Our genealogy report includes a summary and conclusion revolving around the purpose of the report. It also reviews an individual’s genealogy and includes timelines, case studies, profiles, records searched without result, an appendix, and matrixes and charts to clearly represent our findings graphically. The goal is to provide a clear and concise explanation of the information discovered and the conclusions reached.
Genealogy
An individual’s genealogy is generally reported in an ahnentafel format which is a genealogical numbering system for listing a person’s direct ancestors in a fixed sequence of ascent. This system provides a chronological historical summary of a family’s ancestors and organizes the vital records, census records, residences, work history, military service, plus other pertinent information. The subject of the ahnentafel is listed as No. 1, the subject’s father as No. 2 and the mother as No. 3, the paternal grandparents as No. 4 and No. 5 and the maternal grandparents as No. 6 and No. 7, and so on, back through the generations. Apart from No. 1, who can be male or female, all even-numbered persons are male, and all odd-numbered persons are female. In this scenario, the number of any person’s father is double the person’s number, and a person’s mother is double the person’s number plus one.
Timelines
Timelines provide the chronology of events and, as an example, to see how one person’s information compares to another’s and to determine if there are common links.
Migration Maps
Migration maps provide a graphic representation of how a family or individual moved from one place to the next. This is helpful when trying to tie someone to a particular location at a particular time, and how and when others associated with the family may have interacted. We geographically trace family history.
Historical Context Maps
Historical context maps combine where someone lived within a region, historically what occurred during that time, who was living in the vicinity, and if there are regional consistencies that may allow a sound conclusion to be reached.
Matrixes
A matrix chart displays and organizes data into relevant categories that are being evaluated. The matrix graphically shows whether the information has consistencies that allow for a sound conclusion to be reached. An extensive list of passengers over a number of years can define how often individuals traveled and with whom, to what port, and if those individuals had anything in common with others that may have caused them to travel together.
Case Studies and Profiles 
Profiles compile indirect evidence collected and evaluate it with a sound conclusion. This is based on the results from creating a genealogy, understanding the historic context, and graphically visualizing and evaluating data and geography.
Appendix
Copies of critical sources are included in the appendix to allow them to be viewed as part of the report.
I highly recommend Melick Genealogists…
I hired Melick Genealogists because I had hit a brick while researching my family history. I was trying to discover what happened to my great uncle who did not appear in the census or vital records, and disappeared early. They were able to research around these challenges to successfully create his profile and provide a work history that explained his circumstances. This opened up a whole new research avenue for me to pursue that has been yielding positive results. I highly recommend Melick Genealogists for their thoroughness and resourcefulness.
Patrick Rowan
