Thom Sisson’s Family Tree Project

Beginning with my son, Eddie, this project traces the verified family branches that led to him. It follows biological ancestry, the families who raised and shaped us, and the names and stories that became part of our identity.

These branches cross generations, surnames, countries, and cultures. Together, they show Eddie not only where he came from, but why the people and names within this tree still matter.

Explore the family timeline View the family tree

People in verified branches70
Family branches7
Earliest recorded birth1580Michael I Sysson / Sisson
Public sources and documents0

Evidence, not just names

A family tree should contain more than names and dates. This project is being built from birth, marriage, death, census, church, immigration, and other historical records whenever they can be found. Family photographs, documents, stories, and the memories of relatives also preserve details that may never appear in an official record.

Not every connection is equally certain. Confirmed relationships are distinguished from those that remain probable, possible, disputed, or unresolved. Sources and explanations will continue to be added so future generations can understand not only what is recorded here, but why each conclusion was reached.

Artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, are helping organize information, compare names and dates, review documents, identify inconsistencies, and suggest new places to search. AI does not replace family knowledge or historical evidence, but it has become a valuable research assistant in this continuing work.

Read: Named for a Father

An ongoing project

Genealogy is not my full-time work, but it is where my attention has led me right now. I wanted this research to become more than another private tree stored on a genealogy website. By publishing it here, I can preserve what has been found, explain why certain connections matter, and make the information available to the people who may someday continue it.

This is still a developing archive. Names, dates, documents, photographs, corrections, and family stories will continue to be added as they are discovered. Anyone who recognizes a person or has information that can strengthen or correct the record is welcome to contribute.

The goal is not simply to build a larger tree. It is to build a clearer and more carefully supported one.

Submissions may be sent to genealogy@thomsisson.com.