After reading the January issue of The Septs, I spent part of the weekend using the cluster or FAN (Family/Associates/Neighbors) technique to research. Specifically I'm trying to prove a woman named Elizabeth, born in Pennsylvania in about 1764, was the daughter of Michael and Susannah King. I've found absolutely no direct evidence--no birth, marriage or death records. I've now resorted to an analysis of all the family and neighbors to prove my theory about relationships.

One needs a way to organize and manage these clusters of data, and a spreadsheet seems the most efficient approach. But "one size doesn't fit all." The structure of the spreadsheet will depend on the type of information you're comparing. I found several helpful blogs on the subject although I know I've just scratched the surface. If you find yourself struggling with too many facts, you may find these postings helpful:

FamilyTree "Create a Personal Timeline..." by Emily Ann Croom

FamilySearch "Using Timelines to Plot Out Your Ancestor's Life"

Sorting Dates in Excel for Your Genealogical TImelines by Amy Johnson Crow

The Armchair Genealogist "Four Steps to a Family History Timeline"