Explorers - Gold

Gold Challenge
Family tree

Challenge: Go for Gold! Continue to expand your family tree by using resources that you have not tried before. For example, try looking at directories, rate books or electoral registers to build up a better idea of your ancestors life. You can, if you prefer continue your tree using the same method as your Bronze or Silver Family Tree or put your information into an electronic format using a computer based programme such as a Legacy programme where you will be able to keep a database of facts and figures about your Ancestors.

How do I do this: Carry on your investigations into your family by using information from your past family tree challenges. You should now be able to examine information found from other online source material or found at your local studies library such as: newspapers articles, birth, marriage & death announcements placed in newspapers, directories, rate books, school registers, electoral registers or perhaps any workhouse records. The librarians in the Local Studies department at the library will be happy to direct you to these materials. Did you find any ancestors in the military? Look for information on your Military ancestors using online family history websites such as Findmypast or Ancestry. Newspapers are especially helpful to determine more personal details or facts. See this example. Once you have gathered any more information add it to your growing family tree. As before it is important to keep a record of where you found your information.

Suggested places to find this information: Your local studies library will be an important starting point for this challenge. Continue to check online resources and keep an eye-open for any useful websites. Try your local archives for any original documents that may hold further clues.

Reminder: Access and use of Ancestry and Find my Past is free at Manchester Central Library. If you wish to use them online at home they are pay-per-view.

Can you now expand your current family tree further by adding more details? Remember if you are keeping an electronic family tree to back it up regularly.