Geanology tree?

Question

hey, um...i've always been interested in finding out about my ancestors, so i dont know if there is a site that can help me with this....if you know anything that can help me it would be appreciated!

also, is there a proffesional that can help me with this or something?

thanks!

Answer 1

There are many well experienced persons right here in this area, who love to give tips and advice on how you can find your ancestors, a couple are professionals, others not.  Helping is the whole reason for answers, and you can come back every day if you want.

As for sites.. there are thousands of them online.

http://www.cyndislist.com/beginner.htm

This is just one, but I happen to like it, since you can bookmark it and use it as a reference thing.  She collects genealogy sites.

If you pull out your birth certificate and verify who your own parents are, that is the start.  Two reasons.. ANYTHING in genealogy is always based, not on what you "know" but on finding a record or document to verify it.  The type of record changes as you get further back.. the basic rule of using documents, does not.  After a while.. you will find that people will tell you such and such.. and you will find records that show differently.  People are human, so the records are the foundation. Not to mention.. no one in your family remembers back 200 yrs.. so you would be using records anyway.  Don't throw out what they tell you, it can be part right. Just don't assume it is true.

My other personal advice is not get sidetracked that you are looking for the Jones family. It makes all the difference in the world to be SPECIFIC, like.. "I am looking for the death date for Jim Jones, who lived in Alabama in 1900, and his wife was Jane".  If you say you are researching the Jones family.. then people send all kinds of stuff about Jones in Missouri in 1972.  It would be useless for you. In other words.. look for your individual ancestors, NOT the surname.

Last.. it is not all online, and it is not all free. Yes, you can find a lot on the internet, but it is the tip of the iceberg. Many "genealogy" sites have submitted family trees, which CAN help.. but if you learn to look for RECORDS and not packaged family trees, then you'll know how to find info that no one else has.

Answer 2

Do an on line search for the word Genealogy, and you will find many sites that offer help.

Also, the software package "Family Tree Maker" comes with a large data base of family names.

Good luck and have fun.

Answer 3

There are lots of websites.  I think Ancestry.Com is the best only because of the records they have online.  Cyndi'sList.Com give a multitude of websites that can be helpful to amateur genealogist.

However, you must be very very cautious about taking as absolute fact everything you see in family trees on ANY website, free or paid.  The information is subscriber submitted and mostly not documented.  You might see different information from diffrent subscribers on the same people. Then you will see repeatedly the same information on the same people from different subscribers.  That is absolutely no guarantee at all it is correct. A lot of people copy without verifying.  The information can be very helpful as CLUES as to where to get the documentation.

A couple of good free sites are Rootsweb and FamilySearch.org.  They give excellent "how tos" on genealogy.

If Ancestry.Com is 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 also.

Another excellent 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 the Mormon Church or visit their free website, 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.  They are just very nice and helpful.