Genealogy Isn’t Guesswork: Research Tips from The Formidable Genealogist
When I began researching the life of my 11th great-grandmother, Eleanor Neale, the woman at the center of Season One of Legacy Lore, I quickly learned that genealogy is equal parts detective work, patience, and humility.
There were moments when the puzzle pieces snapped together beautifully and moments where I realized I’d been following the wrong branch for far too long because someone before me had linked misinformation and I trusted it.
If you’ve ever tried building a family tree, you know exactly how easy it is to:
click “add” because a record seems to match,
trust someone else’s public tree,
or follow a hint without checking the original document.
And suddenly you’ve built an entire story on an assumption.
That’s why I invited Jen, better known online as The Formidable Genealogist, to join me for this bonus episode. She’s a professional genealogist with years of experience helping people break through research roadblocks, verify records, and uncover truths hidden between the lines of history.
You can find her work here:
👉 https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/
Why Genealogy Requires Evidence + Not Assumptions
One of the first topics we discussed was source verification.
It’s tempting to believe that if a record “looks close enough,” it must be correct. Birth year off by one? Name spelled differently? Someone else already linked it?
Done. Click. Move on.
But that’s not true. You need to look at the records and take your time reading them to verify the information matches your ancestor.
Good research means slowing down, comparing details, and treating every record like a puzzle piece rather than a full answer.
She recommends always checking:
✔ record type
✔ location consistency
✔ timeline alignment
✔ household or witness names
✔ signatures, occupations, and land proximity
These clues often reveal whether you’ve found your ancestor or someone who simply shares their name.
Research Tools That Actually Help
One thing I love about Jen's work is that she doesn’t just talk about research she teaches it. She offers pre-recorded and Live Classes along with her digital guides break down complex platforms and methodology into manageable, clear steps.
Some of her most popular resources include:
FamilySearch Unlocked Vol. 1 — Indexed Records
FamilySearch Full-Text Search Guide
ChatGPT for Genealogy: Starting From Scratch
Supercharge Your Ancestry Searches
Let’s Talk Newspapers.com
Let’s Talk Find a Grave
Venturing Offline: Research Beyond the Internet
They’re affordable, easy to follow, and designed for both beginners and seasoned researchers.
For Those Who Want Professional Support
Jen’s services range from:
breaking a specific research wall,
identifying immigrant origins,
proving or disproving family stories,
or building broad family trees.
Her work is billed hourly at $200/hour with a 2-hour minimum, and she provides a report after that first block before moving forward — which means you only invest once you know the direction is right.
She currently has a two-year waitlist with over 200 people waiting, which speaks volumes about the trust placed in her work.
Learn more about services here:
👉 https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/services
🎧 Listen to the Episode
If you haven’t heard the full conversation yet, you can listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Final Note
If you’re inspired to start researching or to restart correctly follow Jen online. She posts free tips regularly and is an incredible guide for anyone exploring their roots:
👉 Instagram: (@TheFormidableGenealogist)
👉 Website: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com
👉 Guides: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/guides
And as always — all links are also in the show notes and on my social media.
