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Information Issues-Procrastinating Takes Time Published Monthly
Lesson 061...                                                                                                            2020 11 30

Defining The Problem...
Informational issues can result from various reasons and can emerge at any time.
While some are normal/standard issues that become "routine", others may come as a surprise!

Sometimes lineage information may be easily available for persons without a legacy.
While the data is easily found, it takes time to record and may not be of use without decendants.

As seen here this month was the discovery of available lineage information into the early centurys.
While exciting and rare, this presents new verification method problems that slow production.

Publishing/website issues can be immediate and unknown until their exact moment of need.
Having a family tree software on a computer and sharing it on the web are very separate things.
Webhosting companys change systems without notice, and siteowners are expected to follow quickly.

These are a few of the research "problematic items" that can and have become problems this month.
Additionally, personal needs can occur unexpectedly from time to time such as vehicle or other.
Ironically, here these also met with the standard winter preparations and holiday needs.


How Did That Happen?...
Many of the items can be attributed to inexpierience or procrastination.
It's also entirely possible that the inexpierience is the result of procrastination!
While one is natural, the other is often preventable, but cannot be avoided forever.

As historians, a sudden burst of reliable information outlining a lineage is difficult to pass by.
If the decendant has no known children, the endeavor may turn out to be unused and in vain.
Standard practice is to add a few generations for verification, but bulk information can take time.

Publishing your information brings its own problems that may or may not be understood by many.
Todays one-click world doesn't work with the integration necessary for digital transformation.
A webhost may change settings without warning if they see it as advancement.

Amidst all of this, our own personal and daily living needs occupy a certain amount of necessary time.
There are normal happenings, and then there are surprises that can overtake planned time.
Some of them may be preventable (Even inexpierience), if we tend to them sooner.


What Can We Do To Fix This?...
Above all, stop procrastinating!
Avoidance is just another form of procrastinating!

Inexpierience is a constant, and as long as we are willing to work at it, it can eventually be overcome.
It may seem like something new is always confronting us, but that's just how we gain expierience.
We take in stride the things that others feel daunting, while our hurdles are someone elses past.

If we come upon an area needing new resources, we confront them logically.
Language barriers might be navigated by web translators (Caution: Spelling/Penmanship).
Support your findings with images of tangible items like documents, dated paintings, and tombstones.

At each level in history beyond its previous layer, there become more challenges.
The principles remain the same. Search for documents and take no ones word for anything.
Before venturing into unknown websites, collect data you can verify easily first-Such as tombstones!

As for lifes "unpredictables"... Sometimes that happens.
But more often than not, things are a direct result of lengthy delays or neglect.
If we build habits of attending needs while they're small, we might avoid many larger delays.


Where Can We Find Reliable Data?...
Research methods don't actually change (We search for documentation, remember?).
It's the resources that have access to the documents that are new to us.
This may sometimes incur fees or language barriers.

Some websites have large amounts of non-indexed documents.
Organization is the key to sifting through these records.
Several types of documents available on CD here.

Access to document images before 1850 censuses become a bit more scarce, so use town history's.
Documents beyond 1600AD become even more difficult (Except for heroes, nobles, etc).
Gravestones, wills, tax records and travel records speak volumes for early times.

Gravestones rank high in reliability, and sometimes give more information than birth/death dates.
Regardless of the report, view the stone or document image yourself-Typos/Errors happen!
Websites are often copy/paste, and history books are funded by schoolboard sales.


What Did We Learn From This?...
Recording a family tree and publishing it are two unrelated aspects of a genealogy based website.
Eventually every area of website and research changes its methods, and must be adapted to.

Usually when an abundant supply of reliable information presents itself, we take advantage of it.
However this may change in cases where a lineage ends with no known decendants.
A decision must be made as to whether to continue the line or not.

Search methods for early data are the same as later data, though document types vary.
Always start with familiar items first such as tombstones, birth, marriage and death records.
Images of documents are better than transcriptions due to typos, opinions and several bias factors.

Some words of advice...
Tend to "old business" first, then "new business"...
Learn that "old business" does not mean completing an entire family tree.

Although this lesson was unplanned, its seemingly needed for the next advancement phase here.
It will appear later than normal due to not understanding enough about web-publishing.
While inconvienent, it may be a blessing for several future research endeavors.


The Basic Rules...
First...
Don't wait to learn new levels of your craft!
After learning one research method, use it to build and adapt to the next!

Second...
Using data you can verify, build off of it or dismiss unrelated as you would with others.
Beware of any similarly named persons!

Third...
Always tend to lifes important matters.
As costly or inconvienient as the interruption may seem, it'll be worse if left to choose its own time.



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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