Any ancestry sites that are free but not crappy?

Question

Any ancestry sites that are free but not crappy?

Answer 1

The Government Document section of your local public or academic library has US Census Records on microfilm from 1790 to 1930.  After interviewing relatives and taking a peek at the family bible, that's a good place to start.  Most libraries also have a subscription to Ancestry.com.

Many surnames also have family history boards on line.  The Latter Day Saints' web site, http://www.familysearch.org , is free to the public, but in order to perform a search, the on line researcher needs to have a particular name and date in mind.

Answer 2

mytrees.com or kindredkonnections...you can earn search time by entering info for them...

Answer 3

No matter what site you use, it will require much effort on your part AND the ability to tell what is correct and what is not.

Try these:

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 4

Cyndi'slist.com has a multitude of sites helpful in genealogy, free and paid.

The best for its records but it is not free is Ancestry.Com. Your public library might have a subscription to it.  They have all the U.S. censuses through 1930. The 1940 and later are not available to the public yet.  They have U.K. censuses also.  They have immigration records. They also indexes on various states' vital records.

Now, don't take as absolute fact everything you see in family trees on their website, or ANY website, free or paid.  The trees are subscriber submittted and mostly not documented.  You might see different information on the same people from different subscriber. Then you will see repeatedly the same information on the same people from different subscribers. That is no guarantee at all it is correct. A lot of people copy without verifying.  The information can be valuable as clues as to where to get the documentation.

Rootsweb and FamilySearch.org are 2 good free sites as they give good "how tos" on genealogy.

Another great free source is a Family History Centers at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church.  They have records on people all over the world, not just Mormons. You should call 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 have never 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 resources.  They are just very nice and helpful.