While minor distractions are acceptable, total detours are not.


Where Do We Find This Lost Data?...
Usually, it is found by happenstance during websearches, although it is "possible" to try deliberately.
The most common times are during web searches, cemetery and other database searches.
For most of us, it comes at unexpected times and places without warning.

Sometimes it happens while using name variants of other spellings.
This can unfold a large number of persons of a new line needing to be connected!
There were a surprising number of surname spelling changes prior to the early-to-mid 1900's!

When the time comes to further investigate new member histories, how to proceed will become clear.
At some point, a document will be found through your normal routine that ties them to your tree.
The circumstances that disconnected them from the rest of their family may never be known.

The flipside to knowing these methods is that they can be used deliberately to find other members.
By doing generic searches at any of your favorite info-places, new names can be found!
This of course is very time consuming and best left until finishing the primary's.


What Did We Learn From This?...
There is no circumstance to which newly discovered persons can be left unattended "indefinitely".
All members are equally important and add something (Data) to the family story.

Other instances of "deadlines" such as any membership closing date windows may also be a factor.
Because of variables, they have to be evaluated by each tree builder for direction choices.
Though rare, it can occur. By spending a few hours now, it can pay off big later!

While almost always at inopportune times, we should still record basic information for later research.
This provides a starting point from which to compare records that may link to known members.
The earliest sibling members of each group are usually the primary ones to compare later.

You do not have to abandon your immediate work in order to save the new line of data!
This should be considered a salvage operation of minimal necessary information.
While it obviously takes manhours, it is not intended as in-depth research.

Within your own records, there needs to be a uniform method of finding these "Island Families".
Define them for future reference by adding "Disconnected" to the earliest members name.
You'll be able to recognise their significance easily in a family tree of 50,000 or more!


The Basic Rules...
First...
Beyond all else, don't let the information slip away unrecorded!
This is a new discovery of major significance-No one else has connected them yet, right?

Second...
Don't detour by more than the required time to record the easily available data.
This is for recording Names/Birth/Death/Married-So-And-So only--With exception to special info.

Third...
At the earliest found person within the main surname, insert the following: (Disconnected).
It can help you locate members in the future that may help link them all to the rest of the family tree.



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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