I Asked a Pro Genealogist What I’ve Been Doing Wrong

I asked my friend Aimee Cross of @AncestryAimee, a professional genealogist, where people go wrong in their family trees, and it turns out I've done most of it. We talk about the stranger's tree I almost copied, why Aimee has solved more mysteries with land records than anything else, and the $10 death certificate that broke my biggest brick wall! Work with Aimee here https://ancestryaimee.com/ 00:00 – Teaser & Introduction 00:47 – The Danger of Copying Other People’s Trees 03:40 – Keeping a "Junk Drawer" Working Tree 04:24 – The Mistake of Researching Everyone at Once 05:46 – The Trap of Ancestry's Green Leaves & Smart Searching 09:46 – How to Build Touchpoints & Work Backwards Methodically 10:26 – Deep-Dive Strategy: Researching One Ancestor (1870s Case Study) 12:08 – Researching Children and Collateral Lines (Siblings) 14:41 – Following Land Clues in Census Records 15:32 – Moving Beyond Ancestry: FamilySearch, Full-Text Search & Probate 17:07 – Local Archives, Historical Societies & County "Who's Who" Books 18:21 – Bringing Context: Situating Ancestors Historically 18:42 – The Game Changer: Getting Offline & Ordering Official Vital Records 22:16 – Unlocking Mysteries with Land Records & Deeds 26:02 – Organizing Research: Spreadsheets vs. Ancestry Timelines 27:56 – Amy’s Favorite Ancestor & Breakthrough in Vermont 31:17 – The Power of Visiting Where Your Ancestors Lived 33:35 – How to Connect & Work with Amy Cross 36:10 – Best Advice for Beginners Getting Started -------- Come join me on a new docu-series that explores identity, racial tensions in the South during the 20th century, and the unique experiences of those who historically called Louisiana home. My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana. Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born. Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we? *Amazon links are affiliate links. If buy something through these links, we may earn affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting this project!