Family reconstruction check list

1. Identify the ancestor that you're having problems with to be your starting point.

2. Collate all references to the relevant surname in the place you believe they came from into a list (Excel is ideal for this).

3. Start to order the list, colour-coding the events, and sorting out family groups

4. Be sure to make full use of burial records, so that you can remove people from your list of possibilities who have died too young to be your ancestor, or who, conversely, have records to show that they have a different line of descent or place of dwelling, so are clearly not your ancestor