Ancestor Research Help!?

Question

I've always wanted to research my distant relatives. I know one of 'em lived in Newport Kentucky shortly after WW2. I've looked at about 50 Kentucky public record web sites but they all cost money. Does anybody know where I can find some info for free? Thanks for any help : )

Answer 1

Some of my ancestors came from Kentucky, but that was about 200 years ago. There are free Kentucky genealogy websites that you can access for free. Just google "kentucky genealogy societies" or "woodford county genealogy society" (or whatever county).

Since you state "shortly after WW2", methinks that you do not mean ancestors, but cousins. At any rate, here are some other sites:

You should start by asking all your living relatives about family history.  Then, armed with that information, you can go to your public library and check to see if it has a genealogy department.  Most do nowadays; also, don't forget to check at community colleges, universities, etc.  Our public library has both www.ancestry.com and www.heritagequest.com free for anyone to use (no library card required).

Another place to check out is any of the Mormon's Family History Centers.  They allow people to search for their family history (and, NO, they don't try to convert you).

A third option is one of the following websites:

http://www.searchforancestors.com/...

http://www.censusrecords.net/?o_xid=2739...

http://www.usgenweb.com/

http://www.census.gov/

http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://www.ukgenweb.com/

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.familysearch.org/

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/...

http://www.cyndislist.com/

http://www.geni.com/

Cyndi's has the most links to genealogy websites, whether ship's passenger lists, ancestors from Africa, ancestors from the Philippines, where ever and whatever.

Of course, you may be successful by googling: "john doe, born 1620, plimouth, massachusetts" as an example.

Good luck and have fun!

Check out this article on five great free genealogy websites:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Then there is the DNA test; if you decide you want to REALLY know where your ancestors came from opt for the DNA test. Besides all the mistakes that officials commonly make, from 10% to 20% of birth certificates list the father wrong; that is, mama was doing the hanky-panky and someone else was the REAL father. That won't show up on the internet or in books; it WILL show up in DNA.

I used www.familytreedna.com which works with the National Geographics Genotype Program.

Answer 2

If they are deceased, you can search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) to get their birth and death date. Here is the link, its free

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bi...

Answer 3

The US Gen Web started in Kentucky. It is free.

http://www.kygenweb.net/counties/selecti...

You'd have to find out what county Newport is in, though.

Answer 4

Get the free trial from Ancestry.com.  You will be able to access all the census records online.  If you cancel before the trial ends, they won't bill you.