Trying to connect people is like taking a 10,000 piece puzzle and having someone toss all the pieces on a table, taking the cover away so you haven't a clue as to what the final picture looks like, then saying "okay - go ahead, put it all together" !!

The edges (our immediate family & grandparents & aunts, uncles, & cousins), are pretty easy to find....the rest?  They're the remaining edges and all the middle pieces.....

For over 25 years I have been doing genealogy research.  I've done research for others (including a well-known actress on "Days of our Lives"), have a family history book for my descendants, and keep my family informed with a newsletter that I created.

I want to pass my experience on to those who are new to this pursuit.

With step-by-step, easy to follow instructions, you'll be well on your way to the journey of a lifetime. 

 Jo Ann

 

What were my ancestors' living conditions like?                 Did they have a big family? 

After locating our ancestors, here in the United States, my research is taking me across the Atlantic.                                   

                                        Author, Jo Ann, Lavalette, Ocean, NJ

Some of our BERRY family

A nice addtion to your files is finding a rare family photograph.

UPDATE

I've been able to trace one line of our ancestors back to 1500 !!  I've added thousands of names to our family tree and have 2 new cousins to correspond with.

I've also put together some pieces of another puzzle, and have found our grandfather's family !!  This was a family line that I didn't think I'd ever find !!  To say I'm happy is a profound understatement.

AUG 2011 UPDATE

One sentence uttered by my sister has led me to find (4) distant cousins.  Between the cousins and myself, we now have a fuller, more complete history of my maternal grandmother's family.  There is no greater joy than to connect with those formerly unknown - especially ones who are genuine, down-to-earth family members.  Sometimes we do find connections that are not necessarily as pleased to make the connection.  In this case, it's been a wonderful experience.

Did you know that your ancestry (those from whom you've descended) includes 511 people when you go back 5 generations?

By the time you go back to the 10th generation, the number of people on your Pedigree Chart has grown to 1,022 !!  That's only your ancestors !!  The numbers grow even more when you add in all the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and all those other connections to your family.  Staggering, isn't it? 

Now that's amazing !!