<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><span style="text-align:initial;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif">Need to </span><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/mailman/listinfo/genealogy_genealogytipoftheday.com" target="_blank" style="text-align:initial;background-color:transparent;font-family:georgia,serif">unsubscribe</a><span style="text-align:initial;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif">?</span></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;text-align:initial;background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">24 August 2026</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">** Some Cousin Humor---and More</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">** Notebook Class</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">** Percents and Genealogy </font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">---------------------</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Some Cousin Humor---and More</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">---------------------</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><blockquote style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%;border-width:2px;border-color:rgb(0,115,170)"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">For those who don\u2019t understand how cousins are counted\u2026it\u2019s easy. My uncle has three sons: the oldest one was my first cousin, the middle one was my second cousin, and the youngest one was my third cousin.</font></p><hr style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:1rem 0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;border-width:1px 0px 0px;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.1) currentcolor currentcolor;height:2px;max-width:100%;text-align:initial"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Of course that\u2019s not how first, second, and third cousins are determined. First cousins share a set of grandparents. Second cousins share a set of great-grandparents, and third cousins share a set of great-great-grandparents. The pattern continues on successively. There are <a href="https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/cousin-chart" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-decoration:none;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(3,169,244);text-align:initial;max-width:100%">charts that attempt to show the relationship graphically for those who are visual learners</a>.</font></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Then there are the removed designations when the two individuals are not the same generation of descent from the common ancestor. Your first cousin\u2019s child and you are first cousins once removed\u2013because that child is one more generation removed from the original ancestor than you are. Your cousin\u2019s grandchild and you would be first cousins twice removed\u2013because that grandchild is two generations further from the original ancestor than you.</font></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Your child and your first cousin\u2019s child would be second cousins. Your child and your first cousin's child share a set of great-grandparents\u2013the people who are you and your cousins\u2019s grandparents.</font></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">And of course, there several nuances:</font></p><ul style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:auto 1.5em 1em;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><li style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">half cousins\u2013would only share one grandparent or one great-grandparent. This could easily happen if a person had multiple spouses</font></li><li style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">double cousins\u2013people who are related in more than one way. This most often happens when brothers marry sisters, a brother and sister marry a sister and a brother, etc.</font></li></ul><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Instead of stating the specific relationship between two individuals, I prefer to clearly state the common ancestor.</font></p><blockquote style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%;border-width:2px;border-color:rgb(0,115,170)"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Edward and Curtis Habben were both grandsons of John M. and Anke H. (Fecht) Habben.</font></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Cecil Neill and Edna (Rampley) Dion were second cousins, being great-grandchildren of James and Elizabeth (Chaney) Rampley. Their son Riley was Cecil\u2019s grandfather and their son James was Edna\u2019s grandfather.</font></p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" style="" size="4">Your mileage may vary.</font></p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><br></p></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">-------------------------------------</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Notebook for Genealogy--a Four Week Class</font></div><div style="text-align:initial;color:rgb(23,37,42);box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">-------------------------------------</font></div><div style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/08/12/notebook-for-genealogy-four-week-class/" target="_blank">View this page as an email.</a></div><div><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><i><font size="6">Due to requests, we've added a set of classes on Tuesday mornings--see below.</font></i></span></p><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:xx-large;font-weight:700;white-space:pre-wrap">Notebook for Genealogy\u2013A Four Session Pick Your Own Problem Course</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With Michael John Neill</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our focus is on being practical, exhibiting sound genealogy methodology, and demonstrating responsible use of Notebook (Google\u2019s suite of AI tools) in genealogy research. This course is for those who would like guidance and suggestions in how to use Notebook and have a place to get feedback and additional direction.</span></p><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>What is Notebook?</b></span></p><span id="m_2100391533435976748m_2377364042854920861m_-2990715261132999274m_-6077320325811101306m_-7666443035751280623gmail-docs-internal-guid-59c02fff-7fff-a2d6-1515-b9cc5062f357" style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><font size="4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NotebookLM</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (often simply </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Notebook</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) is Google\u2019s suite of AI-driven tools to analyze data from files and information you provide it. . </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Notebook uses </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">sources of your choosing, not what it found online</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. You upload your own materials\u2014including PDF files, text files, Google Docs, slides, or web links\u2014and the AI creates a private workspace built exclusively around that data. You can upload any genealogy information to it tht you wish , but it is recommended that only deceased people be included and that you not upload DNA information on living people. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Capabilities</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Answers with Citations:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> When you ask questions or search your uploaded files, every response includes citations to your uploaded documents, allowing you to double-check sources. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Synthesis & Content Creation:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Notebook automatically generates concise summaries, outlines main themes, and identifies connections or conflicts across dozens of sources at once. You do need to validate its summaries and conclusions.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Audio-visual Outputs:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Beyond text answers, Notebook can create study guides, briefing documents, timeline charts, slide decks, podcast interviews, and videos based on your content. Even if you never share the created materials, just viewing them and interacting with them may give you some insight into your genealogical problem.</span></p></li></ul></font></span><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Course Prerequisites & Required Materials</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> You should have digital records for one ancestor or a father-mother-children family, including every extant record available.</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Format:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> PDF or JPG for images; PDF, Word, or raw text for transcriptions.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Preparation:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Be familiar with the specific ancestral research problem you plan to work on to get the most from Notebook LM and AI concepts. Gather all materials between registration and the start of class.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Course Format & Zoom Sessions</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Pre-Recorded Lectures:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Students will view two hours of presentations before group sessions begin.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Live Zoom Sessions:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Held on Sunday nights (and recorded for later viewing). Sessions combine live demonstrations by Michael working through a set of family records alongside group discussions where students share prompts, results, challenges, and questions.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Class Focus & Weekly Assignments</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Weekly Assignments:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> One assignment per week focused on Notebook's media outputs using your own research problem.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Scope:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> The course focuses on mastering the tools and capabilities of Notebook rather than providing individual research advice, making it accessible to participants working on problems from any region.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Community Discussion & Communication</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Private Google Group:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Used for asynchronous discussion, peer interaction, Q&A, and prompt sharing outside of live sessions.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Email Requirement:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> A Gmail account is strongly recommended. Accounts with AOL, Yahoo, or Hotmail frequently experience delivery issues with group emails.</span></p></li></ul><div style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif" size="4">Take the class live on Sunday Night or Tuesday Mornings!</font></div><div><div><h2 style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Tuesday Sessions--10 AM Eastern Time--stilll available</font></em></span></strong></h2><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><strong><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Important Dates</font></strong></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><strong>1 September:</strong> Pre-recorded lectures become available for download, and the private Google Group opens.</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><strong>Live Zoom Discussions (Tuesdays at 10:00 AM Eastern US time):</strong> 15 September, 22 September, 29 September, and 13 October. Time: 10 am US Central Daylight Time.</font></li></ul><div><p style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><strong>Registration & Tuition</strong>-</font></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><strong>Fee:</strong> $70\u2013<a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T8YR5W34FDC4L" target="_blank">register now to save your spot</a> . </font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><strong>Availability:</strong> Registration is limited.</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T8YR5W34FDC4L" target="_blank"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Register for Sunday Night Sessions</font></a></li></ul><div><font color="#17252a" face="georgia, serif" size="4">-----------------------------</font></div><div><font color="#17252a" face="georgia, serif" size="4">Percents and Genealogy</font></div><div><font color="#17252a" face="georgia, serif" size="4">-----------------------------</font></div><div><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">One often sees comments like these made on various blogs, mailing lists, etc.</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">X% of families followed the pattern of naming the first born child after the paternal grandfather.</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">I\u2019ve never found statements like these particularly helpful from a genealogical standpoint. Tendencies like these are clues and clues are sometimes helpful, but they aren\u2019t hard evidence of a connection.</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">One reason is that often these statements are made without reference to any study in which they were \u201cdiscovered\u201d or what analysis was done to reach the conclusion regarding why the percentage is accurate, etc. The source of the statement is often one missing element in these posts. Numbers without data to back them up are truly meaningless.<br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">Even if there is a study to back up the number, one always has to wonder how the study was conducted, how samples were obtained, how random the samples actually were, how representative of the entire population the extracted items were, etc. etc. Is the study really applicable to my research, the family I am working on? Were certain records used that inherently have some bias or tend to only mention members of a certain socio-economic group? That always makes me wonder how applicable the percentage is to my research.</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">And therein lies the real problem.</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">Let\u2019s say that 75% of families from a certain ethnic background name the oldest son for the paternal grandfather and that this statement comes from a repeatable study that is done using sound research practices. What does that mean for me and my research? It means that I can use the oldest child\u2019s name as a clue as to who the paternal grandfather is. That\u2019s it. It is not proof. And frankly it really doesn\u2019t matter from the standpoint of my research whether the percentage is 60%, 80% or 95%. I can use the fact that there is a tendency to possibly guide my research, but personally in most cases, I\u2019m better off using local records and sources to guide my research.<br style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:0px;text-align:initial;max-width:100%">And rarely does anyone who makes claims provide any documentation of where the number comes from. What about the citation of sources in regards to numbers as well as genealogical facts?</font></p><p class="gmail-wp-block-paragraph" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;outline:0px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb(37,41,42);text-align:initial;max-width:100%"><font face="georgia, serif" style="" size="4">Statistics are intended to help us see general patterns or trends for groups as a whole. Genealogy is about proving what happened in specific instances.</font></p></div><div style="color:rgb(23,37,42)"><br></div><div><div><div><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Current offerings:</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/08/12/notebook-for-genealogy-four-week-class/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Notebook AI\u2013four week class</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2026/08/16/using-ai-for-metes-and-bounds-deed-analysis/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Metes and Bounds AI\u2013one hour webinar</span></a></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Upcoming Trips:</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/mid-continent-genealogy-library-october-2025-research-trip/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Midwest Genealogy Center\u2013Independence, Missouri</span></a>--October 2026</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2025-library-of-virginia-research-trip-richmond-virginia/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Library of Virginia</span></a>--March 2027--make deposit and pay balance later</p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ready-to-Go Webinars\u2013download immediate:</span></p><ul style="color:rgb(23,37,42);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/creating-childrens-stories-from-genealogy-information/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Creating Children\u2019s Stories from Genealogy Events</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/creating-families-from-pre-1850-census-records/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Creating Families from pre-1850 Census Records</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/deedmapper-intro-and-more-deedmapper-webinars/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">DeedMapper webinars</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/rooting-around-for-farmers-and-tenants-and-laborers/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Farming Ancestor webinars\u2013landowner and non-landowner versions</span></a></p></li></ul><div><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br></font></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br>
</span></p><div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">----------------------------------------<br></font></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">Need to unsubscribe? Do so at:</font></b></div><div><b><a href="https://genealogytipoftheday.com/mailman/listinfo/genealogy_genealogytipoftheday.com" target="_blank"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">https://genealogytipoftheday.com/mailman/listinfo/genealogy_genealogytipoftheday.com<br></font></a></b></div></div><font face="georgia, serif" size="4"></font></div></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br>
</span></p><div><div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">------------------------------------<br>Michael John Neill<br>Genealogy Tip of the Day</font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">PO Box 17, Henderson, IL 61439</font></div></div></div><div><a href="http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com/" target="_blank"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4">http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com</font></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div>