Improving confidence, step-by-step

Question

Hi,

This may be a bit of a novice ask, but I'm looking for advice on how to prioritize the steps to take to improve confidence in a lineage.  I'm interested in gaining confidence in this connection between myself, [[William Goodrich | Goodrich-7515]], and my supposed 11th great grandfather [[Stephen Hopkins | Hopkins-373]].  Several of the close connections are from a physical copy of a very old family tree that I have confidence in myself, but would like to improve on with other sources if I can.  Several of the distant connections have good confidence.  I'd like to bolster my end and work my way up.  Where would you start?

Thanks in advance!

William

Here is the connection:

https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Relationship&action=calculate&person1Name=Hopkins-373&person2Name=Goodrich-7515

Answer 1

I think you have the right idea, start with yourself and work your way back one generation at a time. Ideally each Wikitree profile should have sources that support the relationship to the relevant parent. As you confirm each profile has good sources for that purpose, you can click 'Edit' on that profile and on the top right hand side of the edit page, click the radio button for "[father/mother] is confident".

You can start by editing your own profile, and marking your father as confident. (You probably don't need a source for that one, as it is actual first hand information :) )

Here's the help page on "confident" statuses:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Confident

Comments

Hi there,

The lineage appears to have been “proven” to Levi Judd based on the Mayflower Descendant database on FamilySearch (ie, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants accepted a relatively recent application based on high quality primary documents (General No. 071201) for your line from Stephen Hopkins to Levi Judd). 

To continue the chain to you, you need to prove that William Judd was the son of Levi and so forth all the way down to you (ie birth, marriage and death records, wills and land records).

---

FUN FACT: Stephen Hopkins IS Stephano in Shakespeare's The Tempest. Willy S. drew directly from the then-unpublished history that tells about early Virginia and the Bermuda shipwreck drama.

---

Stephen Hopkins was my earliest American ancestor.

More fun facts:

- He was sentenced to death for mutiny while in Bermuda but was pardoned, supposedly because they couldn't spare the manpower.

- While in Jamestown, he was summoned home to retrieve his children after his wife died. He sailed to Europe aboard the same ship as Pocahontas and John Rolfe.

- He is also the only Mayflower passenger to have previously visited North America (a Jamestown).

---

William - I have added links several primary sources to the wikitree profiles at Generation 5 (Josiah Snow Sr), Generation 6 (Josiah Snow Jr), Generation 7 (Lucy Snow), Generation 8 (Levi Judd Jr) and Generation 9 (William Augustus Judd).

Generation 6 is in the Hopkins Silver Book (p 147), which meets the highest genealogical standards of proof. In my view, the additional documents I have added would form a very convincing application to the GDMD (General Society of Mayflower Descendants). Assuming you have primary documentation from Generation 9 down to you, I would encourage you to apply because it is a fun and rewarding process.

Answer 2

Steven Hopkins
1581 - 1644

↑

Constance Hopkins
1606 - 1677
(his daughter)

↑

Mark Snow
1628 - 1695
(her son)

↑

Thomas Snow
1668 - 1737
(his son)

↑

Josiah Snow
1699 - 1760
(his son)

↑

Josiah Snow
1732 - 1807
(his son)

↑

Lucy Snow
1768 - 1846
(his daughter)

↑

Levi Judd
1796 - 1847
(her son)

↑

William Judd
1824 - 1894
(his son)

↑

William Judd
1852 - ?
(his son)

↑

Lizzie Judd
1876 - 1902
(his daughter)

↑

William Goodrich
1899 - 1991
(her son)

↑

William Judd Goodrich
1951 - 2018
(his son)

↑

William Goodrich

Answer 3

Begin by reviewing existing sources, assessing their quality, identifying conflicting information, and addressing uncertainties. Then, prioritize filling gaps in knowledge by emphasizing primary sources corroborated by multiple supporting references.

Comments

I agree, I have lost count of how many times I have revisited my own research and found out so much more or find new clues.

Answer 4

Thanks everyone.  I've made a lot of progress and have 9 out of the 11 connections with a "confident" mark now.  Is it appropriate to reach out for help on specific connections in some group who is interested in the surname, for instance?  Maybe someone with more experience can help guide me in the right direction.  Thanks again, William

See updated connection links:  https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Relationship&action=calculate&person1Name=Hopkins-373&person2Name=Goodrich-7515

Comments

It's always a good idea to ask for help here, it's one of the best benefits of the site.

Specifically, as you work through a lineage, if you can't find records that prove relationships, write up a post that includes what you *do* know, and what you're looking for. Best records to search for are not only the obvious ones (birth, marriage, death) but also the more obscure such as deeds, probate, guardianship and church or town records. If you find a death record, search for probate. If you find a residence, search for deeds/land records in that area.

If you can't find a record, or don't know how - ask!