What are good websites to trace your ancestry?

Question

i need to know for a summer project

Answer 1

The best is Ancestry.com created by The Generations Network Inc.  The information they have available is invaluable.  Good luck!

Answer 2

before you jump on the net, write down what you do know.  Yourself, your parents, grandparents, etc.  Try and get their birthdates, marriage dates, death dates if applicable. Any deceased family, try and get death certificates, funeral cards, obituaries.   Then ask about military service, what they did for a living, religious affliation, etc.  Make sure you have a comprehensive detailed snapshot of them first.

Go to your local library and ask if they have ancestry.com library edition.  If not, ask who does in your area.  Then you don't have to pay, but must have a library card.  Ancestry.com also has a Learning section where you can download forms and learn how to research.

Other good sites are familysearch.org, rootsweb.com.

USGENWEB is a volunteer online group who transcribes actual records and makes available online for free.

About.com has a good "How to" section.  Type in Genealogy in search

Remember, what you find on the net is mostly contributed by others and should be used as source, not as gospel!  Use these sources first:

*Federal Census(available from 1790-1930)

*Birth Records, Death Certificates, Marriage Records, Baptismal    Records(church)

*Social Security Death Index(rootsweb.com; helps you determine a relative's death date and where they last lived)

*Military records(WWI draft registration, Civil War records, etc)

*Cemeteries, obituaries, funeral notices

Message boards and genealogy forums are good sources online to locate others who are researching your line.

Contributed research online is valuable only if it matches what you have already determined in your own research.  Try and contact the contributer and collaborate on your findings.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

A great site to help you begin  learning how to research and organize the information you collect and gather for your project is  http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Fa...  As they will advise you, if you’re just getting started, before beginning an on-line search, gather up all the information you can from family members about your family history so you can narrow your search.

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.

The above answers are good and I don’t think you can beat ancestry.com but you will have to pay a fee if you want access from home.  And unless you want to spend hours in the library, you will want access from home.  Additionally, the library may limit the amount of time you are allowed to spend on the computer.

Some of these sites have been named above but here’s a bit more detail along with a few other sites you will find very helpful.  These sites are also free and should easily get you started.  Many offer forms and software downloads as well.

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.