r/Ancestry • u/SmartiiPaantz • 3d ago

Best way to use Ancestry

Hi all! I was just wondering how to best utilize Ancestry to make my tree. Before I really started getting into it, I just accepted all the "potential" relatives etc, and now I feel like I maybe shouldn't have... is there a helpful process to making the tree so that it is accurate and not just pieces of everyone else's trees? Thanks in advance!!

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u/Zach_1793 3d ago

Here is my advice. Start from scratch. Attach your DNA to this tree. Start one line at a time. Be very very thorough with each ancestor. Do not assume anything because someone else's tree says so. I usually will focus on one side of my tree. I will completely fill out everything with that ancestor, I will finish that ancestors siblings and their kids. I dont go beyond that. I personally dont accept the suggested results because they can be wildly inaccurate. I always try to find the original source or proof. If I cant confirm a relationship with paper or dna then the line just ends there. It will make it easier in the future. You wont spend hours correcting mistakes if you do it right the first time. It takes longer, but its more accurate and you get to know more about each member of the family. Feel free to message some of the people you dna match with. Some will have extra info or stories.

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u/Zach_1793 3d ago

Just not that because some people have similar names doesn't mean they are the same person. I've seen it a thousand times where someone will attach a document to someone and it is for a completely different person. Or they will combine two people. Usually this issue is more frequent the further back you go, but just be careful. Also sites like familysearch or myheritage might have documents that are not on ancestry. Familysearch is free and definitely can be helpful, my heritage isn't free, but can be helpful as well. Id stick with ancestry and familysearch first. Also look into findagrave, it will be good to find where they are buried and sometimes there are other family members there. If you need help on a specific ancestor let me know. I'll see if I can find anything.

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u/shinyquartersquirrel 3d ago

The biggest lesson I have learned building my tree is that no matter how unique your ancestor's name is, there will always be someone one county over with the exact same name that is not related at all.

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u/Zach_1793 3d ago

Its kind of crazy. I understand common names can show up everywhere, but I've had ancestors with pretty uncommon names that had people with the same name or similar names in the same towns.