I apologize for my question but being new to genealogy, you are my main resource for proper information and documentation. So many of you have such large numbers of surnames, etc. in your trees, tell me, should there be a cut-off for adding people. I have people in my tree but the family connection is so small; like 5th cousin of husband's aunt, 3x removed, something ridiculous like that, but yet, that particular person has a direct connection to someone in my tree. As long as the info is verified and accurate, is it wrong to continually add people with such farfetched family connections? My thinking is that if my information is correct and verified, then maybe someone else with a closer tie could benefit from my tree. Thanks for the advice. Sue

> So many of you have such large numbers of surnames, etc. in your trees, > tell me, should there be a cut-off for adding people. I have people in my tree but the family connection is so small; like 5th cousin of husband's aunt, 3x removed, something ridiculous like that, but yet, that particular person has a direct connection to someone in my tree. As long as the info is verified and accurate, is it wrong to continually add people with such farfetched family connections? My thinking is that if my information is correct and verified, then maybe someone else with a closer tie could benefit from my tree. While each person's taste in tree size and complexity may be different, there are essentially 2 kinds of trees. The simplest one is a direct ancestral tree. It contains NO ONE except those people from whom you are descended. Because that tight definition excludes siblings and such, most folks add more than just direct ancestors still claiming themselves to have such a tree. The second kind used to be called a tree with collateral lines, but is now known as an Island tree. In an Island tree, connections of blood or marriage are valid for entry. These trees can be huge. There is the accumulation method too - people placed within the tree without regard to connection. Single name or single place studies are common examples. Personally, I use a variant of the Island tree - I call it interested & interesting. If folks are interested enough to share their data with me or I find them interesting and are a part of my island, then I include them. I have 8 very minor islands within my online tree with hopes of eventually connecting them to my primary Island. My online tree has 135,XXX folks of whom about 900 are in the last 8 islands. My tree goes back to Adam & Eve and I have a multitude of convoluted connections - 22nd cousins and worse. When YOU feel the slowdown in the software, then it is time to trim your tree IMHO. John Okerson Memphis, TN

Thanks John. My thinking is along the same lines as yours as I think I would consider mine an Island tree as well. It works great, the software responds beautifully, and I am thoroughly enjoying my newfound hobby. Hugs and prayers, Sue My blog: Stitching Tidbits of My Life My on-line stitching journal: Strictly Stitching -----Original Message----- From: ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of John Okerson Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 9:26 AM To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] How big is big enough? While each person's taste in tree size and complexity may be different, there are essentially 2 kinds of trees. The simplest one is a direct ancestral tree. It contains NO ONE except those people from whom you are descended. Because that tight definition excludes siblings and such, most folks add more than just direct ancestors still claiming themselves to have such a tree. The second kind used to be called a tree with collateral lines, but is now known as an Island tree. In an Island tree, connections of blood or marriage are valid for entry. These trees can be huge. There is the accumulation method too - people placed within the tree without regard to connection. Single name or single place studies are common examples. Personally, I use a variant of the Island tree - I call it interested & interesting. If folks are interested enough to share their data with me or I find them interesting and are a part of my island, then I include them. I have 8 very minor islands within my online tree with hopes of eventually connecting them to my primary Island. My online tree has 135,XXX folks of whom about 900 are in the last 8 islands. My tree goes back to Adam & Eve and I have a multitude of convoluted connections - 22nd cousins and worse. When YOU feel the slowdown in the software, then it is time to trim your tree IMHO. John Okerson Memphis, TN ********************************** List information page http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html Online Support for Family Tree Maker Version 16 and earlier http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ Version 2008 - 2011 http://ftm.custhelp.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sue, By now you have read that there are many thoughts about the size of one's databases(s). I have my one MAIN one with most of the direct lines. I have 4 others that are mainly "Married" in lines and 3 others as my Great Great Great Grandfather has 17 children. I am able to control and maintain that data and it will respond with reasonable speed. I do have a overlap where these connect, so I do have a bit of double work to do from time to time. Bottom line, as long as your data responds reasonable well and you do NOT get lost in it, then that is still OK. Thanks, David C Abernathy Email disclaimers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message represents the official view of the voices in my head. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.SchmeckAbernathy.com == All outgoing and incoming mail is scanned by F-Prot Antivirus  == -----Original Message----- From: ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Sue Pollock Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 6:01 AM To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Subject: [FTM-TECH] How big is big enough? I apologize for my question but being new to genealogy, you are my main resource for proper information and documentation. So many of you have such large numbers of surnames, etc. in your trees, tell me, should there be a cut-off for adding people. I have people in my tree but the family connection is so small; like 5th cousin of husband's aunt, 3x removed, something ridiculous like that, but yet, that particular person has a direct connection to someone in my tree. As long as the info is verified and accurate, is it wrong to continually add people with such farfetched family connections? My thinking is that if my information is correct and verified, then maybe someone else with a closer tie could benefit from my tree. Thanks for the advice. Sue ********************************** List information page http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html Online Support for Family Tree Maker Version 16 and earlier http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ Version 2008 - 2011 http://ftm.custhelp.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sue, Of course it is correct to add people to your tree who connect to your lines either through blood or marriage. The only rule of thumb to use is to have supporting documentation for anyone you add to your tree. Some researchers believe in only researching the direct line, but to truly find everything on your ancestors it is better to research all family members and their connections. More than once I have connected to one of those distant relations who had photos and other items related to my family lines that have greatly helped my research. If I had not found those people I never would have had the good fortune to see what some of my ancestors looked like or what happened to one or another person in the family lines who seemed to just disappear. Follow your instincts - you are doing just what you should! Linda in Costa Rica Monroe County, New York Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~monroenys Monroe County, New York History http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~monroenys -----Original Message----- From: Sue Pollock Sent: Monday, 21 November, 2011 8:01 AM To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Subject: [FTM-TECH] How big is big enough? I apologize for my question but being new to genealogy, you are my main resource for proper information and documentation. So many of you have such large numbers of surnames, etc. in your trees, tell me, should there be a cut-off for adding people. I have people in my tree but the family connection is so small; like 5th cousin of husband's aunt, 3x removed, something ridiculous like that, but yet, that particular person has a direct connection to someone in my tree. As long as the info is verified and accurate, is it wrong to continually add people with such farfetched family connections? My thinking is that if my information is correct and verified, then maybe someone else with a closer tie could benefit from my tree. Thanks for the advice. Sue ********************************** List information page http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html Online Support for Family Tree Maker Version 16 and earlier http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ Version 2008 - 2011 http://ftm.custhelp.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Sue The only one who can decide is you, there are no rules as to who you should record in your tree You will find trees with hundreds of persons and other with hundreds of thousands in them Some record only those that they have researched themselves, others hoover up anyone elses research, hence the size of the large trees But ultimately the choice is yours as to how you go about it and how large you allow your tree to be Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) >I apologize for my question but being new to genealogy, you are my main > resource for proper information and documentation. > > So many of you have such large numbers of surnames, etc. in your trees, tell > me, should there be a cut-off for adding people. I have people in my tree > but the family connection is so small; like 5th cousin of husband's aunt, 3x > removed, something ridiculous like that, but yet, that particular person has > a direct connection to someone in my tree. As long as the info is verified > and accurate, is it wrong to continually add people with such farfetched > family connections? My thinking is that if my information is correct and > verified, then maybe someone else with a closer tie could benefit from my > tree. > > Thanks for the advice. > Sue > > > > > > > ********************************** > List information page > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html > > Online Support for Family Tree Maker > Version 16 and earlier > http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ > > Version 2008 - 2011 > http://ftm.custhelp.com/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message