What is the most effective way to be sure of your family lineage ?

Question:My great grandmother has us believing that our family through her are directly related to Ben Franklin- (her maiden name is Franklin)
She was born in the early 1800s.
I was informed by an individual who worked on family trees that in fact we were in a direct line with Ben's uncle, also named Ben Franklin. He stated that my great grand mother was Ben's 1st cousin 5 generations removed with common ancestor Thomas Franklin and Jane White, Ben's grandparents.

How can I be crystal clear sure that this is true?

I have heard that the Mormans are a good source.

I'm aware that if I actually find out that it is true - combined with $2.00 , I'll get a ride on the subway.....

Thanks all for your ideas.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My great grandmother has us believing that our family through her are directly related to Ben Franklin- (her maiden name is Franklin)
She was born in the early 1800s.
I was informed by an individual who worked on family trees that in fact we were in a direct line with Ben's uncle, also named Ben Franklin. He stated that my great grand mother was Ben's 1st cousin 5 generations removed with common ancestor Thomas Franklin and Jane White, Ben's grandparents.

How can I be crystal clear sure that this is true?

I have heard that the Mormans are a good source.

I'm aware that if I actually find out that it is true - combined with $2.00 , I'll get a ride on the subway.....

Thanks all for your ideas.

In one word...
Documentation. Always. Without fail.
Us genealogy nuts patiently try to explain that you start from you and your parents, and use documentation (even when you "know"). Then, you move to the next generation, doing the same.
If you work it RIGHT, you'll always have that proven line back to you, and build on it.
Many people do not like hearing it, but it is known that there are many errors in LDS files, which are submitted by church members. On the other hand, their library has the world's largest collection of microfilmed original records (ie court files, so forth). It is up to the researcher to know how to best use these reliably. Some early published genealogical books have errors, since it was harder to get to the original records.
Your friend should be able to point out to you, if he has made efforts to use quality documentation for his files. If he copied it from someone else, with no verification, it can have problems.
p.s. I make more friends doing this than watching Maury.

the mormons are good if you have family that were mormon. they don't have records on everyone.the only way to know for certain is to do your own time consuming and expensive geneological trail background check. if your family has records to show already lineage, don't sweat it.

There is only one way do the tree, work back generation at a time, double checking when ever possible and using original sources, and NEVER EVER make assumptions, you almost certainly will be wrong.

Good luck and good hunting.

Have to agree with Benthebus. The only way to be sure is to work backward, generation to generation.
My father spent years working on our family tree. As he was interested in history it was more a hobby than anything else. Luckily he lived in upstate New York and the courthouses hadn't been destroyed during the war. He was able to trace our ancestry back to 1640 in New York state.
Of course nowadays with the Internet it will be easier, but is probably still going to be major undertaking.

I want to second the most important thing - documentation and obnoxious notes. Yes, start with YOU, then your parents and work back from there. If you have a previously generated family tree, of course use that as a basis, clue if you will. But even if you know the person who generated this tree, I can almost guarantee if you ask "how do you know this" about some particular relationship a couple generations down the line, you will get the deer in the headlights look as they realize they can't remember. And I too am guilty...I don't have such notes from the first year or two (waaaay back when) I started doing this. And it irritates the heck out of me.

So start with you, then your parents, then concentrate on the line you feel is heading for Ben Franklin if that is your goal. And verify as best you can each step - and document, document, make obnoxious notes at every step.

Also, and welcome to the world of genealogy, you just might find a mistake, which would mean throwing away not just that person but all prior generations associated with that person. That's the way it is unfortunately - and yes, it does hurt when you have to do it. But the ultimate goal is to learn, have fun, as to the best of your ability, get it right.