Uncategorized – Growing Your Family Tree – Sorting the Wheat from The Chaff

Have you ever Wondered about Your Ancestors?

March 17, 2025 Brian HurlburtLeave a comment

Have you ever wondered about your ancestors—who they were, where they came from, and what their lives were like? Tracing your family history is an exciting and rewarding journey that connects you to your past in a deeply personal way. Whether you’re curious about your roots or want to preserve your family’s story for future generations, creating a family tree is the perfect place to start.

Why Create a Family Tree?

Building a family tree offers more than just names and dates—it helps you uncover stories, traditions, and connections that make your family unique. Here are a few reasons to start today:

• Preserve your heritage: Document family stories before they fade with time.

• Discover your roots: Learn about your ancestors’ origins and migrations.

• Connect with relatives: Find long-lost family members or reconnect with distant relatives.

• Unravel mysteries: Solve family history puzzles and break through brick walls.

• Pass it down: Leave a legacy for future generations to explore and expand.

Getting Started in 5 Simple Steps

1. Gather What You Know

Start with yourself and work backward. Write down your full name, birth date, and place of birth, then add your parents, grandparents, and other known relatives. Gather old documents, family Bibles, photo albums, and letters that might contain clues.

2. Talk to Family Members

Older relatives are living history books! Interview grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to collect names, dates, and personal stories. Ask about family traditions, significant events, and any old photographs they might have.

3. Organize Your Findings

Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or a family tree chart to keep track of information. Many free and paid genealogy websites, such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, or FamilySearch, offer digital tools to build and store your family tree online.

4. Dig into Records

Once you have a basic tree, start looking for official records to verify and expand your findings. Some key resources include:

• Census records: Provide household details, occupations, and family relationships.

• Birth, marriage, and death records: Essential for confirming family connections.

• Immigration and military records: Reveal ancestors’ journeys and service history.

5. Expand and Share

As your tree grows, consider connecting with genealogy communities, taking a DNA test for deeper insights, or creating a family history book. Most importantly, share your discoveries with your family—it’s a story worth telling!

Start Your Family History Journey Today

Researching your family tree is like being a detective, piecing together the past one clue at a time. With a little curiosity and effort, you’ll uncover stories that bring your ancestors to life and create a legacy for generations to come.

Are you ready to start your journey? Share your first discoveries in the comments below!

Delve Deeper with my Book

Photo credit for our Featured Photo goes to Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Start Researching Your Genealogy and Family History

January 18, 2025 Brian HurlburtLeave a comment

When I began researching my own family history and genealogy I was lucky because there we’re already people who had done some of the research. It gave me a great place to start. I should also point out that not all that research was accurate!

Perhaps I should also mention that I have made my share of mistakes also!

One of the earliest, well known, Researchers I read was George S. Brown. Two Books of utmost importance in our area, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia where I was born, and where my Research began, are Yarmouth, Nova Scotia: A Sequel to Campbell’s History and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Genealogies. These Books provided much information on the early Generations of the Families of Yarmouth County and surrounding areas.

Just as important, and perhaps more so, we’re the Uncles, Aunts, and Elders of the Community! Perhaps, that is really the best place for a person to start! If for no other reason, when there gone so often are there stories and other remembrances and the bits of information they hold. Although, to start with them, may be to waste their and your time if you’re not properly prepared. Where possible, and at the very least, have a notebook and if possible and they’re willing, a recording or video device. Although, at times, it may be better to make your first visit a casual one. Then return soon after with such devices, if permitted. Remember, these people really owe You nothing! Your love and respect may help open doors.

The other resources we had when I began my work were Cemeteries, Libraries, and Archives. Most, if not all, of these were in the area and needed to be physically attended to gain information from. Today, many of these are online, if you know where to access them. I have many of those sources included in my Book: Growing Your Family Tree. In the Book, I endeavoured to include my early work, processes, as many resources as possible. I wish I’d had my Book when I got started! Whether You’re from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, or elsewhere, I do believe my Book is a good guide to getting started.

So, the real question is, “Why?”

Why are You here? Who made it possible? How much of who you are is because of Them? What’s brought You here?

If any of these questions stir something in You, contact Brian Hurlburt at 902-907-0770 Let’s Talk.

Portrait Of A Family, Traditionally Known As The Swaine Family Of Fencroft, Cambridgeshire (1749)

Nearly 35 Years of Research and Helping People Reconnect

January 11, 2025 Brian HurlburtLeave a comment

Whether Youwant to explore Your own Ancestry, or Your Adopted and want to reconnect with your long lost family, we’re here to help!

Author, Researcher, and Family Historian, Brian Hurlburt has done extensive research into his own ancestry and family history and has helped others find birth parents, and other family members. Brian has had two of his Books, Growing Your Family Tree, and From Irish Roots, become Amazon Best Sellers.

Have Questions? Contact Brian Hurlburt at 902-907-0770