The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

How Do I Determine Genetically Equivalent Relationships?

November 15, 2019 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher Leave a Comment

An understanding of genealogical relationships is necessary before diving into genetically equivalent relationships in your family history. This article will provide an overview of both concepts.Correctly evaluating shared DNA within the context of genetically equivalent relationships first requires mastery of genealogical relationships. Here we review important genealogical relationships based on some of the pertinent variables. For the sake of simplicity, we limit our analysis to biological relatives and exclude in-law and step relationships.Immediate Family: These relationships are straightforward: father, mother, sister, brother, son and daughter.Immediate Family of Ancestors: Your mother’s brother is your maternal uncle. Your father’s sister is your paternal aunt. Your sibling’s child is a niece or nephew. Considering the immediate family members of more distant generations gets more complicated: Your grandfather’s sister is a grand-aunt (sometimes referred to as a …

3 Resources for Afro-Caribbean Genealogy: Researching Enslaved Roots

November 8, 2019 by Rebecca - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

While Afro-Caribbean genealogy research can be difficult, knowing where to look for records can make progress possible. We share 3 resources that can help as you research your Afro-Caribbean family history.Many persons of Caribbean descent have African roots and the majority of those were enslaved. Genealogical research into Afro-Caribbean enslaved ancestors is possible, although the methodology is different than for their U.S. counterparts. While research can appear to be confusing due to the many countries that have been historically involved in Caribbean island land ownership, it does not have to be so.Understanding Historical Context of the CaribbeanToday, there are more than 7,000 individual islands in the Caribbean covering an approximate 1 million square mile region. Of those 7,000, there are 13 sovereign nations and 12 dependent territories. Historically, the majority of those islands were divided amongst territories owned by the British, Spanish, French, Dutch, and …

Tips for Navigating Civil Registration Records from England and Wales

November 1, 2019 by Jamie - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

Unlike parish records which may often be found online, the British government controls access to civil registration records. Learn tips and tricks for accessing these vital documents.Before 1837, births, marriages, and deaths in England and Wales were only recorded by the local Anglican Parish. Beginning in 1837, however, the British government required civil registration as well. While many parish registers are available on microfilm or online, the British government controls access to the civil registration records. Fees for copies are not astronomical but ordering the right record can be a little tricky. These tips can help ensure money is not wasted ordering the wrong record.Understand that online indexes do not contain complete informationCivil registration records are indexed by the year and quarter the events occurred and are organized by registration district rather than by parish. It is common to see entries in family trees like “John Smith was born Jan-Feb-Mar 1853 in …

Legacy Tree Honored as One of Utah’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies for the Third Year in a Row

October 31, 2019 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Legacy Tree Genealogists has been named to MountainWest Capital Network’s (MWCN) 2019 Utah 100, the annual list of the state’s fastest-growing companies. This is the third year in a row the company has made the list, this year being ranked at #56.MWCN’s exclusive awards program brings together investors, entrepreneurs and professional service providers while recognizing Utah’s 100 fastest-growing companies and the economic and business impact they bring to the state.Founded in 2004, Legacy Tree Genealogists provides full-service genealogical research for clients worldwide, helping them break through genealogy “brick walls” to create and preserve their family legacy. The Legacy Tree team also provides essential DNA analysis, helps clients identify unknown parents or grandparents, helps clients prepare to visit their ancestral homelands, completes probate research for attoneys and investors, and much more.“We are excited to receive this recognition once again,” said …