The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-True Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors

by Marsha Hoffman Rising, Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (Foreword)

Proven Solutions for Your Research ChallengesHas your family history research hit a brick wall? Marsha Hoffman Rising's best-selling book "The Family Tree Problem Solver" has the solutions to help you find the answers you seek.Inside you'll find:


Ideas on how to find vital records before civil registration
Tips for finding ''missing'' ancestors on censuses
Instructions for investigating collateral kin to further your pedigree
A look at advanced court records and how they can help you find answers
Work-arounds for lost or destroyed records
Techniques for correctly identifying and researching ancestors with common names
Methods for finding ancestors who lived before 1850
Case studies that show how to apply the author s advice to real-life research roadblocks
Strategies for analyzing your problem and creating a successful research plan
This revised edition also includes new information about online research techniques and a look at the role of DNA research. Plus you'll find a glossary of genealogy terms and more than a dozen templates for charts and logs to help you organize and record your research. Let "The Family Tree Problem Solver" help you find the answers you need today."

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, History, Family, Research

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review applies to the 3rd edition (2019) of the book. Marsha Hoffman Rising's [The Family Tree Problem Solver] inspired many genealogists to move beyond basic ancestral searches to more meaningful research which meets the genealogical proof standard. Marsha died in 2010, so I was curious why a third edition bearing her name alone was being released. Although it is obvious someone edited the original work to include website addresses and even information about the FamilySearch Wiki and other resources which did not exist during Marsha's lifetime, no one takes credit for these revisions. A chapter about "tree hints" was added by Sunny Morton, a well-known popular press genealogical author, and a chapter on using DNA was written by Diahan Southard, a well-regarded genealogical DNA lecturer. Neither of these chapters lives up to the standards the original author set, weakening the overall book. While care was taken to include web addresses and resources, references to Everton's Genealogical Helper and to the censuses on CD-ROM illustrate a problem in the new edition's editing. Everton's Genealogical Helper suspended operations years ago. While a person might find a clue about someone who researched an individual or family in the past, the contact information, if the query submitter remains alive, may be dated. While a few of us still own some of those CD-ROMs, very few use them. Ancestry, FamilySearch, and other online databases provide the access we need to the censuses. The book needed to be edited more thoroughly, and someone needed to take credit for their editing and revision role with an added author. The chapter on "tree hints" just does not fit the nature of the book. It is too basic of a topic. It remains at the "search" level described by Rising rather than the "research" one. While I appreciated Diahan Southard's comments when she talked about researching specific families, the chapter did not adequately demonstrate using DNA as evidence. Also missing from the chapter was a bibliography of published case studies demonstrating how to use DNA, which Rising would have provided if she were alive. The content originally written by Rising remains valuable although researchers may need to discover resources current researchers use in place of some of those no longer available. This review is based on an advance electronic copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley with expectations of an honest review. (3.5 stars)

[Biblio Files (takingadayoff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the brand new 2019 Third edition of the 2005 book, The Family Tree Problem Solver. I had not previously read the previous editions, but after I read the new version, I found a copy of the Second Edition (2011) to compare it and see what's new. Most of the main text is unchanged and the changes in the first eleven chapters are mostly to acknowledge the vast amount of records that have been digitized and are available online now. However, many records are still hiding in courthouses and archives and are not available online yet, so if you are a serious genealogist, knowing how to find the information you need is vital. There is a new chapter written by Sunny Morton to address evaluating online hints, and a chapter on DNA has been replaced by a brand new chapter on DNA by Diahan Southard to address how much has changed since 2011 on that front.

To be honest, I found these added chapters the best part of the book for my research. The main text, as comprehensive as it is, is limited to United States genealogy and records, and mostly pre-20th century records. Therefore, if your family lines have only been in the U.S. for a few generations, this may not be the problem solver you had hoped for. On the other hand, the general search strategies are sound and it's always a good idea to review them, such as how to tackle identifying people with similar names, and how to analyze evidence for reliability.

If you have many ancestors who lived in the U.S. in the 19th century and before, you'll find this an excellent resource to have on hand. Others may find that checking it out from the library may tide them over until they find more U.S. ancestors in their tree.

Table of Contents

1. Analyzing Research Problems and Planning Strategies
2. Avoiding Ten Common Genealogy Mistakes
3. Finding Births, Marriages, Deaths Before Civil Registration
4. Locating Missing Ancestors in the Census
5. Researching Friends, Associates, and Extended Family Members
6. Problem-Solving With Court Records
7. Replacing Burned Courthouse Records
8. Utilizing Land Records
9. Sorting Individuals With the Same Name
10. Finding Pre-1850 Ancestors
11. Analyzing Evidence
12. Accepting Online Family Tree Hints
13. Applying DNA Test Results to Your Research

(Thanks to F&W Publishers and NetGalley for a digital review copy.)

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this four stars because it wasn’t really geared to beginners and made no mention whatsoever of researching outside of the states, which is what I was looking for. However, that being said, it seems extensive research went into writing this and if you’re studying genealogy; then this is the book for you! The author gives case studies and examples of different situations that can pop up and how to resolve them. She is pretty easy to understand and offers a sort of summary of key points at the end of chapters.
This wasn’t what I needed but it was extensive and informative.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been perusing this book for a few days now and have had ample time to think about I believe it offers quite a bit of good advice for maybe tracking down some ancestors who have no info, or only a name. I've been told it is notoriously difficult tracking down women in the family as their names are seldom mentioned in documents- and for earliest documents, I've found that to be true. BUT there may be hope i finding them yet. This book has lots of suggestions and I love the fact that so much info is now available online to search! Its a good start!

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Kacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a textbook, this resource is for advanced genealogical methodologies. It helped me get more of a handle on what I don't yet know about searching through records and how to make sense of the data. Best for those interested in 1800 ish US pioneers, though some helpful bits in general are throughout.

[JanieceK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook. It is not for the beginning genealogist but is very helpful for organizing your thoughts, your files, and planning the next steps. Marsha Rising writes from her experience which is considerable.

[Chocolategoddess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Family Tree Problem Solver is hyper-focused on solving challenging problems for genealogists in the USA. As such, it could be really really helpful for some people.

The book runs through various problems, such as "the court records that I need burnt years ago" and suggests alternate methods for finding the information in places you wouldn't normally look. This ranges from searching for duplicates of the records, and checking whether the records actually burnt, to seeking out entirely different records that might give similar enough information to be of use.

It does this through a series of case studies from the author's own work, and some of the stories involve some impressive detective work! It could definitely inspire an American genealogist to making a leap and discovering new information.

As a genealogist working almost solely in the UK, it was pretty much useless. The general methods might be useful, but the vast majority of the book deals with specific records that don't exist in the UK. I tried to follow the methods used by the author in order to use it in my own searches, but because it was so specific it was extremely difficult to read and follow.

Ultimately, I think this could be good for American genealogists who've already done the basics and have hit some dead ends, but if you don't have ancestors over there, I wouldn't bother.

[Lizz Martensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been working on my own family tree for about 12 years now. I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I feel like I've gleaned a lot of knowledge through my research (or are they searches?) over the years. I wasn't sure what to expect from this title. Would I know it all? Unlikely. Would I learn something useful? I hoped so!

The first thing I really liked about this title is that it inspired me to follow up on some of my "sketchier" research and double check to ensure I was even tracing the same family lines. The second thing I felt challenged to take on was getting everything ORGANIZED. As a librarian and archivist you would think my own records would be fantastic ... but they are stored in boxes with very little organization.

This book is easy to read and everything is quickly defined for both the new researcher and the armchair expert. I loved the layout that the text, sometimes lengthy on individual topics, was broken up with graphs, images, and bold text. It made the book very approachable and easy to consume.

I'll be recommending this title to my friends who are doing their own research and need a little help with those elusive family members.

Thank-you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy - these are my own thoughts and opinions.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on the newly released 3rd edition:

I found this book helpful but overwhelming at times. Some of the examples were very hard to follow and I found myself skipping over them. I'm one of the researchers of her own family tree that has hit a wall due to no records because of fire and flood of courthouses plus the spelling of my maiden name (Brocato) has been spelled very many ways. I will be using techniques learned in this book to try and get farther in my research.

This book can be very helpful but is not one to be used for new researchers. I think they may get overwhelmed and frustrated very easily. I would suggest reading after you have researched regularly for a couple of years.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from F + W Media and Family Tree Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review is entirely my own.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Tree Problem Solver is exactly that. If you registered on any of the genealogy sites, this book can help you make better use of their tools and perhaps save you some frustration.

Beginning with five steps to solving genealogical problems, the book takes the amateur genealogist through the entire process of finding their roots. This edition has updated website addresses and two new chapters. One new section covers what to do when receiving a new hint email from a site where you have placed your family tree. Another describes how to use DNA kit results, either your own or family members, to further your genealogical research.

Family Tree Problem Solver is an excellent tool for any amateur ancestor detective’s armory. 4 stars!

Thanks to Family Tree Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been perusing this book for a few days now and have had ample time to think about I believe it offers quite a bit of good advice for maybe tracking down some ancestors who have no info, or only a name. I've been told it is notoriously difficult tracking down women in the family as their names are seldom mentioned in documents- and for earliest documents, I've found that to be true. BUT there may be hope i finding them yet. This book has lots of suggestions and I love the fact that so much info is now available online to search! It's a good start!

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful book for looking at the problems family tree researchers come up against. There are plenty of case studies and examples to clarify problems. For experienced researchers many of the suggestions would be plain common sense but nevertheless it does give ideas that may not have been considered. This new edition has been updated to include chapters on online hints and using DNA analysis. The book is aimed at American researchers but most of the suggestions are applicable to any situation.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have most of the top books in this category, and this one was still a helpful addition. Rising provided us practical advice in depth worthy of the accomplished amateur. I appreciated the reinforcement about the common mistakes. What was most valuable was coverage of complex topics like land and court terminology. It's unfortunate Rising died before she could share more wisdom.

[Anna Greene-Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing insight into the true genealogical research beyond the typical avenues. If you are just beginning your journey or if you are well into it and need some new ideas, this book can hello you. The suggested sources of hidden information and how to interpret them will guide you in your journey to the past.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book chock-full of great tips for solving difficult issues in genealogy research. Highly recommend. I kept it from the library waaay longer than I should, because I wanted to re-read several sections.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

the author rambles a lot.
this is not ground breaking information to those who have been at this hobby for a while..

[Nicholas Nanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book solved many of the problems I had searching for my ancestors. Easy to read and very helpful.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned lot about land records, probate records, "hints" on genealogy websites, and the amount of DNA shared by various degrees of kinship.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and has useful tips for common problems locating ancestors.

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

70%

Quite dense and poorly organized, so it's a bit hard to follow the sheer amount of info, but fairly decent

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Family Tree Problem Solver" is a great reference book for knocking down those "brick walls" which occur when you are trying to follow your family tree. I've been working on the family tree of my own family and my husband's family since I retired in 2009. I made all of the usual "beginner" mistakes. I'm learning and this book has added a lot to my research skills. This isn't a book that you read and then put on the shelf. It needs to be by your side while you are doing your research to guide you down the road. A "must have" for those of you who are trying to find your ancestors. I highly recommend it.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best genealogy resource I've read. Most books tend to be geared toward beginners, but this one is great for intermediate researchers who want step up their research skills.

[Dilly Dalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though updated in 2011, predates much of the online research that we all now do. Nonetheless it is actually an unusual and engaging book, quite interesting to read in its own right, as a bit of a puzzle, problem-solving text. The author is an experienced genealogist and she poses some classic problems that many family researchers will relate to.

The chapter titles are: The first step: analyzing the problem and planning a strategy for success, Finding births, marriages and deaths before civil registration, Why does the Census taker always miss MY ancestor?, Consider the collateral Kin: genealogical research in the full family context, Your day in court, What to do when the courthouse burned, Give me land - lots of land, Sorting individuals of the same name, The critical connection: finding ancestors who lived before 1850, Ten mistakes Not to make in your family research, and finally Analysis of evidence.

She illustrates the problem solving with case histories, photographs, records, documents and some fairly interesting detective work. And she provides templates and checklists to help people get organised in their research habits.

You might also like the introduction where her friend and colleague writes what is basically and obituary for Marsha Hoffman Rising. It is a nice touch.

[Sharil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a later edition of, "The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall", published in 2005, so don't let the title fool you. This edition has some additions including information on DNA testing. However, it is taken from another source that you can Google online and print for reference if you need it. This book format is smaller than the older edition, so if your eyes bother you, go with the older edition.

I have done a lot of research on my own and am "self-educated" on sleuthing, especially online for family history and finding resources elsewhere to get documentation. I think this is a handy, short, well-titled chapter/problem and indexed book for beginning and intermediate researchers and definitely a book a library should shelve for its patrons. I will likely take another look at some specifics of it again sometime when I'm researching and stuck and see if it can help me identify mistakes I might have made or identify an alternative resource.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the self appointed family genealogist and I have been working on my family tree from both sides of my family since I was a child. Although I have no formal training, I consider myself pretty successful at finding family records. I have accessed online and physical documents through my various trips through my family history. I wasn't sure if I could learn anything from a book about this subject, but I certainly did!. This book provided me with tips and ideas I have never heard of or tried before. This book is written in an easy to understand form and provides specific information relevant to family tree/ genealogy work for novices to professionals. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a professional research seminar course that's offered at Brigham Young University.

I found this book resourceful. Marsha Rising offered several case studies on how to overcome the 'brick walls' of genealogy. She presented problems as well as solutions. Legal terminology is used in reference to researching and analyzing land and probate records. General terminology for professional family historians are also used and referenced in this book.

I enjoyed this book. It has given me a desire to go back to some of the family lines I've traced already, and to be more thorough with what I have or haven't found. This was her goal with book, as she admits at the end.

I enjoyed the humor in this book as well. I found myself laughing in each chapter that I read through.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a hard book for me to review, just because it's not a novel. I think this is a neat resource for genealogists, but it's not for the beginner. It's about once you've done all the normal research, and now you are stuck in places. It gives lots of hints and case studies on what to do when you run into missing census, burned courthouses, using newspapers, land records, and other things that you don't think of right off. Will probably pull this one back out when I get more of the "easy stuff" out of the way.

[Sherri Hessick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is for an experienced genealogist, not for the beginner. The author gives great tips on breaking through those brick walls, especially for the pre-1850 ancestors. She provides realistic examples and case studies to help illustrate her ideas. The only thing I didn't like is that she does not provide a bibliography for all the books she recommends we read to gain more understanding of specific record types.

This is definitely a book that you will want to refer back to again and again as you encounter new obstacles.

[mbm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read this book, I liked it. The second time (a few more years of genealogy research under my belt) I thought it was even better. Marsha Rising gives tactics to find elusive ancestors and a way of thinking about your research that can help you make more complex connections when looking at the documents and sometimes indirect evidence.

On another note. Goodreads doesn't get genealogy. The books they recommend based on my genealogy choices are really off the mark!

[Jane Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical advice, which provides clues to finding solutions to getting through "brick-walls".

I think the best technique that I've seen is this: don't just focus your research on your ancestors surname, but also examine the records of his neighbors, siblings, spouses parents; also, many times your ancestors moved from one section of the state/colony with his neighbors and relatives