The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

"How do I evaluate conflicting evidence in my family history?" Read on to discover tips from professional genealogists.A common medical aphorism states, “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” Essentially, this means that when making a diagnosis, doctors should avoid jumping to an exotic conclusion when there is a more commonplace explanation. The same principle applies when evaluating genealogical evidence.One of the most common mistakes a novice researcher can make is coming up with a wild or convoluted theory when encountering something in a record that doesn’t make sense. However, the reality is, most of the time, the simplest answer is the correct one, and while unusual circumstances did happen, they are just that, unusual.Although any small detail can feel extraordinary when learning about your ancestors, the explanation for contradictory evidence is usually simple, but may require thinking outside the box. Here are some tips to follow when evaluating …