Comments on: Where can I learn about my family tree online?

By: Nancy P

Nancy P — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:43:41 +0000

There are various sites which provides information about how to create a family tree. You can start with yourself, then add your parents, your grand parents. You can extract information about members of your family tree from a number of sources. Many sites maintains a database where you can find relevant information. Here are a few sites which will guide you:

http://www.familysearch.org
http://www.rootsweb.com
http://www.ancestry.com
http://www.cyndislist.com
http://www.genealogy.com
http://www.tribaljunction.com

Best of luck for your research!

By: alexienicholeromanov

alexienicholeromanov — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:43:41 +0000

Your question is kinda vague but its best to start you family tree with yourself, then your parents, and then their parents (your grandparents). Then you may find something on one of several sites

http://www.familysearch.org (free)
http://www.ancestry.ca (14day free trial)
http://www.ancestry.com (14day free trial)

http://www.rootsweb.com has alot of message boards for almost every state, country, etc and alot of message boards for surnames.

By: Shirley T

Shirley T — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:43:41 +0000

There are lots of websites. Cyndi’slist.com will give you a multitude of them, free and paid.

Now, you must be very careful not to take as absolute fact everything you see in family trees on ANY website, free or paid. The information is subscriber submitted and mostly not documented or poorly documented. Even if you see the same information repeatedly by many different subscribers that is no guarantee at all it is correct. A lot of people copy without verifying. The informtion can be useful as CLUES as to where to get the documentation. Don’t expect to find your complete family tree unless a relative has researched it and put it online. You might find some of your family lines. You probably will not find information about living people in any of the trees as it is considered a violation of privacy and can lead to identity theft.

I feel for its records, Ancestry.Com is the best. They have all the U.S. censuses through 1930. The 1940 and later are not available to the public yet. They also have U. K. censuses. They have immigration records. They have indexes to a lot of vital records.

If it is too pricey, your public library might have a subscription to it you can use. Actually, you need to check out the genealogy area of your public library.

A Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church has records on people all over the world, not just Mormons.
Just call them or visit their free website, FamilySearch.org, to find out their hours for the general public. In Salt Lake City, they have the world’s largest genealogical collection. Their Family History Centers can order microfilm for you to view at a nominal fee.

I haven’t ever had them to try and convert me or send their missionaries by to ring my doorbell. I haven’t heard of them doing that to anyone else that has used their resouces.

First, though, you should get as much information from living family as possible, particularly senior members. Tape them if they will let you. It might turn out they are confused on some things, but what might seem to be insignificant story telling might later be very significant.

Good Luck!

By: TaylorProud

TaylorProud — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:43:41 +0000

Most people start by writing down all that they already know about their family, names, birthdays, death dates etc.
Interview all the elder family members you can, take good notes. Being a Genealogist is kinda like being a detective.
You have to list all the clues and put them together with facts and come up with a genealogy line with sources.
So taking good notes is part of it.
Then ask your local public library if they have a genealogy section or branch or if there is a local family history library or historical society, and go there and take all your notes for help.
Many public libraries offer Ancestry.com for free.
as well as other online " pay " sites. Remember that everything you find out about your family online is just a clue.
because there is alot of info online that is NOT correct so most genealogist will tell you to do your own work and research it to prove that what you find is correct beyond a reasonable doubt.
Get copies of marriages, death certificates and other documentation to back up your finds.
Most of us started out with a binder which eventually turned into file cabinets. Keeping your finds documented is the hardest. Invest in a good genealogy software program to keep track of what you find and keep your sources straight from the get go. Familysearch.org offers PAF for free and
Legacy family tree has a FREE Standard VERSION.
Try one of those ! and happy hunting…