Methodology

“Probably in nothing do men more slip, or allow preconceived ideas to dominate their conclusions, than in the writing of family history. Too often, a pleasing assumption speedily becomes a boasted fact: the imagination is feasted with indulgence, and sentimental adornment imposes on the unwary and sometimes ‘deceives the very elect’. A single-minded devotion to the investigation of truth gradually falls into abeyance; the desire to convert the pride of fiction into unassailable fact grows apace, and the result becomes worse than misleading”.

Reverend W Wykes-Finch MA JP*

Sidmouth, Devon, England

1903

(*my 10th cousin 4 times removed, though on mum's side, not the Kingshott side)

I am the first to admit that this section is not the most interesting, but for those interested in researching their family history, I believe it is important. This section, therefore, explains how I approach my research and how I assess the reliability of the information presented on this website."

Naturally, I want this record to be as accurate as possible, and I have spent thousands of hours over more than thirty-five years trying to achieve that. Inevitably, however, some errors will have crept in, particularly in earlier research where I may not have been quite so thorough. If you notice any errors or omissions, please let me know and provide what you believe to be the correct information, and together we can get to the bottom of it. Remember that just because I have been doing this for a long time does not mean that I am always right. If you disagree with any of my conclusions, I would be very happy to discuss this and equally happy to accept that I have made a mistake.

In my research, I prioritise primary sources because they generally provide the most reliable evidence. My main resources are original documents, which offer the most robust evidence. While many of these sources are now accessible online, nothing compares to the experience of visiting a Records Office and examining these ancient documents firsthand. Often, I find myself as the youngest person there by at least thirty years!

Rest assured, I do not simply choose names randomly from websites to construct family trees, as is often the practice. You would not believe the number of people who simply assume that just because someone has the same name, they must be the person. Consequently, if there is no supporting evidence to establish a connection, I will not show a connection.

I told you it was boring!

The Genealogical Proof Standard

The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) is a framework used by family historians and genealogists to establish the reliability of their findings. It serves as a guideline for assembling a credible and well-substantiated family tree. Understanding and adhering to the Genealogical Proof Standard can significantly enhance the accuracy and integrity of genealogical research. Here’s what it involves:

Conduct a Reasonable, Exhaustive Search: Researchers should explore a wide range of high-quality sources to gather as much relevant information as possible. This includes primary sources, such as birth, marriage, and death records, and secondary sources and informed contributions from other researchers. The aim is to identify and examine all relevant evidence.
Cite All Sources Thoroughly: All information used to establish a genealogical claim must be accompanied by a clear and precise citation. This allows other researchers to verify the findings and lets you recheck your work if needed.
Analyse and Correlate the Collected Information: This involves critically evaluating the reliability of the information obtained. The researcher must consider each source’s context, the information’s relevance, and how it integrates with other data. Conflicts between sources should be resolved through further research and analysis.
Resolve Conflicting Evidence: If discrepancies arise in the collected data, the researcher must address them before drawing a conclusion. This might require prioritising one piece of evidence over another based on its reliability, or seeking additional sources to corroborate one of the conflicting pieces of information.
Arrive at a Soundly Reasoned, Coherently Written Conclusion: The conclusion must be well-reasoned and clearly documented after thorough research and evaluation. It should also be logical, reflecting all the evidence and reasoning used in the process.

The Genealogical Proof Standard is a method and a commitment to conducting thorough, accurate, and ethical genealogical research. It ensures that genealogical conclusions are based on reliable evidence and sound reasoning, providing a valuable structure to guide amateur and professional researchers in uncovering family histories.

These principles form the backbone of effective and ethical genealogy research, helping enthusiasts like me to uncover accurate family histories and preserve them for future generations.

On this website, if a birth date is prefixed with "Bef.", the date shown is the baptism date rather than the actual birth date. Similarly, where a death date is prefixed with "Bef.", the date shown is the burial date.

I have ensured the privacy of living individuals by omitting their details from all documents and pages on this site. Any information you provide concerning living individuals will be treated as confidential and will not be published or shared with others.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge that while I have researched, compiled, and verified the information presented here, many others have also contributed significantly to this genealogy project, particularly with information post-1911. I am immensely grateful to all the researchers who have shared details of their branches of the tree and their immediate families. I am grateful for their assistance and do not wish to claim sole credit for the work that has gone into this project.