What is the best and cheapest way to explore your genealogy on the computer?

You can start with http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/f...

keep in mind that many of the facts on this website are unconfirmed, so it is very important to look on the website for the source given for each record they mention. If it is a historical document, it will say so. If it is "submitted by a church member," or anything other than a census record or a parish church record, you can use it to try to find a historical record in that vicinity (ie, go on www.rootsweb.com and near the bottom of the page there is a Locality link, which will allow you to find a message board for any county or country in the world - go to the board and ask if anyone can look for a record to match the info you have) .

Rootsweb also has a message board section for specific surnames. If you can find a message board for your surname, you can post requests for help there.

If you'd like to send me your maiden name, I can look it up in some of the databases I subscribe to.

There are lots of good websites but you must use them carefully.

Don't take as absolute fact everything you see in family trees on ANY website, free or paid. The information is subscriber submitted and mostly not documented or poorly documented. You might see different information on the same people from different subscribers. Then you will see repeatedly the same information from different subscribers on the same people That is no guarantee at all that it is correct.
A lot of people copy without verifying. Use the information as CLUES as to where to get the documentation.

I think Ancestry.Com is the best for its records. Your public library might have a subscription to it you can use. They have all the U. S. censuses through 1930. The 1940 and later are not available to the public yet. They have U.K. censuses also.

Rootsweb and FamilySearch.org are the best 2 free sites as they give excellent instructions in genealogy.

A Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church has records on people all over the world. They are free to use but you should find out their hours for the general public. 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 either.

But first you should start with your living family, particularly your senior members. Tape them if they will let you. They might be confused on some things but what might seem to be insignificant story telling might turn out to be very significant. Genealogy websites usually will not have information on living people due to identity theft.

Find out if family has any old family bibles.
Ask to see and make copies of birth, marriage and death certificates. They have useful information like the names of both parents including mother's maiden name and the death certificate will have their places of birth in most cases. Also for some religions, baptismal, first communion,confirmation and marriage certificates contain a wealth of information.

While you are at your library and the Family History Center, you will probably have an excellent opportunity to talk with other researchers. Others ideas and experiences is how most people learn.

Position:Home>Genealogy> What is the best and cheapest way to explore your genealogy on the computer?

Other Answers (3)