Am I right about my heritage?

Question

My last name is Cornett, and from the research I've done online, it shows that my grandpa's family came from England to VA in the 1700s. My grandma's maiden name is Thorne, and online it says a member of her family came to VA from England in the 1600s. My mom's maiden name is Balser. I'm not too sure about that one. My grandma's(mom's mom) maiden name was Stanley. I didn't know if anyone on here could give me anymore insight. Thank you. :)

Answer 1

If your work is based on surnames only.. you are probably going in the wrong direction.

Example.. there may have been someone named Cornett who did come to Virginia in the 1700s. He *might* have had only daughters, meaning your grandpa is not his descendant. Grandpa's grandpa *might* have come to Illinois in 1875, and have nothing to do with the guy in the 1700s.

The standard basic rule about genealogy is this.. you HAVE to work from the present back, and every step, you MUST verify the connection with some documentation. This way, you are positive you are your parents child; your parents are the children of your grandparents, and so forth.. each step of the way.

If you have looked for the "earliest" record of someone with the same last name, and assumed that it MUST be your relative... then, sorry, friend.. it will not be correct. It is a common, but very misleading, shortcut.

http://rwguide.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Here's a tutorial on the process, and we would be more than happy to help you work back on finding the records that you can rely on.

Answer 2

The only way to tell will be to rummage in genealogical libraries.  There are a fair number of these; one is associated with San Francisco State University, just north of Golden Gate Park.

Answer 3

What you see in family trees online, whether it is a free or not free website, should always be verified.  The info is subscriber submitted.  There are error in online family trees.  The information can be valuable as clues as to where to get the documentation.

Even if you see the same info repeatedly by many different subscribers on the same people, that is no guarantee at all it is correct as a lot of people copy without verifying.

Wendy gave you some valuable information, surnames alone are not proof of ancestry or kinship.  

First thing you should do is to start with your living family and work back one generation at a time.  Get as much info from them particularly your seniors.  They might be confused on things but what might seem to be insignificant story telling might be very significant.  Find  out if anybody has any old family bibles.  Ask to see and make copies of birth, marriage and death certificate and depending on the religious faith, baptistmal, first communion, confirmation and marriage certificates can be of great value.

A Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church has records on people all over the world, not just Mormons.

In Salt Lake City they have the world's largest genealogical collection. Their Family History Centers can order microfilm for you to view at a nominal fee.  Just call your nearest Mormon Church or check their free website, FamilySearch.org, to get their hours for the general public.

I haven't ever had them to try and convert me or send their missionaries by to ring my doorbell.  I haven't heard of them doing that to anyone else either.  They are very nice and helpful.

Be sure and check the genealogy area of your public library.