How do I research my family back further than 1837?

Question

I have tried using the parish registry but it is just guess work I can't be sure of anything.

Answer 1

try civil war records and cemetary records, look for century old churches maybe they have records of the past, depending on the race of the person and wether or not he/she was an indentured servant, you could look under slave trade records or maritime records if they came over on a ship. but start with the oldest relative the you have the most information about and search backwards from there. use the library's database they can obtain information for you for free. and don't worry if you hit a brick wall, we all do at some point. just keep at it. also there are message boards for people to put thier search on so that other people who might know that person or are doing a search on the same person can share information with you. good luck. I'm searching to.

Answer 2

Yes, pre 1837 you need to use parish records.  If you contact a local or family history society in the area your ancestors lived in there are often people who will do look-ups for you.  Also, the Victorian census will still give you clues even if your ancestors were quite old in 1841 or 1851.

Answer 3

Here is my suggestion list. There are so many websites, so many books, so many periodicals, but the following are the ones I have been using:

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.

NOTE: If you go back a century or two, Parish Registries often are incomplete. If a poor couple had a child and could not afford the fee, they simply did not declare the birth. After awhile, the fee increased to such an extent that a delayed registration was simply beyond their means. One more reason why most records in the past are those of rich people!

Answer 4

Your usuable sources in the UK are not the same as in the US, so someone else will tell you more on that.

What I can explain.. yes, it can be a challenge.  That's what it is. For every generation/ couple that you are working, you will often have to use multiple records to "make" your connection.  A cemetery record may tell you that John Jones died in 1845, which you (maybe) can see is the same John, who married at that parish in 1843.  If your goal is finding parents for Mary Jones, who was proven as born in 1850.. right there, you are fairly sure her father is not the one who died in 1845.  But, is he the one who was married in 1843? there may be two with the same name.

It's like a game.  The thing is that the record to rely on CHANGES with each person.  You "win" when you figure what record works/ proves your line.  Not all records will be on the internet.

Answer 5

This is very cool my aunt does reaserch of our family tree and it very intresting its not free at all but you can try it go to

http://www.ancestry.com/

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

http://www.familytree.com/

http://www.genealogytoday.com/

http://www.familytreeguide.com/

hopes this helps you

genealogy is inresting