Family Tree - Where do i go from here?

Question

I have got as far as i can with my family tree.

What can I do now to find out more? Besides the obvious answer of asking family

Answer 1

Family tree research is never done, but good for you!  You've made a great start!

Next step for me was to decide which "branch" of the tree I wanted to focus on, and dig in!  For me, it was an easy decision, I focused first on the branch where there was a lady who had been documenting everything by hand for 50+ years, at every single family reunion, and she wasn't getting any younger!  She was a tremendous help for many years and still as, as she can confirm whether facts I found were true for that specific branch of the family, she is still local to where the huge family started out, and she provided many oral histories as well.  If you have any family members like her, take advantage of them - - she thoroughly enjoyed the fact that someone else was truly interested, and really got into the project!

It seems best to focus on one branch at a time, because that way you can trace back more easily without forgetting key facts that will help you on a specific family's research.  If you have written down all the way back to your grandparents already, for example, try finding their parents.  Then try finding your great-great grandparents, etc.

There are many free websites you can use to get started:

familysearch.org

cyndislist.org

rootsweb.ancestry.com

ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com

findagrave.com

interment.net

Document every fact along the way, as best you can.  You'll be referring back to those facts more than you realize now.

I hope this helps!  Good luck!

Answer 2

What does "as far as I can go" mean? Have you located vital records - birth, marriage, and death - as well as obituaries, census records, burial locations and gravestone photos, WWI draft registration and military service information if applicable for each direct ancestor and their siblings?  

Answer 3

http://www.ancestry.com/

try this :-) :-)

Answer 4

Well, a person should always get as much info from family as possible if they have family available.

Have you tried 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.

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 either.

There are many many websites. Some have family trees(be cautious). Some have records and some have mailing lists and message boards.

I believe Ancestry.Com has the most records on line.  If you find it too pricey, your public library might have a subscription to it you can use.  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 through 1901. They have military and immigration records and indexes of vital records of many states.

Just don't take as absolute fact everything you see in family trees on their website, or ANY website, free or not free. The trees are subscriber submitted (by folks like you and me) and they are mostly not documented or if so, poorly documented.  You might see different information on the same people from different subscribers. Then you will see repeatedly the same info on the same people from different subscribers, but that is no guarantee at all it is correct.  It is obvious a lot of people copy without verifying.  The information can be useful as CLUES as to where to get the documentation. Don't expect to find living people in the family trees as that is considered an invasion of privacy and can lead to identity theft.

I agree with Wendy, this board has a lot of good researchers on it and many have access to many files.  Anytime you come to a brickwall, you should ask a question and be as specific as possible.  You might be surprised how somebody might just knock open that brickwall.

Answer 5

Defining what you mean, is important to figuring out what you need, and was not rude. In all of your research, you will find that being explicit is the best (only) way to get help.

Since you state that you have so far used your own knowledge.. this indicates that you may not be using records/ documents.  Your research is going to be based in those records, since clearly, you may not have family to ask, or they won't know any more than you do. Even information that you have, is subject to verification. You would be amazed how many people find that what they were 'told' is not factual, and this blocks them knowing the next place to search.

Another important thing... when posting (anywhere), you need to include all the details you have. For example.. I would normally suggest using the social security death index to someone looking for a death date.. but that will not apply to someone not in the US.

Census records are a key factor for research.  For the UK, that is only open UP TO 1901.  You may not have info back that far. If you don't, you need documents about the individual person, which will have a date/ location.

There are many persons on board here (both US and UK) who may be able to help, including "lookups".  My advice is to post a person (must be dead), and what it is that you are looking to find. Death date? marriage record? name of parents? Since any of that is variable depending on dates.. this is basic to answering your need.  

Answer 6

As the first answer,join htpp://www.ancestry.co.uk. Put in the knowledge you already have & then start working backwards by checking BMD dates & opening the census forms to make sure you have the right connections.You can get a 14 day free trial but be warned it can be addictive & if you go over your time it will cost you £80 something for the year.Census forms start in 1841 to 1901 so if you are looking for relatives born after 1901 you will have to wait till 2012,but you should be able to find BMD dates after 1901.

Answer 7

You are obviously in the UK from the Union Flag.

Did you know that every County has a Family History Society and all the names being researched by each Member is published?

For example, if I go into the site for the Bristol & Avon Family History Society, (of which I am a Member) I will find an option to click on "Members' Interests" and bring these up on the screen.

You might find that a distant cousin is already busy ferreting out info about your family name.

Also, have you tried entering the  Family name and location into Google?  e.g. Brown family - Bath

Many people have published their Tree information on web sites - you could just strike lucky

Membership of a F.H.S. is very useful - most cost around £10 per annum - you receive a quarterly magazine and have the opportunity to ask the Society's "Agony Aunt" about any problems.

Answer 8

Your family will have the best knowledge for you to go and get the rest.