Margaret Aldridge

Margaret Aldridge has over 35 years experience; Vital statistics registrations, Census records, Public Archives; All Willoughby families. She is a member of Ontario Genealogical Society; Involved in IT field for over 25 years, able to assist with most genealogical software packages and Internet searching; Margaret Aldridge has been an instrumental work-horse in First Nation research issues in Ontario.
Recipient of the Brian W. Hutchison Scholarship Award for 2007.

MFT: What got you interested in Genealogy and family research?

MA: I started doing genealogy research as a school project in the 6th grade.  We were required to complete four generations (if we were able to) and at that time my grandmother and great-grandmother were alive.  It amazes me that on some lines the information that they provided to me at that time is still the end of the lines; how I wished I had asked for more information and asked different questions.

MFT: In your opinion, what are the 3 best genealogy websites for research purposes?

MA: I have several sites that I use repeatedly: FamilySearch, Ancestry.com and Genforum.

FamilySearch gives you the ability to search records and the LDS Church has done an amazing job of recording records and making the information available.
Ancestry.com allows you to connect with other researchers as well as search various record repositories.
Genforum allows you to post queries and see what others are seeking.
There are many other notable sites: Rootsweb, Cyndi's list, FreeBMD and others specific to areas of research, locations and specific interests.

MFT: You have done extensive research on the First Nations genealogy, could DNA help trace this group lineage?

MA: Yes, there are already projects under way for various DNA testing amongst First Nation communities.  Some involve members along the east coast of Canada and the USA, but there has been testing amongst other individuals.

 

The cost has come down considerably (<$100) and a few leader's in the field are starting to emerge - The National Geographic "Genographic Project", Sorenen, GeneTree - what they offer is a community of individuals who show similar markers.

MFT: What do you consider to be the best Genealogy software?

MA: Paf (offered by the LDS Church) is available as a free download from their site and very sufficient for a beginner.  FTM is used by many genealogists and the latest versions tie directly into searching and adding records and sources into your database.  Ancestry.com has now developed and offered a means of creating databases within the Ancestry structure (assuming you have a membership) so it really depends on how much you wish to invest in this endeavor.

MFT: When researching family history, what are the biggest challenges you have faced?

MA: The privacy act has added a new twist to the genealogy field.  It has added difficulty to searching the 20th century and created what I like to call "the 20th century hurdle."  It is approximately 100 years to reach back to the 1911 census and begin to access the public records.  For individuals who were adopted, fostered or otherwise removed from family settings and wish to pursue their roots, this is a tremendous hurdle.

MFT: Thank you so much for this wonderful insight. I asked for this interview as I respect what you have done for the First Nations, and Genealogy. I am certain our readers come away from this with a better knowledge of online Genealogy.

To know more about Margaret and her services, you can find her with the Association of Professional Genealogists, Margaret Aldridge.

This concludes our interview with Genealogist Margaret Aldridge.