With a Little Help From Friends

 

Lately, I've been clearing out some saved files from family history correspondence years ago. When I say years ago, I do mean that: from the 1990s. In retrospect, I'm amazed at how much we all relied on friends helping friends during those earlier years of online genealogical research. Granted, now there is so much more that is instantly accessible online. Believe me, when I pulled out a twenty-five year old record on all the steps required to order information from the National Archives, that realization was instantaneous. 

Research connections weren't just between individuals and institutions. There were many fellow researchers out there who were willing to share what knowledge they had gained during their own research struggles. Examples of such notes were among those saved in my files. Those genealogy friends' guidance was sometimes priceless during those years of limited—but gradually expanding—resources.

Now that I'm stuck on this research question about Anna Flanagan Malloy's parents' names, the dearth of Irish records from that mid-1800s time period is calling for a work-around. And talking through that research project with some friends and family may be just the answer—or at least the salve to heal my frustrations if there are no answers to be found.

Just this week, I decided to reach out to a Flanagan researcher who had been helpful in prior years. Within less than twenty four hours, this researcher replied, sending photos and writing some memories. While we are both stuck at that mid-century mark, the information shared helped me build out some collateral lines I didn't have before. Filling in these blanks may enable me to play a "what if" game regarding the Flanagan DNA matches I do have, to answer the question of whether the James Flanagan who stayed on in County Limerick was emigrating Anna's brother—or cousin.

Though most of my husband's Flanagan-related DNA matches are distant relationships, if I can connect enough of the collateral lines on the family tree, perhaps I can use the "What Are the Odds" program at DNA Painter to calculate the most probable relationship. With a little more precise information and just the right tool, I may be able to foil this Irish records stand-still, after all.