I'm interested to know how much detail people research for individuals who marry into their family tree? I find that if the data is available about the wider family, eg, on the IGI or census data, I can't resist adding it in however I'm finding that my tree is getting very cluttered with people who are nothing to do with me. What do you all do? Thanks - Shelagh
Hi Shelagh When it comes to those who marry into my family - ie aunts, uncles or Gt aunts and Gt uncles or husbands and wives who marry a 4th cousin 1 removed, or researching the sister of the wife of the Gt uncles half-brother's niece - ad infinitum....... ......I only include details of the individual who married a blood-relative of mine. For example, as the parents of an aunt or uncle who married into my family are not blood-relatives of mine in anyway, I don't include their details. If they don't have an identifiable relationship to me, my wife, and my children then they don't get a second look-at. There is a definite temptation to include everyone who has a connection with your family - sometimes called "Total Genealogy" - no matter how remote that link might be. However, as you say, you end up with a family tree that is crammed full of individuals who are nothing to do with you. I think it's a case of being strict with oneself. So, when you're next tempted to trace the family tree of the grandparents of an aunt of your 4th half-cousin's cousin, three times removed..... say to yourself: "No!! I mustn't!!, I wont!!" ....hahaha!! :) Cheers Patrick -----Original Message----- From: Shelagh Garside [mailto:shelaghgarside@gmail.com] Sent: 11 April 2005 20:53 To: ENG-SHEFFIELD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: How Far To Spread The Tree? I'm interested to know how much detail people research for individuals who marry into their family tree? I find that if the data is available about the wider family, eg, on the IGI or census data, I can't resist adding it in however I'm finding that my tree is getting very cluttered with people who are nothing to do with me. What do you all do? Thanks - Shelagh ______________________________