Family archives
Build a family timeline from source records
Put each event in order with its date, its source and your confidence in it. When two records disagree, keep both entries. A timeline that shows the conflict is more useful than a tidy sequence that hides it.
A text to start with
I am building a timeline for [person or family]. These are the events and these documents behind them: [event, date, source for each]. Some records disagree: [conflicting dates and where they appear]. Arrange the events by date, show the source and a confidence level for each, and list the conflicts side by side. Do not choose between conflicting dates.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Timeline with evidence
Person or family: [ ] Timeline version and date: [ ] Event: [ ] Date as recorded: [ ] Source and where it is kept: [ ] Type of record: [ ] Confidence and the reason for it: [ ] Conflicting record: [ ] Conflicting date: [ ] Source of the conflict: [ ] What might settle it: [ ] Who or where to ask: [ ] Status, open or settled, and the source document that settled it: [ ]
Conflicts that get smoothed away
Keep conflicting dates visible and explain the evidence behind each one. Note who supplied information, when it was produced and how directly it relates to the event; a document type alone does not determine reliability. If a claim came from another family tree, record that provenance and look for its underlying evidence. An uncited tree leaves a question to investigate. Label estimates derived from other events, and avoid selecting a date simply because it makes the sequence look tidy.
Ask another agent to check the result
Check that each event date has a traceable source and that conflicting dates remain visible. Flag confidence ratings based only on plausibility or document type. Ask who supplied the information, when and on what basis. Preserve another tree as the source of a claim while identifying missing underlying evidence.
Chase the conflicts
Investigate conflicts using the sources already available and any additional material you can find. Record what changed your assessment, including a corrected reading of an existing document. Keep prior interpretations in the notes so relatives can follow the reasoning. Update confidence with a dated explanation, then share the timeline as a working draft with unresolved questions visible.