Using Facebook for Jamaican Genealogy Research

1/8/2015

Facebook is an amazing resource that can be used to network with amateur and professional genealogists. In addition, it can be used to connect with living family members. Here are a few tips on how to use Facebook genealogy groups.

There are numerous Facebook (FB) groups and pages dedicated to Jamaican genealogy. Two key groups are Jamaica Reunited & Jamaican Genealogy Resources.

Jamaica Reunited is a Facebook group that assists members with genealogy research for free. The objective of the group is to assist with research towards connecting Jamaicans worldwide. The primary focus is to connect living family members however, the group often does ancestral research as well. Group members submit requests to the group leader with details for a "project". The project once accepted is added to a list and the group leader conducts research for the project along with any members that volunteer.

Jamaican Genealogy Resources is a resource for anyone researching Jamaican genealogy on Facebook. The site is a "library" of resources and references for Jamaican genealogy researches at all levels. It is a space for researchers to learn from each other and obtain various perspectives. Group members are encouraged to share their tips, experience & resources.

When joining a FB group be sure to read description so you know what the group's focus is before joining. If the description fits your interests then select "Join Group". You can always leave the group if you do not find it beneficial.

_ JOINING A GROUP

PHOTOS & FILES

Once you are approved and have access to the group always check the "Photos" and "Files" section before making any queries. The information you are looking for may already be there.

The photos are usually set up in "Albums" .

Most groups have collections of record images for various family lines or time periods within their ''Albums''.

The "Files" sections often have group rules and or reference materials which can be downloaded or viewed on line.

You can also search a word on the group timeline by using the "Search this group" feature.

POSTING TIPS

Start a new post for a new topic/query.
Be clear when making queries. If you are looking for information provide as much information as possible i.e. Name of individual, dates of birth/death/marriage or approximate if possible. Provide the names of siblings, children or parents if possible. Identify the parish if the group you are posting in is not a ''Parish'' group.
Indicate what sources you have previously checked to avoid duplicating efforts.
Tag people when responding within a post with multiple participants. i.e Mary, Sue and Jane make comments and you want to respond to Sue's comment use Sue's name when responding to her.
Help others in their search - it's a great way to learn!

Don't

Piggyback on existing posts when addressing a different topic. It makes the thread hard to follow. Consider that the post may be read several months later and it may be out of context.
Don't go off on tangents. Remember that Facebook is a public forum. Review your post before hitting enter.
Don't just sit back and wait for results. If you can, participate in your own search project. Ask group members lots of questions so you can learn as the research progresses.
Don't "Like" every post. Every "Like" created a notification to the group Administrators. It can be annoying to receive 12 notifications in a row for post "Likes" especially if someone manages multiple groups. Be selective about what you "Like".

Create a New Post
To create a new post click on "Discussion" and then enter your text where it says "Write Post".

NOTIFICATIONS & MESSAGES

Notifications
Facebook appears to have become sporadic in notifying group members of new posts to groups and pages of which we are members. The globe at the top of your Facebook page lets you know when new posts have been added to groups/pages that you are a member of.

However, recently I have noticed that this is not always the case. I am not sure way this has changed but I noticed that I am seeing numbers beside the group names to the left of the page. These numbers indicate new posts since you last visited the group.

Messages
When you receive a new message you will get a message notification as shown below.

There are two types of messages. ''Inbox'' and ''Other''. Inbox messages are from people who are identified as your ''Friends'' on FB and ''Other'' messages are from people who are not connected with you as ''FB Friends'' .

When you click on the notification you will see how many messages are in you ''Inbox'' and ''Other'' messages. the ''Inbox'' message indicator is black and the ''Other'' indicator'' will be greyed out.

To view the ''Other'' messages simply click on ''Other''. The ''Inbox indicator will now be greyed out and the ''Other'' indicator will be black & you can review the messages below the header.

You can also use the message feature to try to connect with living relatives. Use the search bar to search a particular surname. You can add a country as well i.e. Jamaica. Then you can send each individual a query to see if you can make connections. Keep in mind that this is a bit of a long shot. You message will appear in the ''Other'' messages of the recipient so they many not notice it right away (or ever). However, over time you will be sure to have a few responses.

GENERAL

Remember that Facebook is a public forum so the information you post is accessible to all group members. However, this is also an advantage. Sharing your family tree and genealogy research increases your chances of connecting with others researching the same family lines or even living cousins!

Don't expect miracles, be patient. For the most part group members are not professionals and although many are very experienced, in general genealogy research can be a lifelong exercise. If they choose to assist you, they are volunteering their time so don't abuse their generosity. The evolution of your family tree could be a very long process and will often take more time than group members who do not have a direct connection can give.

Researchers can only get results based on the information provided and information available. Remember, those assisting you do not have the full picture of your family, only you do. The best researcher is YOU. When doing your own research you may identify leads that someone else might dismiss because of the limited information they have such as related surnames etc. connected to your family.

FACEBOOK JAMAICAN GENEALOGY GROUPS

GROUPS BY PARISH
Clarendon
Hanover
Kingston
Manchester
Portland
St. Andrew
St. Ann

St. Catherine
St. Elizabeth
St. James
St. Mary
St. Thomas
Trelawny
Westmoreland

MIGRATION - Jamaicans Elsewhere

GROUPS BY SURNAME

OTHERS

A current list of other FB Jamaican Genealogy Groups can be found in the Facebook Jamaican Genealogy Resources group.

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IMPORTANT: The success of your research project will depend on the accuracy of what you know and what information is available. Therefore the results cannot be guaranteed. Genealogy findings based on documentation can in some instances be subjective. The results of the research may not completely fulfill your goals if you know very little about the individual(s) being researched , if there are inaccuracies in the information provided or if there is limited or restricted related documentation. Clients must be prepared for unexpected results and 1st Generation Genealogy cannot be held responsible for unforeseen results.

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