Does anybody know where I can get my family tree for free?

Question

I would use Ancestry.com, but you can't get the Family Tree for Free

Answer 1

As I keep saying, "Have you tried your local public library?". Of course, this works in the U.S. The only library I have been to outside of the U.S. was in Germany!

So, try:

Oh, yes!  I want it, and I want it now, and it must be free.  Does that about sum it up? (I hope so, because that is what I always want...)

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

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "getting" your family tree, but if you would like to search for family trees, try Rootsweb, its free:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/...

If you are looking for family tree software, you can download free PAF 5.2 Family History Software from this site:

http://www.familysearch.org/

If you are interested in researching your ancestors, this site has links and descriptions for the popular free sites:

http://www.tedpack.org/yagenlinks.html

I hope this helps in what you're looking for.

Answer 3

Sorry, but you are somewhat confused about family "trees".  They are not something you "get" like ready made dinner at the store. Ancestry has files that people submit..but it also has far more, ie census records.

Contrary to belief, you can't (and should not be able) to type in your name and find your ancestry.  ID thieves would have TOTAL FIELD DAY if that were possible. Your preliminary search involves using personal records from home, ie your birth certificate, your parent's birth records, etc.

You CAN find many of your ancestors online.. but they will not always be packaged up together.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

If you are interested in your ancestry, you might take a bit of time to browse this guide (there are many others online). It explains different records you can use, to trace your family. Like  any valid hobby, there are always some costs involved.

Answer 4

When i did mine I did it in Microsoft format.

This person married.-?

      1)kids

      2)kids

and so on.

Another thing my family did was had a big gigantic board designed and filled in the names.

Answer 5

Your public library might have a subscription to Ancestry.Com you can use.  You should check out the genealogy area of your public library anyway.I believe Ancestry.Com is the best for the amount of records they have online.  

Just don't take as absolute fact everything you see in their family trees or the family trees on ANY website, free or paid.  The information is subscriber submitted and mostly not documented or poorly documented.  You might see different information on the same people from different subscribers. Then you will see repeatedly the same info from different subscribers on the same people, but that is no guarantee at all it is correct.  A lot of people copy without verifying.  The information should only be used as CLUES as to where to get the documentation.

A good free source is a Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church. They have records on people all over the world, not just Mormons.  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.  Just call them or visit their free website at FamilySearch.org to find out their hours for the general public.

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.

First of all, you should get as much information from living family as possible, particularly your senior members. Tape them if they will let you.  They probably will be confused on some things, but what might seem to be insignificant story telling you wouldn't bother to write down might turn out to be very significant.  

Find out if any has any old family bibles.  Ask to see and make copies of birth, marriage and death certificates and depending on the faith, baptismal, first communion, confirmation and marriage certificates can be valuable.  All of those records usually contain parent information.

Genealogy is not a cheap hobby but you might get a start before you need to spend money.  Also just because it is online doesn't mean it is accurate, not by a long shot.

Cyndi'sList.Com has a large multitude of websites, some free, some paid, that can be helpful in genealogy.

Just don't get too invovled in surnames.  In Europe most people did not have one until the last melennium.  Once they took a surname, it wasn't impossible for legitimate sons of the same man to each have a different surname. Still they could have each shared their surname with others not in their family.  They are helpful in helping you to identify people and before they had them it is almost impossible.