Genealogy "Rules"

When trying to validate a line of John Atte Woode, I ran across a note from a David Richardson that made a lot of sense about why all of the John Attw Woodes we have on geni.com with a middle name are not correct. At the time of this person's life, middle names <stitch> were not used. At one time, they were even illegal. As our conversation evolved, he shared with me several ways that he checks that a person is the child/parent of another. He said I could share them with y'all:

Insert the actual persons name and date, and the actual number of years should be inserted in place of xxx.

Based on a person’s birth date:

Person christened or baptized xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person’s mother or father born/christened/baptized xxx years after person’s birth date.
Person’s mother died/buried xxx years before a person’s birth date.
Person’s father died/buried xxx years before a person’s birth date minus 9 months.
[This has been a big sore spot with me as a family myth is based on William being dead for 15 years before his 'son' John was born! ?!? mgk]
Person married xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person’s spouse died/buried xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person’s children born/christened/baptized/died/buried xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person died xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person buried xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person’s will dated xxx years before person’s birth date.
Person’s probate dated xxx years before person’s birth date.

Based on a person’s christening / baptism date (could be an adult baptism):

Person died xxx years before person’s christening / baptism date. Are there baptisms after death? [No discussions of LDS christenings/baptisms, please!]
Person buried xxx years before person’s christening / baptism date.
Person’s probate dated xxx years before person’s christening / baptism date.

Based on a person’s marriage date:
Person’s mother or father born xxx years after person’s marriage date.
Person’s spouse died/buried xxx years before person’s marriage date.
Person’s children born/christened/baptized/died/buried xxx years before person’s marriage date.
Person died xxx years before person’s marriage date.
Person buried xxx years before person’s marriage date.
Person’s probate dated xxx years before person’s marriage date.

Based on a person’s will date:
Person’s mother or father born xxx years after person’s will date.
Person died xxx years before person’s will date.
Person buried xxx years before person’s will date.
Person’s probate dated xxx years before person’s will date.

Based on a person’s death date:
Person’s mother or father born xxx years after person’s death date.

HTH!