Pedigree Charts - International Institute

The original content for this article was contributed by The International Institute of Genealogical Studies in June 2012. It is an excerpt from their course Methodology - Part 1: Getting Started, Methodology - Part 2: Organizing and Skillbuilding], Methodology - Part 3: More Strategies], Methodology - Part 4: Effective Searching and Recording, Methodology - Part 5: How To Prove It, and Methodology - Part 6: Professional Preparation and Practice  by Louise St Denis, Brenda Dougall Merriman and Dr. Penelope Christensen. The Institute offers over 200 comprehensive genealogy courses for a fee ($).

Pedigree Chart

The pedigree chart will record your ancestor’s factual information. In other words, you will record the dates and locations of births, christenings, marriages, deaths and burials from one father and mother to the next father and mother.

The number 1 person will be the person whose genealogy you are doing. If you are researching your entire genealogy, then your name will be reference number 1. The numbering sequence on your pedigree chart will be as follows:

1	You
2	Your father
3	Your mother
4	Your paternal grandfather
5	Your paternal grandmother
6	Your maternal grandfather
7	Your maternal grandmother
8 to 11	Your paternal great-grandparents
12 to 15	Your maternal great-grandparents
16 to 23	Your paternal 2nd great-grandparents
24 to 31	Your maternal 2nd great-grandparents

Notice that all male ancestors are even numbers and female ancestors are odd numbers.

The codes are simple:

B – Date of birth

M – Date of marriage

D – Date of death

Bu – Date and Location of burial

Notice that you don’t have a lot of room to write so neatness is essential. Print, if your hand writing is not legible.

Always use a pencil when completing this chart then corrections may be easily made if errors are found.

If additional information is located, it should be cross referenced and recorded on the back of these charts.

__________________________________________________________________

Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online courses Methodology - Part 1: Getting Started, Methodology - Part 2: Organizing and Skillbuilding], Methodology - Part 3: More Strategies], Methodology - Part 4: Effective Searching and Recording, Methodology - Part 5: How To Prove It, and Methodology - Part 6: Professional Preparation and Practice offered by The International Institute of Genealogical Studies. To learn more about these courses or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at wiki@genealogicalstudies.com

We welcome updates and additions to this Wiki page.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.