The tree serves two primary functions: the family charts, which map relationships, and personal profiles that detail an individual’s information along with their research notes.

1. The Bushong Family Tree While individual charts exist for each family member, the tree’s two main branches originate from brothers Hans John IV and Johann Nicholas. To explore, click their respective buttons at the top. This will open a comprehensive, horizontally formatted chart illustrating connections among Bushong family members, including ancestors, descendants, uncles, aunts, and cousins. For easier navigation, refer to the search tips below.
2. Person Notes – These notes serve as a collection of all available information about each individual in the Bushong family. They include sources, relationship details, and every known fact. While unedited and unorganized, they provide a raw and comprehensive archive of Bushong family history.

The Bushong United Tree and database use a few abbreviations and terms that may need clarification:

• *ANCI – If a first name includes "*ANCI," it indicates that further research is needed to identify the individuals ancestors. In other words, their parents are currently unknown.
• *Vetting – When a first name includes "*vetting," it signifies a recently established connection or relationship that still requires additional confirmation.
• "of" (Geographic Locations) – When a place includes "of" (e.g., of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania), it means the individual was associated with that location in some way but has not been definitively proven to have been born, married, or lived there.
• Brackets"<>" (Assumed Locations) – If a place is enclosed in brackets (e.g., ), it suggests that the location is assumed or suspected but has not been verified.
• Cem. (Burial Place) – If "Cem." appears in the burial location, there is evidence suggesting the person is buried there (often found in their notes), but they have not yet been located in the Find a Grave database.

• The tree is large, so to assist in navigation, use your computer's search function and type in the name you're looking for. Using a more unique surname such as a maternal maiden name or a less common first name will narrow the candidates.

• Searching for "ANCI" as a first name will return all individuals with unknown ancestry.
• Similarly, searching for "vetting" will list those whose connections need additional verification.
• Using an asterisk ("*") at the end of a name acts as a wildcard, expanding your search. For example, searching for "Bushon*" will return results for both Bushon and Bushong.