How to question family for genealogy research

Time on your hands and the internet at your fingertips? Now could be a perfect time to go on a journey - a journey into your family history.

Face to face contact may not be possible right now but with FaceTime, WhatsApp, Smart Phones and more you can still do this plus during the current #StayHome period many websites are offering free online resources.

Although any information which you may receive from your family could have flaws, it is a good place to start, in researching your family tree. For one thing it will probably surprise you to find out just what a checkered past your family may have. If you take some notes you will have a good background to start your more serious research of parish and registry records.

Looking back I wish that I had found out more about my family history from my relatives when I could. However, losing so many of them whilst I was still young prevented me from doing so. You also need to ask relatives whilst they still have all their mental agility and faculties. If you leave it too long you may simply get muddled up ramblings, although often older people can remember the distant past more easily than yesterday.

Some good questions to ask

• Where were you born?
• When were you born?
• Tell me a little about your childhood?
• Where did you live and go to school?
• What were your parents like and what do you know of their history?
• Could you please tell me about their work, their relations and their highs and lows in life?
• Do you have copies of any birth, marriage or family death certificates? These can be useful and will show other family members names and occupations.
• May I look through your old photographs? The relative may be able to remember lots by looking at these and you will be able to spot places and more.
• Tell me about your adult life? Where you worked and your courtship?
• Did you have any holidays? If yes can you tell me a little about them?
• Do you have any items relating to military service?

Open questions such as those above should encourage more information to be forthcoming.

If you ask questions as if you are really interested, which hopefully you will be, the person should open up. We all have mysteries in our families, some small and some really exciting. It would be great to use and store this wealth of knowledge before it is lost in oblivion. As people are more interested in Genealogy these days there are many useful tools in researching your family tree fully. However for the strange, personal and quirky aspects of your family history you cannot beat listening to an old family member just reminiscing.

Talking with older members of your family can be a real treat. You will need to be tactful and sensitive and know when and if to stop. It may be that some of the personal facts that you are reminding the person about are still raw, or all too personal.

Do not interrogate them and never over step the mark of decency and respect. Remember though to keep a record of what you discover as you too may remember it a little differently over time.

Find your past is just one online resource

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