How do I trace my family tree if my gran was an orphan?
I take it your Gran was married, so she must have had a birth certificate. Can you trace that? Also her marriage certificate should give some clues. Always start with what you know. Go to your mother or father, depending on what side Gran is from, then ask for their birth certificate… work back from there. Their certificate will give you Gran’s details at the time of their birth. Then it’s a case of playing detective, one step at a time. You will have to go back to the orphanage and check their records. If Gran is still with you, maybe she can do that for you as she would be entitled to know. If not, maybe Mum or Dad can do it as the child of Gran. Don’t be put off, just take it one step at a time and fill it all out as you go. Keep a record of your sources, i.e. wherever you found or heard the information, dated and verified. Also write down any family stories and who told them. They may provide valuable clues as you go. It is best to start as you mean to continue, so why not downlo
