Good free ansertory website?

Question

i want to make a family tree for my little niece so she can have it incase she has to do a family tree in school ( mind she is only 1 but its better to be ready) and i know some info on my great grandparents but it gets fuzzy then i have the names and such but i need some great websites that are free that can help trace your relatives. any websites help.

Answer 1

It’s great that you already some information about your family.  Any additional information you can gather before beginning will be essential.  Once you have everything together, visit the following website.  It’s a great site to help you begin learning how to research and organize the information that have:  http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Fa...  

There are many genealogical sites that are free.  One thing you should remember about the information you find that others have compiled is – you must research the historical records for yourself for accuracy.  The compilers’ may have just copied what others have found.  Make sure the information is correct by viewing official documents, i.e., marriage, birth, census records, etc. yourself.  Here are some very good free sites:

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default....  FamilySearch.org is a non-profit service sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You can also download free software that will help you keep your family tree organized.

http://usgenweb.org/.  This site has been created by a group of volunteers that are committed to keep genealogy free and have provided a website for genealogical research in every county and state in the United States.

http://rwguide.rootsweb.ancestry.com/.  RootsWeb is also a great site.  It’s funded by Ancestry.com.  It provides links to ton’s of additional sites as well.    

http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ind... . Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.  Genealogy Learning Center.  This site has also has some great getting started tips and free downloadable charts and forms.  

http://www.cyndislist.com/.  Cindy’s List has just about everything from A to Z.  I would highly recommend visiting this site.  

http://www.myheritage.com/. Is free, private and secure.  You can create a web site, build and save a family tree, share photos and videos and much more.

http://www.geni.com/home. You can build your family tree and invite others to join via email and expand your tree.  You can add photo’s and video’s.  

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi...  You can search for cemetery records.  Pictures of actual headstones with names and burial dates are available for numerous cemeteries. Additional information is often provided.

Answer 2

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/

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!

Answer 3

Here are some charts to get you started:

http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_chart...

On the link Free Family Tree Charts, The Free Interactive Pedigree Chart is good. The link Filing Out Genealogical Forms is good with tips and such. You will want the Family Group Sheet.

You go on the far left, your dad the next block to the right on top and your mom on the next block to the right on the bottom. Next row of blocks is their parents, with the male in the top block.

Gather your supplies, one binder for dad's side and one binder for mom's side. If you can afford it, get a subscription to www.ancestry.com. It's about $33.00 per month for the whole thing, newspapers, immigration records, etc.

So you've put your information down and your parents down, now you want your grandparents. If you can get to 1930 you will be doing good as you can find them on a census record, and maybe trace on up, right up to 1790. Also, don't be strict on your spelling of names, first and last. The census taker might not have understood what they said and wrote the names as best they could.

http://www.censusfinder.com/

http://www.census-online.com/links/

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

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/ce...

www.familysearch.org is another good site to find records. They are adding new records, such as death certificates (the images) and it's in a beta area right now but worth the look.

If you want to talk to others with a certain surname, go to www.genforum.com and put in the surname, upper right block.

Get stuck, come back and ask us.

Answer 4

http://www.cyndislist.com/

My personal favorite, since it is a "door" to the rest of the sites. Scroll down, and check out the beginner area, but be aware that you'll come back here to find references through out the search.

Other than Cyndis.. I totally go against the grain.  In my opinion.. you want MORE websites, for best results.  Not just one. What works for me, won't work for you, except those that explain the process.

If you really get involved.. you'll realize that good genealogy is not free. You can keep the expenses down. Ancestry.com is important, since it is the only place with ALL census records (and more).  You cannot do good research without the census.  You can access ancestry.com at many local libraries.

PLEASE remember.. just because you find a "tree" online..does not make that good research. Many of them have errors, because people prefer taking the quick/easy/ free route, and don't want to hear about the pitfalls. What's the point of finding 20 generations of ancestors, only to find out it belonged to the 2nd wife, and your grandma was not actually her daughter?

Friendly chuckle.. you can get hooked. You might start for niece's benefit.  The fun is in the chase, and they are YOUR ancestors too.