Do you trace ancestor siblings and their children thoroughly?

[benny1982]

Hi

I tend to only research ancestor siblings if it helps me go back on their parents who are direct ancestors. I dont feel the bond with ancestor siblings, cousins and such because they are not direct ancestors, just blood relatives of my direct ancestors. I dont discard them but I dont research them in depth unless it has potential to help me find one or both of their parents.

Ben

 

[duckweed]

I research siblings too as I like to get a larger picture of the familiy. You find out so much. Whether the family was close for instance.

 

[nainmaddie]

Hi Benny

I think you are missing something by not searching for ancestors and their siblings. You should look through the registers at the same time. Or is this a sign of the times,ie researching by Internet.

I have found many cousins and a whole slice of the family which my mother very carefully avoided mentioning. It suited her !!
From meeting these cousins I found out valuable information,that I would never have found out otherwise.

You cannot find everything on the Internet. It is a valuable tool the same as the Census.

Maddie

 

[duckweed]

I agree with Maddie. Also if you don't know who sisters married you may find it hard to find the family members who are in direct line. I found my husbands great grandfather with a cousin. By tracing back the cousin and finding his relationship I found a great x 6 grandfather and cousins researching the same branch. In another branch of the family, cousins have given me documents and photographs and stories we would never have had otherwise. Children are often visiting relatives or even living with them. Their career choice or their decision to move may be because of an uncle or cousin.