A timeline brings events and evidence together without hiding conflicts. It helps distinguish people and identify the next record to seek. Keep one row per statement, even for conflicting dates of one event.
The method, step by step
- Use columns for event date, document date, place, person, transcribed statement, citation and uncertainty. Retain approximate date wording rather than inventing an exact day.
- Sort rows and identify moves, overlaps and unexplained gaps. A conflict calls for checking transcription, calendar, namesakes or registration date. Do not silently change a source to fit the story.
- For each conflict, identify the informant, timing and purpose. Two websites repeating one transcription are not independent evidence. Seek a record capable of distinguishing the versions.
- Write a short conclusion with agreements, conflicts, proposed explanation and remaining checks. Leave the relationship unresolved if evidence is insufficient. Export the timeline with citations for review.
Worked exercise · fictional data
Two birth years: preserve and resolve the conflict
Fictional exercise: a census and a death record give different ages for Marie. You need to date her birth without automatically adopting the first calculated year. These numbers are observations to analyse, not references to real archives.
Starting records
- Census dated 10 April 1901
- Marie, age 38, with spouse Paul; birth compatible with 1862 or 1863 if accurate.
- Death dated 20 March 1930
- Marie, age 69, widow of Paul; birth compatible with 1860 or 1861 if accurate.
- Birth record to seek
- Place unconfirmed; initial search period 1860–1863.
How to analyse the records
- Transcribe dates and ages separately as recorded. An exact age of 38 on 10 April 1901 means birth between 11 April 1862 and 10 April 1863, not automatically in 1863.
- Age 69 on 20 March 1930 gives 21 March 1860 to 20 March 1861. The intervals do not overlap. Flag the conflict explicitly rather than averaging the years.
- Check identity first: spouse, place, address, children and chronological continuity. Two people sharing a first name may explain an apparent conflict. Keep both hypotheses if identity remains uncertain.
- Assess each informant and how the information was recorded. Who supplied the age at death? Was the census age reported or copied? A record close to birth addresses the question better, but must still be linked to the right Marie.
What these records support
Record “estimated birth, 1860–1863, conflicting ages” provisionally. This interval guides research; it is not an established date. Link any discovered birth record through parents, marriage or distinguishing evidence, and explain why you rejected the conflicting age.
Keep both ages and observation dates in the worksheet, mark the conflict unresolved and plan a birth search using the confirmed place.
Compare two observations →Record in your research log
- Written date
- event
- source
- contradiction
- provisional conclusion.
Frequently asked questions
How do I resolve conflicting dates?
Retain both dates and citations. Separate event and registration, identify the informant and check the image. Seek independent evidence; repeated websites do not decide accuracy.
Why not just subtract age from the year?
The birthday may not have occurred yet. Age 38 on 10 April 1901 allows 11 April 1862 through 10 April 1863 if accurate. Keep the observation date and both bounds.
Sources & references
- National Archives and Records Administration ↗ (Resource review date : )
- FamilySearch Research Wiki ↗ (Resource review date : )