Based on an article by Jan Shaw
When invited to a potluck, you likely bring a dish to share with others.
The joy of a potluck lies in the sharing of your special dish and
tasting the contributions of others. It's always a bit embarrassing when
everyone prefers another dish over your special family recipe. It's also
disappointing when multiple people bring the same dish.
Recently,
we invited our neighbors for a picnic and suggested they bring a dish.
While no one brought a picnic, they arrived with sharing platters,
filling the table with food. Unfortunately, there were more desserts
than savory dishes. I missed out on the savory items as they were gone
before I could grab one.
A more balanced approach would be to
create a list of needed dishes and have guests pick from that list. This
made me think about filling the gaps in my family tree. I aim to trace
back ten generations and create a 360-degree chart to visualize missing
generations. This helps target specific lines and find relatives who
might be working on the same part of their tree.
Some people are
better at this than others. Some rely on serendipity, while others dig
into online resources to find help. Collaborative projects like the
DouglasDNA Project and Find-a-Grave are useful. The Douglas Archives
Community Network, also known as 'the Ning site,' connects those
researching Douglas family history. This network allows sharing of
discoveries, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates. Members
can set up their own pages, post in forums or blogs, and add photos.
My plea is to report back any progress made off-site, so others can
learn from it. This way, researchers can save time and focus on breaking
their own 'brick walls.' Providing a detailed picture when seeking help
is crucial. For instance, sharing your Douglas ancestor's mother's
maiden name might connect you with someone who has the detail you need.
One active network is the DouglasDNA project, where around
300 men have submitted DNA samples. If you are a male Douglas
descendant, get tested! If not, find a direct line descendant, like a
cousin or uncle, and get them tested. Register the results with the
Douglas DNA project to find your lineage.
 On Find a Grave,
contributors work together to create a virtual cemetery, making it easy
to learn about final resting places worldwide. Adding ancestors' graves,
creating virtual memorials, or adding photos and notes can help others
with their research.
Next time you attend a family reunion or
clan gathering, take a copy of your family tree and a list of questions.
Be ready to share your experiences and contact details with others.
Contributions
Do you have an ancestor whose
story should be told here? Please let us have the details.
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