Why Hire A Professional Genealogist?
My genealogical journey began years ago when my mother and I decided to find out exactly how my grandmother was related to the Hatfields of the feuding families. My grandmother always told us she was related to the feuding family but didn’t know how. Possibly cousins, but she wasn’t sure.
Fast forward to a time when online trees became available. Every online tree I researched identified my grandmother as Valentine “Wall” Hatfield’s descendant. This Valentine the brother of the infamous Devil Anse Hatfield. Valentine was a justice of the peace who eventually surrendered himself to authorities and was convicted due to his part in a murder resulting from the feud. You can imagine how a descendant might feel after learning this information.
Online trees that have depended on “hints”or other trees with little or no documentation and nothing else are often incorrect and spread like kudzu across the internet. One tree copies another tree. A third tree is created from the second tree, etc. – it’s a never-ending cycle of a possible mistake that is repeated. Hints are populated when someone adds something new to their tree. It doesn’t matter whether or not the new information is correct or incorrect. Unless a client has hired one to do so, a professional genealogist isn’t overseeing what is added to a tree to determine if the information is correct. This isn’t to say that all online trees have incorrect information; we do not know until we have conducted an in-depth review and analysis of the tree.
As I studied the Hatfield trees, I realized there was a definite flaw in the timeline of my research subject, Valentine Hatfield, and the Valentine that every tree identified as my grandmother’s ancestor. Researchers had combined two individuals into one person, which is an all too common mistake. In-depth research revealed that multiple Valentine Hatfields lived around the same time in the same location. It took in-depth analysis to separate the Valentines. Research and analysis did illustrate that, yes, as my grandmother had thought, her ancestor was a cousin of the feuders. Our Valentine was not the brother of Devil Anse.
As a newbie to genealogy at the time, it took months for me to sort through the pieces of this puzzle to form a sound conclusion. While I’m lucky to have encountered such a complex problem at the start of my genealogical journey, my research methodology could and should have been much more efficient.
No matter our skill level, we all encounter the same problems when conducting genealogical research. Rather than spending months to produce a final product that might not be reliable, hiring a professional genealogist is well worth the investment.
Reasons to hire a Professional Genealogist –
Most Professional Genealogists specialize in a specific region, event, record set, etc., ensuring clients receive a quality research product.
Professional Genealogists conduct research that is both efficient and cost-effective for clients.
Professional Genealogists have knowledge of the historical context affecting a research subject, which is essential when creating an effective and efficient research plan.
Professional Genealogists are aware of burned counties and where to search for records if the research subject lived in such a county.
While brick walls are inevitable and at times unsolvable, a Professional Genealogist will know how to break through some of the brick walls that appear to be impenetrable.
Professional Genealogists know that a sound conclusion cannot be reached if the researcher does not first resolve conflicting information.
Professional Genealogists will know to look for same-named individuals who might have lived near a research subject and, if found, will have the skill set to separate the research subject from the other same-named individuals.
And last but certainly not least, Professional Genealogists adhere to Genealogy Standards and the Genealogical Proof Standard.
While this list is not exhaustive, it does provide valid reasons to hire a Professional Genealogist.
Although it takes much effort, time and costs, acquiring the skills to conduct genealogical research that meets today’s standards is well worth the investment and time. The skill of genealogical research does take years to learn and the learning never stops. As Professional Genealogists we are required to log a certain number of continued education hours per year. If you do not have the inclination or the time to invest in education and are interested in learning of your ancestry, do yourself and future generations of your family a favor and hire a professional to conduct the research for your family tree. It will be well worth the investment.
Featured cover image by Cristina Gottardi.