One of the most tempting shortcuts in genealogy is the idea of the “master family tree.” A single, giant, authoritative tree where everyone is already linked, all the names and dates are correct, and...
Author - Will Moneymaker
Genealogy MythBusters: Is All of Genealogy Really Online Now?
The internet has changed genealogy forever. A few clicks can uncover census records, passenger lists, or even digitized newspapers that once took months of travel and library time to access...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Can You Really Trust the Census to Be 100% Accurate?
For genealogists, the census is like a treasure chest. Those big sheets of names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces are often the first stop when we start tracing a family tree. They feel official...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Was Your Ancestor Really a Cherokee Princess or Royalty?
Have you ever heard a family story that sounds just a little too good to be true? Maybe it’s the tale of a “Cherokee princess” somewhere in your tree. Or maybe a great-aunt swore that your family is...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Did Ellis Island Really Change Your Ancestor’s Name?
Family stories have a way of becoming family legends, and one of the most common you’ll hear in genealogical circles is this: “Our ancestor came through Ellis Island, and the clerks changed the...