How do I find a simple grid to create my family tree?

Question

I know NOTHING about my family - there has always only been four of us in direct communication. I'm only now starting to explore my ancestry because I want to know where I come from and my dad is no longer around to provide information - none of which would be that accurate anyway.

My question is this - when you only have names and vague affiliations to go on, where can you find a basic grid to fill in the blanks? This isn't a school project, but it has to stay simple for now.

Answer 1

Most of us don't use forms. That would be like trying to write a novel with a pad of paper and a pencil, instead of using "Word".

As soon as you find ou Dad lied, and your mother really is that chorus girl he met in NY, not the lady who cooked for you, cleaned for you, helped you with your homework and held you when you cried, you have to get out the eraser and start over. It is MUCH easier with a program.

There are dozens of genealogy programs on the market. The Momons will let you download PAF for free.

Go to

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default....

click on "Order/Download" and follow the links.

he program itself has been around for a decade or more, in different versions. It is simple and easy.

As to HOW to fill in the blanks, start with yourself and work back.

If you browse the resolved questions in this category, or use advanced search for the word "Free" in this category, you'll find most of us top 10 have a standard answer, because people ask how to start about 12 times a day.

Answer 2

Ok, first: don't use grid or any of those programs, just use a word processing document. You can do searches, etc. with them. Also,using the basic numbering system, it is easy to track who is related to whom.

As to searches:

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 3

Dear Diablita,

It is always exciting to find someone interested in learning more about their family history.

There are online family trees that you can use to fill in the information that you know.  They are pretty easy to use.

Or, there are forms you can download and print to work offline.  You'll want to do a Pedigree (or Ancestral) Chart starting with yourself.  You'll also probably want to fill out Family Group Sheets for each of the individual families on your tree.

Both an online and printable offline charts can be found here:

http://learn.ancestry.com/GetStarted/Get...

The printable forms are found in the bottom left-hand corner.

Good luck in your endeavor!

Best Regards,

Crista Cowan, Professional Genealogist

http://www.legacyfamilyhistory.com

Answer 4

Ted gave you a link to where you can download Personal Ancestral file, which is one of the long time standards in the genealogy area.. not to mention free, free, free.  I've used that for 20+ yrs.. bought another one, and wound up going back to PAF.

With all respect for other replies.. I STRONGLY would not advise using a word processing program, or other types of things where you have to spend time reinventing the wheel. As you get further in your research.. you will start finding distant relatives.  You will locate files online that MAY have one of your lines, already worked, and downloadable.  When you find a downloadable file.. it WILL be in gedcom format, which is a standardized "bridge" between different genealogy programs.  In other words.. Paf will read it, and also it will be able to be "imported" into other programs.  I have had relatives share their files with me.. but it was 'locked' into their choice of non standard format, and the end result was being forced to re-type every single item.

Standard genealogy programs also have flexibility to print almost any of the charts that you will need or want.

You bring up a good point relating to dad's info is likely to be inaccurate. This is standard too, believe it or not. Many new researchers rely on what they are told by family, without being aware of this.  

GOOD genealogy is always based in documentation, even when someone tells you something. My personal rule is that if I don't have an original document of some kind to back it up.. then it is just a lead. Start by using your own birth certificate to verify your parents and facts. We have many people who are surprised to find that their own cert has info that conflicts with what they thought!! Always work from you, back, and find the records to confirm.

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

This is one site I offer new researchers..it is a collection of thousands of genealogy resources. Another guide is at www.rootsweb.com.

You can be flexible as to what you use to STORE your info.. but it is far more important to start out understanding the importance of WHAT the info is, and is it factual or not.