How to Contact Unknown Relatives
Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States, according to a report by Michigan State University Libraries. As genealogy enthusiasts trace their family trees, one vital resource they use are living relatives who may have useful information and clues to unlock the family's history. If you've interviewed all your known relatives, the next step is reaching out to unknown relatives: those distant cousins who are out there but whom you don't know. Although the idea of contacting an unknown relative reads more like an oxymoron, it is entirely possible.
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Instructions
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Read and post at genealogy message boards and forums. Some sites, such as Cousin Connect is designed to connect unknown relatives.
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Participate in a DNA surname project. This involves locating a project with your surname and having a male member of the family contribute DNA samples. Depending on the project, this can get you in contact with others who share your DNA.
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Contact the owners of family trees you find online if their tree appears to contain your ancestors. If you are a member of Ancestry.com, you can send messages to other members of the site. This allows you to easily contact owners of family trees who share some of your ancestors.
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Search for living unknown relatives by first reading newspaper obits for known family members. These articles typically list surviving family members. Note the names of those mentioned and search for them online or in area phone books.
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Join a local genealogy society and exchange information with fellow members. It really is a small world, and members who actively pursue family history may have crossed paths with others researching your line.
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Visit the church or parish of your ancestors. Church records may reveal family members still living in the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Just because a person you've never met is a relative, he or she is still a stranger. When meeting or communicating with a newly discovered relative, practice the same level of caution as you would when getting to know stranger.
