Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
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🤔Could your ancestor's friends solve your brick wall?
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue.
Hi Reader,
It's spring!🌷In my part of the world, that means the temps are warming up, flowers are starting to bloom, and the yellow pine pollen is covering everything. I can literally see it in the air.
While I know many of you may be reaching for the tissues and antihistamines, it's okay to also be excited about this season of fresh starts. Spring has always been a time when I feel most motivated to tackle those challenging research problems that have been sitting on my desk all winter.
This week, I'm sharing a powerful new tool from Ancestry.com that might help you break through some of those stubborn brick walls in your family research. If you've been stuck on a particular ancestor, this could be just the thing you need to make progress.
📚NEW BLOG POST & 📽️VIDEO
SORTING FAMILY CONNECTIONS WITH ANCESTRY'S NETWORKS
Feeling stuck in your genealogy research and wondering why you can't seem to find information on that brick wall ancestor? The answer might lie not in your direct family line, but in the connections - or FAN club - surrounding your ancestors.
[An ancestor's FAN club is their Friends, Associates and Neighbors.]
Ancestry.com has introduced a powerful new tool called Networks that helps you understand and incorporate your ancestor's social connections into your research.
In this walkthrough, I show you exactly how to access Networks, explain how the tool works, and guide you through setting up your first network to immediately enhance your research.
As we welcome spring, let's look back at the blog posts and YouTube videos that resonated most with you in March:
Most-Read Blog Post:How to Identify Mystery Faces in Old Family Photographs - Learn four proven strategies to help you recognize faces, avoid common pitfalls, and appreciate the importance of preserving your family’s visual history.
Runner Up - Most-Read Blog Post: How to Identify 5 Main Types of Old Photographs - Photos were popular in March! Learn the characteristics of 5 old photographs to date photographs and determine when it was taken.
If you missed any of these popular resources, now's the perfect time to catch up and strengthen your research skills as we head into a spring!
🤔READER QUESTION
HELP OUT NEW RESEARCHERS!
Spring is a season of new beginnings, and many people are just starting their genealogy journey. Let's help them out!
Fill in the blank: My best tip for someone starting out in genealogy research is ____________.
Reply to this email with your answer! I'll compile the best responses for a future blog post and video to help newcomers grow their research skills.
💡GENEALOGY TIP
BRANCH OUT TO GROW YOUR FAMILY TREE
Just as trees grow new branches in spring, successful genealogists know the value of expanding their research beyond direct ancestors.
This week's tip: When you hit a brick wall with a direct ancestor, research their siblings instead. Siblings often:
Moved to the same locations
Maintained family connections through letters and visits
Were mentioned in each other's obituaries and probate records
Served as witnesses on legal documents
By following these sibling connections, you may find the missing puzzle piece that leads you back to your direct line—perfectly complementing what you'll learn from Ancestry's new Networks tool!
This spring season presents an excellent opportunity to advance your family research with these new tools and techniques. I look forward to seeing the discoveries you make as you explore the networks that shaped your ancestors' lives.
Happy Ancestor Hunting!
Lisa
P.S. Love what you're reading in the newsletter? Help me reach more genealogy enthusiasts like yourself. Share this email with interested friends and tell your friends to subscribe here.
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Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
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