What do I do next?

Question

Hello,

 I'm pretty new here, and have a question.

 I'm not challenging anything, just trying to understand how it works. When I was researching a family named Parker, I was led to the WikiTree, because I had googled the name Meadows who married into the Parker family.

 What I saw here was a family tree (Meadows-392) that appears to "start" in the 1830s and "run out" in 1610.

 What has me curious is why from my perspective there doesn't seem to be any subjects leading in from the current day, which I would expect to be the starting point for all family trees.

 Is that because the tree "started" in another place with a distant cousin maybe, ran up to 1610, and then back down a different route until it hit a dead end?

 

 Another question I have, is since I think I have a line from the current day that runs into that tree in the 1830's, what do I do with that information? 'cause I don't have a clue.

 Thanks

 Neil Kemp

Answer 1

Hi,

I am new and don't know how  to get in this membership thing,  Anyway,  I just want to give my answer for the person asking for info as I have some information about John Arnold of Leicester, born 1747 in Leicester, Leicestershire, son of William Arnold and Elizabeth Davenport.  He died 12 Feb 1816 in Barrowden, Rutlandshire, England. He married to Elizabeth Sapcote 13 March 1769 in South Luffenham, Rutland, England.  They had four children born to them.  They are : 1. Mary Arnold Born: 13 Nov 1769 in Barrowden, Rutland;  She married Thomas Goodliffe 20 Nov 1791 in Barrowden, Rutland (she is my direct line); 2. William Arnold Born: 20 Feb 1772 in Barrowden, Rutland; he married Mary Sapcote 16 Jul 1800 All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln, England; 3. Sarah Arnold Born: 7 Apr 1774 in Barrowden, Rutland. She married Thomas Marshall 7 Nov 1805 in Barrowden, Rutland.  4. Elizabeth Arnold Born: 13 Feb 1778 in Barrowden, Rutland.  Died: 8 June 1788 in Barrowden, Rutland.

I would like to extend the pedigree of the parents of  John Arnold with his sibilings - a family group record of his family.  Thank you.  I am still not sure how to fill in my profile, and other items.  I made a mistake by puting my married name when it should be Barker and Goodliffe and I have more but for now I like to know something about the Arnold for now.

Answer 2

There are a lot of reasons why a tree might not seem to connect to modern people. It might be that it started as just a spouse attached to someone's tree, and then they did more research on it. Also, some people don't like to put living people on WikiTree, so they'll just work on their distant ancestors. Or, like you said, it could just be a line adjacent to the line the user was actually interested in.

If you have a line that connects to that line, the first thing you should do is request to be added to the trusted list of any profiles you're planning to connect to. Then, while you wait to be added, you can start with yourself and work back, adding your ancestors that don't already have profiles. Hopefully by the time you're done, you'll have access to that existing profile, and you can connect them.

I hope that helps!