Pedigree

Pedigree charts list the lineage or ancestry of an individual. These are the people in your family tree that you will be researching.

There are several styles of pedigree charts. For example, some display four generations of individuals and others show five generations. Most include enough space to list the birth, marriage, and death dates and/or places for each individual.

The chart starts with you and moves backward in time. For example, a four-generation chart includes you, your parents, your grandparents, and your great-grandparents -- 15 individuals in all. The ancestry of your great-grandparents can be continued on additional pedigree charts.

Pedigree charts can be downloaded for free from several Web sites, including Family Tree Magazine <www.familytreemagazine.com/forms/download.html>.