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Genealogic nuclear theory
by Arie Marchal  06-02-1997

Original version: 30-01-1996

Summary

In each  archive or genealogical collection I see  a genealogical world. In this world I find  many GENEAMATERIAL as church records, deeds of transfers, notarial deeds etc. If we  examine  such GENEAMATERIAL, we observe  that in this are a lot of  GENEAMOLECULES. An example of this is a registered baptism. Within such GENEAMOLECULE we can distinguish several  GENEATOMS  just like in the chemistry. How this GENEAMOLECULES are divided up in GENEATOMS will be treated in this article. I hope with this to give science a small help step. Chemistry began also just turning well, when  the nuclear theory was launched.

Introduction

Since approximately 1982 I gathered experience with trying to fix genealogical information. This brought me the insight, to look  very critically to look at the set-up of the several systems. To this end I examined several genealogical programmes and of course also the software developed by the Stichting Geschiedkunde de Maaskentj (S.G.M.) at Stein.  After that in 1982 the foundation of the pedigree programme has been laid GIS (genealogical information system), in 1988 we  started with entering information from genealogical sources such as church records  etc. This happened with GRIS system (genealogisch recording and information system). In 1994, to incorporate larger and more complicated files we developped SOS (systematic research system). In 1995, this has been extended and has been set up the LAPIS system (Limburgs Archief  Publieksgericht Informatie Systeem). The name LAPIS is also a wink to Stein (Lapis is stone in Latin and stone is stein in our dialect) , the cradle of much genealogical activites.All these developments have been now incorporated/replaced in/by the GenDaWin database system.

Theory

In the GENEALOGISCHE NUCLEAR THEORY I want to define the smallest entity of genealogical information as GENEATOM. The GENEATOM can  we consider as a point in the fourth dimension.  The  GENEATOM consist of  the following four entities

bullet1 Who
bullet2 As What
bullet3 Where
bullet4 When

All  these four components are necessary for completeness . Incomplete information is also possible but if only one component is known, this is insufficient to be significant .

The next level of genealogical information is the GENEAMOLECULE. GENEAMOLECULE is a combination of one or more GENEATOMS.  An example of a GENEAMOLECULE is a baptism which has been registered in a register. Here are where  and when entity of the different GENEATOMS equal, but  of course  who and as what enttities are different. Always have to be mentioned always the source t.o whom the  GENEAMOLECULE  belongs. If theregistrar of a GENEAMOLECULE does not call himself explicitly,  can be there nevertheless also a GENEATOM be present implicit within a GENEAMOLECULE present, fFor example from the handwriting  becomes clear that a certain person made this registration.

If we want to create an ideal system to store genealogical data of a person (and to be able from that research to make  "pedigrees"), then we must realise that the course of live of can be described by a series GENEATOMS. This is  therefore more asthe  three that are frequently used. I refer here to birth, marriage and death. But all kinds of activities of a person which are set out in sources are usefull as GENEATOMS of this person.  Sometimes of a person only one  or some GENEATOMsN are known. Of course, it also happens or that a person  dozens of times is mentioned  in an notarial  file, or in a deed of transfer register or in a land register or something similar.

A genealogical example of the application of this theory.
 Let we start with the GENEAMOLECULE of a simple baptism at Stein in 1726 such as these in the baptism register has been noted down. 1726 7 augusti baptisatus est Samuel filius legitimus Laurentii marschal et Maria hellebrants conjugum, susceptores joes hellebrants et barbara meijers.
TABLE 1

Who

As What

Where

When
Samuel Marschal Child Stein 7 august 1726
Laurentius Marchal Father Stein 7 august 1726
Maria Hellebrants Mother Stein 7 august 1726
Johannes Hellebrants Godfather Stein 7 august 1726
Barbara Meijers Godmother Stein 7 august 1726

This GENEAMOLECULE is still simple. More important is to analyse also complicated GENEAMOLECULS  in a proper way.  In Table 2 we split up a deed of transfer of the register of the sheriff of Stein (Nr 42, page180) 

TABLE 2

Who

As What

Where

When
Rut Gubbels Sheriff Stein 29 December 1699
Jan van Mulken Sheriff Stein 29 December 1699
Christoffel Marschal Party Stein 29 December 1699
Geurt Franken Counterparty Stein 29 December 1699
Renke Haegmans Bordering Meerserveldt 29 December 1699

We will examine the entities of the atoms now more closely.

AS WHAT-ENTITY

This entity is split up further in a property and a reference. Of course it is nice to know that someone has married, yet it becomes just real interesting by the reference to the other party. In This As what table therefore a dynamic link must be made with a person table. Also with a table of places  or a table of  professions  must be possible. NB If only the sources are fixed, then we can omit the mean reference.
WHO-ENTITY

This entity must refer to a name table. This contains the surnames and first names of the persons who are meant in the Geneatoms. These tables are coupled to standard names and standard first names planned himself table. Not anything else.
WHERE-ENTITY

Here should be mentioned the place wherewith  these entity is related. Therefore a baptism can occur in Elsloo and in the geneamolecule is noticed  that the baptism in Stein has been registered. Also the local place must be taken for example Meerserveldt but also the standardnaam and the name such as those now are.

WHEN -ENTITY

We take a point in the now usual gregorian chronology. If a date  is not exactly known,  we indicate  a possible area, for example between 1550 and 1600.

GENEAWORLD

How we must imagine this  GENEAWORLD? This is possible by means of a set of four lays.
bullet GENEAWORLD
 exists as a archive like RAL, Stadsarchief Sittard-Geleen, Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie. 
In these components of GENEAWORLD we find
bullet GENEAMATERIAL
 This contains  archivalia, such as church records Stein 1680-1715, Deeds of Transfer (Gichtregister) inventory 42 Stein, Notarial  etc. 
In this are present
bullet GENEAMOLECULES
 This is for example a registered baptism or a transfer at a notary. Such activity has been built by
bullet GENEATOMS
 like a baptised child or  father, mother etc. Or a sheriff mentioned in a deed or a neighbour.
Or a party or counterparty at a transfer. Or the notary himself.

NB
It must be possible tot take also persons of which the data are not complete.For example with a birth date which lies for GENEAMOLECULE  date. Even if a place of birth should be lacking,  then we take here an unique fictitious place. Afterwards can you gather by means of selections the matter and so produce new insights.
Martin Pfeifer suggested that it would be useful to  distinguish between passive and active geneatomsn. Active geneatoms mean that someone has been personally present.  By passive geneatoms is  that  not the case. See for example the neighbour of table 2.
Finally

To describe life story course of one person , you need to make a synthesis of its geneatoms  with those of the persons related to his geneatoms.

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