Is there any way I can track down my family history on the computer without having to pay?

Question

Help anyone !

Answer 1

There is only one completely free site that I know of and that's www.familysearch.org it is an amazing site.

Answer 2

I doubt if you can do it all on your computer.

There are websites. Some have records. Some have mailing list and message boards. Some have family trees which are subscriber submitted.  They aren't necessarily done by experts or the owners of the website.  If you find any of your family lines in family trees on ANY website, free or paid, you should verify it with documents.  Being online does not mean it is correct.  Even if you see the same information repeatedly by many different subscribers on the same people that is no guarantee at all it is correct. A lot of people copy without verifying.  The information can be useful as CLUES as to where to get the documentation.  Also, don't expect to find living people in the family trees. That is considered an invasion of privacy and can lead to identity theft.

I think Ancestry.Com is best for me due to its records on line.  They have all the U..S. censuses through 1930. The 1940 and later are not available to the public yet.  They also have U.K. censuses.  It isn't free but your public library might have a subscription to it.

A Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church has 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 that has used their resources.

First thing, you should get as much information from living family as possible, particularly your senior members. Tape them if they will let you.  They will probably be confused on somethings, but what might seem to be insignificant story telling might turn out to be very significant.

Find out if any family has any old family bibles.  Ask to see and make copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.  Also depending on the religious faith, baptismal, first communion, confirmation and marriage certificates can be helpful.  

However, don't expect to do it all online.

Answer 3

I've found alot of info just using Google.  Also looking at birth, death & marriage records and going to the public library in the area where the family was from.

Answer 4

Genweb/rootsweb, Genweb census project and archives, Genforum, Familysearch.org, Heritage Quest, you can get a free membership at your library if they have a subscription.  They have census records and Revolutionary War pension files.  You can also do a search for a name and see what comes up.  Random acts of genealogical kindness.  Good luck.

Answer 5

USA Answer:

You dig through birth, death and marriage records on paper until you get to people in 1930, then start looking for them in the census.

Figure 100 - 300 hours to do a decent job.

Write if you want details. I know of 400,000 free sites.

Answer 6

Do as the people here suggest and make a friend with someone who has access to a geneology site.  Ask the friend to do some searching for you, with monetary reimbursement from you.