Roberts Roots & Branches

Europeans had common ancestors 1,000 years ago, is an article by Frank Jordans, of the Associated Press, published, 8 May 2013.   Scientists were surprised to learn that people are related closer than previously thought.   Researchers compared DNA from people in different parts of the continent and found most people had common ancestors living just 1,000 years ago.   "The basic idea that we're all related much more recently than one might think has been around for a while, but it is not widely appreciated, and still quite surprising to many people, even scientists working in population genetics, including ourselves," they said in an email to The Associated Press. "The fact that we share all our ancestors from a time period where we recognize various ethnic identities also points at how we are like a family — we have our differences, but are all closely related." Source:  Jordans, Frank, Associated Press, Published: Wednesday, May 8 2013 6:57 a.m. MDT

During RootsTech, (which I will remind you again--I looooooooooved), I took a class about blogging.   Tell me how I am doing!   Leave a short comment or email me and let me know if you have noticed a difference and what you think! Have you “liked” Roberts Roots and Branches on FaceBook?  

Cite your sources

Imagine receiving a scroll with 39 generations of genealogy!    "I inherited the scroll from my father, a temple worker and stake patriarch who had a keen interest in genealogy," Elder Shio explained. "I learned from him the importance of family records. I just kept his work going."* What a wonderful treasured gift and a lifetime of precious work!   Read the entire article here . *source:    Romney, Richard M.,  LDS Church News , Church magazines, Published: Saturday, June 8, 2013.  online here

Same names. . . In our Roberts family there are 5 Hugh Roberts; a father, a son, and three grandsons.   In our family we have  5 Margaret Roberts; a mother, daughter, two granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. We have an Elizabeth and Lizzie; aunt and niece! We also have three Letitia’s.   A grandmother, granddaughter and great granddaughter!   Not all of these Letitia’s have the surname Roberts! For these reasons, it is important to review and analyze your findings and do further research to prove your facts…even if you have a name! There are 4 Thomas’ in the Roberts family, and 4 Sarah’s. In addition, there are 2 descendants with the name of Robert! There are 10 John Roberts’ in the Roberts family. Seven James Roberts’ in the Roberts family. Is your name a common Roberts name?

Google your name.   How many results did you get? Similarly, throughout time, there have been people with the same names.   Some of these people will have identical birth places and birth years.    Even though Google didn't exist, there were similar documents that were created with the same names for different people! If a grandfather has two sons and each son decides to honor their father and name a son after grandfather, then you have 3 people with that name.   If they all live in the same area (town, city, county or state) then you have 3 people with the same name from the same state.   The grandfather will be much older, but the two grandsons will have the same name, birthplace and their birth year could be very close or even the same year. For these reasons, it is important to review and analyze your findings and do further research to prove your facts.

Father's day is celebrated as a way to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood. To all of our Roberts ancestors and descendants:  Happy Father's Day !

Use the FamilySearch Catalog.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, DOES NOT have every record ever made!