Does anyone else think family histories should be developed from the present to the past?

Question

I see many questions asked about historical figures and persons from several centuries ago, which I guess is good.  But often, when I see such a question, I click on the profile of the person asking the question.  And often, actually it's the rule and not the exception, the person needing to know about a supposed relative from the 17th or 18th century, hasn't yet bothered to even develop the profiles of their parents and grandparents.  Which is not so good.  The reason I feel this is not so good is because it is these more modern profiles which have the best chance of being accurately developed.  And what I mean by accurately developed, I mean that there might be someone still alive to basically agree and verify that such and such information is indeed fact.  The information from centuries ago which I'm confident will make its way to the Wikitree, sits in books and records which are most likely safe from loss or damage.  So I guess I'm just asking if everybody that is just itching to plug-in some time honored relative that is long dead and has been safely recorded, to not forget about their direct parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents before jumping way back in time to add profiles of people that have no current established link to the present.

Answer 1

I agree. I feel like I have gotten fairly far back in my search, but now I want to develop the ancestors that I do have listed and find out more of their story. I think it is pointless to look for someone who "might" be an ancestor before you flesh out those stories of people who you know are your ancestors.

Answer 2

I agree but yhere are a lot of people wtih privacy concerns.

Comments

I agree with both of you.  Maybe there is a way we can develope a public profile, with the information that could be found in public records for parents and grandparents and somehow have a more sheltered or private place to put those things we would rather not have in the public forum.

The way the history could all be recorded in WikiTree and maybe all shared with a trusted list, but not available to the wide world until a certain number of years after death.

Answer 3

I absolutely agree that a genealogist should be working from themselves backwards in time.

40 years ago, I started with my parents and worked my way back. However, I have found from personal experience, that when entering data in a personal computer program or here at wikitree, that it is actually easier to enter data from the past to the future. Son of, son of rather than father of father of.

Comments

Anne,

I disagree with you about it being easier to work from oldest to newest. With wikitree I have found out more information and had to enter less by working from the present back. I use two tabs, one with wikitree and the other to research sources, so when I find sources listing family that I did not know about I can add them.

Answer 4

If you have documented historical data, it matters not one whit if it is old history or new history. Truth remains truth. I find it far more productive to promptly enter in any verifiable data I have immediately at hand, rather than filing it away someplace in the mistaken beliefs I'll remember I have it, remember its context, and will know precisely where I filed it.