The FAN concept was first coined by Elizabeth Shown Mills to emphasize the importance of researching not just our direct ancestor, but also their friends, associates, and neighbors. That’s where the acronym “FAN” comes from.
It’s a worthwhile concept, but it’s important to remember that your ancestor might not have been a literal fan of everyone in his FAN network–especially his associates and neighbors–and some of their relatives as well. There may have been associates your ancestor interacted with only when necessary. There may have been neighbors of your ancestor with whom he interacted as infrequently as possible. Your ancestor also may have had relatives with whom he interacted only when absolutely (or legally) necessary.
Think about your ancestor’s friends, associates, and neighbors, but pay close attention to how often he interacts with them and how he interacts with them. Is he interacting with them in a way that exposes him to some legal or financial risk? If so, then he likely trusts them. Is he interacting with them in a way that benefits them more than it does him? Then he may like them.
It’s also worth noting that your ancestor’s friends can change over time as well. Moves, changes in social or economic situation, or other life events can alter the nature of a friend relationship.
Use your ancestor’s FANs, but be thinking about it when you do.
3 Responses
I’ve never been a fan of the FAN network either. It didn’t do anything for me ever. NOW I’m trying to find parents for a set of brothers who came in 1637 with John Davenport and I thought the FAN thing might help. Maybe. Maybe not. So far not but I’ve only been searching about a week. Considering how many people weren’t living in New England in 1637, I expected intermarriage. Didn’t find it.
There are times where it is helpful and I certainly have a number of families who migrated from one area of the country (or world) to another area in groups–often over time. In those cases it is helpful and generally it can give a broader picture of the ancestor. I always apply it when I am stuck, but like any approach it does not work all the time.
And, like mentioned in the post, there are times where, for one reason or another, a person chooses not to interact very much with family or neighbors.
This is useful and opens the concept to broader thinking, which made me look at it differently thanks. I have found the FAN useful a few times but not always.