Cluster Genealogy: Discovering Your Ancestors Through Collateral Kin
Beginning research on a family tree is fairly straightforward. Make a pedigree chart beginning with your information, then enter the known information about parents and grandparents, and start interviewing living relatives. These interviews hopefully provide enough information to start locating documents on deceased ancestors, and the pedigree chart grows as more and more information is discovered.
Eventually though, the information for each line becomes harder and harder to uncover until finally, the line reaches what seems to be a brick wall. Diverting attention to another line may start the information flowing again in the short-term but eventually each branch of the tree becomes harder and harder to expand. The challenge can quickly become frustration unless new methods help us break down those brick walls. Fortunately, research involving collateral kin and cluster genealogy can remove brick walls before they succeed in putting a lasting moratorium on our genealogy research!
It is easy to become so focused on direct ancestors that we forget about the siblings those ancestors had and the information waiting to be discovered about our direct ancestors in the documents pertaining to those siblings. Information about a previous generation which is not available in documents pertaining to your direct ancestor may be found in the documents pertaining to their brothers and sisters. Beyond researching siblings, understanding which neighbors and families traveled together can often give clues to relationships and point you in the right direction.
One researcher employs cluster genealogy by recording information about any F.A.N. the ancestor may have had. This acronym stands for friends, associates, and neighbors. In my experience, these F.A.N.s often are found as witnesses and informants on official documents. Look at the names of those who signed your ancestor’s will, marriage license, and even the informant listed on the death certificate if you were fortunate enough to find one. Try to understand what role each of these people played in the life of your ancestor, because more often than not, there is a real connection to be discovered there.
Many times we are not fortunate enough to have a will or marriage license, much less a death certificate to study for clues. Census records can often be the documents that continue to yield more information about ancestors who failed to leave much of a paper trail. Look closely at the neighbors living near your ancestor, especially ones that appear in more than one census. Remember that the census was taken every 10 years, and families which lived next to each other in multiple censuses were very likely related, especially if they changed geographical locations together. Finally, remember that name variations are often problematic when it comes to genealogy research. If you are able to locate collateral kin in a census document, chances are your ancestor will be close by, albeit with a creatively spelled surname.
Brick walls were made to be overcome, and knowing how to employ additional methods such as cluster genealogy to your research may be all you need to overcome yours. And of course, if you need help you know where to find us.
Until Next Time,
Randal
