No genealogical work is free from assumptions. Records are incomplete, inconsistent, and often silent about the very things that matter most. This project acknowledges that reality rather than pretending otherwise.
This page explains the kinds of assumptions that may appear in this work—and why they are made openly.
Why Assumptions Are Sometimes Necessary
Families lived full lives long before documentation became routine or reliable. Even in well-recorded eras, key details are frequently missing.
When records fall short, research must rely on context, pattern, and probability—not guesswork, but informed reasoning.
Common Types of Assumptions Used Here
Assumptions in this project typically fall into a few categories:
- Household continuity — assuming individuals listed together repeatedly are related unless evidence suggests otherwise
- Naming patterns — recognizing traditional reuse of given names across generations
- Geographic proximity — favoring nearby locations over distant ones when records conflict
- Generational timing — using reasonable age ranges when dates are missing
These assumptions are not conclusions. They are working frameworks.
What Assumptions Do Not Replace
Assumptions never override direct evidence. When a record contradicts an assumption, the record takes precedence.
Likewise, assumptions are never used to force connections where evidence consistently resists them.
How Assumptions Are Communicated
Assumptions are reflected in tone rather than hidden behind certainty. You may notice language that signals probability rather than proof.
- Phrases that indicate likelihood instead of fact
- Open acknowledgment of gaps or uncertainty
- Alternatives left visible rather than erased
This is intentional. Confidence is earned through clarity, not certainty.
Why This Matters
Unspoken assumptions are where genealogical errors multiply. By naming them, this project allows readers to evaluate conclusions for themselves.
You are invited to agree, question, or revisit them as new information emerges.
A Closing Thought
Assumptions are not flaws when they are visible, reasonable, and revisable. They are part of thinking carefully in an imperfect historical record.