Use A Genealogy Timeline To Find Gaps In Your Research
***Please note that this post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you decide to purchase a product/service. This does not cost you extra. Be assured I only recommend products/services that I use and think you would like too. Read my disclosure policy and privacy policy.
A genealogy timeline is the best tool to organize your ancestor’s life events and reveal gaps in your research. Create timelines to help find your ancestors!
I admit it. I get stuck in my genealogy research!
I seem to have a large number of ancestors with common names or the same name. Really, could there be any more men in colonial North Carolina named John White?!
Out of frustration one day, I pulled out paper and pencil (yes, I went old school.) and started creating a timeline for all of the events in the life of “my” John White.
What I discovered when I added all events found for John White in a certain time period and location astounded me. I was not looking at one man named John White. Not even two men.
My research partner and I realized we were looking at FOUR men by the name of John White.
That’s the power of a timeline!
Needless to say, one of the best things I ever did for my genealogy research was to organize my genealogy information – the events of my ancestors’ lives – on a timeline.
3 Reasons to Use a Genealogy Timeline
Placing your ancestor’s life events on a timeline does three things:
- Timelines allow you to put your ancestor in chronological time and place to better understand his/her movements and connections to people and locations.
- Timelines reveal gaps in your research where more information about your ancestor is needed.
- Simply by creating your ancestor’s timeline, you become more familiar with him/her and can possibly anticipate where to find more sources of information.
Try These Tools to Create Your Ancestor’s Timeline
“Low Tech” Timeline Tools
My favorite two tools to use when I start creating a timeline for an ancestor are paper and pencil.
That’s right….just paper (notebook paper is fine for me!) and a preferably a mechanical pencil. If I’m feeling really wild, I’ll add in colored pencils. Sometimes old school is best way to start.
“High Tech” Timeline Tools
More high-tech options are certainly out there. I absolutely use those as well.
Check your family tree software for a timeline option. Your online family trees at Ancestry.com, FindMyPast and MyHeritage also have this feature. This can be a simple and fast way to create your ancestor’s timeline.
Other online resources are out there, too. Some are free and some are subscription based.
I have not personally used any, but have seen Timetoast and Our Timelines as options other genealogists use.
One thing you will want is a good historical timeline. Placing your ancestor among national, state and/or local events can reveal important clues about your ancestor and places to search for new records.
Online tools will often have this feature built in. The Animated Atlas of American History is one of my favorites.
For state and local events timelines, I simply perform an internet search for “Timeline of [Location] history”.
Performing an internet search for “Timeline of North Carolina History” resulted in timelines for different centuries, timelines on women’s history, and timelines on healthcare/epidemics. If you have ancestors in North Carolina, any of these events could have had an impact on there lives.
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Creating Your Genealogy Timeline
Timelines can take on many different forms. Let’s look at a few examples before you begin. I created three different timelines for William Halley of Halifax County, VA. Each has its own advantages.
1. This is a paper and pencil timeline for William Haley (1861-1948) of Charlotte County, VA. This one is simple, quick and requires no learning curve. When I physically write things down, I internalize the information better. This is my preferred method for particularly tough genealogy problems.
2. This is an example of a vertical timeline for William Haley created using Google Sheets in Google Drive. You can use MS Excel or your favorite spreadsheet program to achieve the same thing. View the whole timeline here. Creating a timeline with Google Sheets is advantageous if you research with a partner. They are easy to share an edit together.
3. This is an example of a portion of William Haley’s timeline from a genealogy website. Ancestry.com displays an individual’s profile in a timeline format. While this style by Ancestry.com has not always received favorable reviews, there are advantages to it. Check the program you use for your family tree for instructions on creating a timeline. In the past, I have used FamilyTreeMaker and RootsMagic to easily create timelines as well.
There is no right or wrong way to create your timeline. Try different formats and find which works best for you. The best timeline is one that you will actually use!
Now, Get Started Creating Your Own Genealogy Timeline!
Grab those physical and digital ancestral files that you have already organized and readily accessible.
Decide which historical timelines to use for reference.
Decide the format of your timeline.
Get started.
How did your timeline turn out? Share your discoveries in the comments below!
***Please note that this post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you decide to purchase a product/service. This does not cost you extra. Be assured I only recommend products/services that I use and think you would like too. Read my disclosure policy and privacy policy.
You might also enjoy these posts on using timelines:
- Tuesday’s Tips – Using Timelines
- A Complete Guide: Creating Your Genealogy Research Plan With Trello!
- What You Need To Know To Organize Your Genealogy
31 Comments
Nancy
This blog post is spot on. 🙂 I homeschooled my children, and we used timelines for years to get a better view of what was going on in the world at the same times. I added my husband and myself, and our parents and grandparents, to the timelines to give my kids a realistic view of when their ancestors lived. I look forward to doing the same with my grandchildren-yet-to-be one day.
LisaL
What a great idea using timelines with your homeschooling. I love that you put family members on it. I think children gain a better understanding of parents, grandparents, etc as “real” people and not just Mom and Dad. 🙂
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Mary F. Davis
Great- am a long time genalogist but am anxious to do some time lines.
LisaL
Enjoy those timelines! I’m sure you will find them helpful!
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LisaL
Thanks so much for including my timeline example!
Jeanie Russell
Hi, I wish you would use darker print. It’s very difficult to read and I really enjoy your posts.
LisaL
Hi, Jeanie,
Thanks for your feedback! I have made some adjustments to the color of my text. I’ll have to research how to make more of a contrast with my particular blog design. Lisa
Kim
I just took a look at your William Haley timeline on Google sheets and I want to try it. Do you have the template available so that we can copy it? I’d love to have the formatting already in place!
LisaL
No problem, Kim! Click here to a copy. Once there, click “file” and then “make copy” and you are good to go.
Nora Stidham
Thank you for the Timeline template. It is easy to use and just what I needed. I can’t wait to get started!
LisaL
You are most welcomed. Enjoy!
Mary
I really like your time line template and I did find your blank template. I started one for my Dad. Question where is the easiest place to find historical events, Like the duration of WWII. Thanks
LisaL
This is an excellent question, Mary! I like America’s Best History timelines. You’ll find a good breakdown of WWII there, too. http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline.html
Mary
Thanks! I book marked it. It does look interesting. While waiting for your reply, I found this site. http://www.datesandevents.org/
LisaL
That’s another great site, too.
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Max White
this is an amazing timeline. I am very happy to see your timeline.
thanks
https://familytreemakersupport.com/
Mavis Allan
Im helping a friend sort out family research and due to inconsistency and unconfirmed findings, i think timelines on some ancestors will definitely help. My brain is frazzled trying to sort out this maze. Pen and paper are called for but i think i will have to devise my own sheet
to suit requirements. Thank you for puting the idea there and now feel inspired to take up the baton again! Regards.
LisaL
Good luck as you make those timelines! As you find what works well for your research, you’ll see just how helpful timelines are.
Max Martin
Thanx for putting your ideas here, this will surely help us to learn.
really spot on blogs. keep sharing with us.
Thanx.
Max
I feel this is the great timeline for the tree making for genealogy . really likes the way you present.
Much love
regards.
LisaL
So glad you found this helpful!
Patti
This may also reveal some errors in information added to a tree as well. Locations or times do not fit, etc.
LisaL
Most definitely!
Andrew Parker
Helping an acquaintance sort out their family history research. Due to inconsistent findings and inconclusive findings I believe that timelines for certain ancestors can be helpful. My brain is a mess trying to navigate the maze. Pen and paper are the tools that are needed for, but I think I will need to design my own template to meet the needs. Thank you for putting the concept out there. I am now you are inspired to pick on the challenge again! Regards.
Joe Lame
This is a wonderful timeline explained in detail. Thanx for sharing your ideas on the table, it will aid us in learning.
Barbara Tien
Love this, Lisa! I’ve been helping my nonagenarian inlaws explain to the younger generations what it was like as a family escaping the Sino-Japanese War in the 1930 and 40s before finally arriving in the US in the 1950s. Extraordinary times deserve the care of remembrance, but it’s hard to appreciate the details if you don’t have a solid grasp of historical events. This map on TimeToast was a good start. Teacher tools like these a fabulous resource to ordinary family history buffs like us. (It previews nicely on Ponga.com as well. 😉)
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/sino-japanese-war-1937-1945