It has been awhile since I've updated on how the family history work is going. While work has kept me busy, I have managed to begin updating and adding to my RootsMagic database by utilizing the WebHints to add burial locations for individuals. Many have been found where I had a death location, but hadn't added a burial record.
Utilizing sites such as FindAGrave or Billongraves, I've managed to find additional clues for research about families and have added them to my working file for later research.
In RootsMagic, I began this by setting my search criteria to show me individuals with a a Death date that was after 2000 and whose Burial fact was false. Working through the large database in this manner gave me some of the more recent generations to update.
Of course, not all of the individuals had WebHints that provided details about their burial location. Some had hints at FindAGrave, but actually weren't buried, but were cremated. This seems to have become a more popular option in recent years. In those instances I've added the cremation information, if given.
Once I worked through the database for all deaths after 2000, then I moved back twenty years and began working individuals who had deaths after 1980. Many of these individuals at FindAGrave had details linked to them regarding siblings and parents. For those who were direct lines, I added the additional children's information.
By working backwards in this manner, I hope to be able to catch additional information on the recent generations, which in turn will help me better identify some of my DNA matches.
In my database, when a couple marries, I try to add the parents information for the spouses if known. In so many cases, there are families that are intermarried and later I find out they were distant cousins. This is particularly true in areas where my lines have stayed in the same geographical location for generations. Additional children who are listed are entered if the line is one that I am researching as well.
As I work backwards in successive increments, I will catch family members I've missed on the first pass and increase the size of my database. Mainly I'm been able to work on this early in the morning each day before I head out to work.
One thing to be aware of is that FindAGrave and Billiongraves provide information that is user submitted and often has errors with date transcriptions and birth/death information. There have been some 'hints' that I've caught that are incorrect guesswork. Like anything, it has to be examined.
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