| The past few decades have seen a phenomenal | | | | evidence. |
| interest in researching one's family history and | | | | Another popular tool on the internet is the "family |
| lineage. The recent resurgence in pursuing | | | | tree" or pedigree. The number of family trees |
| genealogy as a popular past-time has largely been | | | | posted on the internet has spread like wildfire |
| due to the growing accessibility to the internet | | | | over the past decade and can be found on |
| and its copious genealogical websites which offer | | | | personal websites and genealogical sites which |
| web visitors use of their extensive databases. | | | | encourage their members to share their research |
| Some genealogical websites encourage their users | | | | with other members. This sudden influx of family |
| to upload their own research findings (accurate or | | | | trees is primarily the result of researchers |
| not) so that others may access the data. Such | | | | extracting information (accurate or not) from one |
| postings are usually in the form of family trees, | | | | or more of the previously submitted family trees, |
| transcriptions and abstracts of public and private | | | | adding his own research (accurate or not) and |
| records, family folklore, photographs, cemetery | | | | then uploading the finished product to the website. |
| transcriptions, or just about any other bit of | | | | A scant few of these submissions can be |
| information that may help to make a genealogical | | | | classified as reliable works that have cited proper |
| connection, general or specific, to a research goal. | | | | documentation to support the facts; |
| The overwhelming abundance of these postings | | | | unfortunately, the majority of these postings do |
| has been a boon to both experienced and budding | | | | not meet the criteria. |
| genealogists. However, unless a researcher views | | | | Some genealogical sites also offer digitized images |
| them merely as "tools" or "leads" in deciphering a | | | | and transcriptions of well-known, previously |
| lineage and then seeks out to obtain the | | | | published genealogical works. As always, when |
| necessary "primary evidence" (official birth, | | | | consulting these sources, as well as any other |
| marriage, death certificates) to support his | | | | form of non-primary evidence, the researcher |
| findings, then his own research is pure speculation | | | | must simply use them as "leads" and not assume |
| at best. | | | | that the information they contain is correct. One |
| One of the most beneficial tools to find its way | | | | must keep in mind that even lineages compiled |
| to the internet is the census index. Some | | | | and published over the years by some of the |
| genealogical sites also provide their members | | | | most authoritative genealogists and historians |
| digitized images of the original census sheets, as | | | | have been proven to have inaccuracies in light of |
| well. A census, although it is a public record, is not | | | | newly discovered evidence. |
| a piece of primary evidence in proving one's | | | | Although the internet has given genealogists many |
| family genealogy. Census enumerators would in | | | | helpful tools and leads to help uncover the story |
| earlier times go from dwelling to dwelling and | | | | of an ancestry, and numerous sites offer free |
| record information about inhabitants living in those | | | | use of a limited number of databases, complete |
| dwellings. The information given to the | | | | access to the premium websites which include the |
| enumerators was often, but not always, stated | | | | most crucial databases is not free-of charge. |
| by an adult living in the household; sometimes it | | | | Subscription memberships to these premium |
| was the result of questioning a child or neighbor. | | | | websites amount to hundreds of dollars per year. |
| In any case, none of the personal information | | | | One must keep in mind that performing proper |
| submitted by the enumerator was officially | | | | genealogical research cannot and should not be |
| verified as being accurate; the main purpose of a | | | | conducted on the internet alone and that the |
| census is not to record the identity of individuals, | | | | additional expenses incurred over time, as well as |
| but to tally a count of the population. Sometimes | | | | the website membership costs, could well exceed |
| family members or entire households were | | | | a professional genealogist's fees for researching a |
| omitted from the enumerations or family | | | | multi-lineal project. |
| relationships and other data were occasionally | | | | Tracing one's own ancestry and uncovering that |
| either mis-recorded or given in error. Although | | | | hidden lineage without the skills of a more |
| census enumerations can tell us with a high | | | | experienced or a professional genealogist requires |
| degree of certainty the precise geographic | | | | an expertise which takes a considerable number |
| localities where enumerated families and individuals | | | | of years for the novice to develop. However, if |
| dwelled during a census year, particular | | | | one has the true initiative and zeal to go forward |
| information regarding the individuals should not be | | | | and produce a well-documented family history, his |
| regarded as absolute fact, and must be further | | | | personal rewards will be immeasurable. |
| documented by locating and citing primary | | | | |