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Question: I'd like to start looking into my family tree,myself,just to see how far I can get!.!?
Where would be the best place to start looking!.Thanks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The internet should only be one source!. There are lots of websites!. Look for the ones that have original source records,not necessarily family trees!. The family trees are not submitted by some expert working for the websites but by the subscribers!. There are errors!. You might see different info on the same people from different subscribers and then you will see the absolute identical info on the same people from different subscribers!. However, that is not proof it is correct!. A lot of people copy without verifying!. Most of the trees are not documented or poorly documented!. The info in family trees on the web can be useful as clues as to where to get the documentation!.

The first thing to do is to get as much information from living family, particularly senior members, as possible!. Tape them if they will let you!. They might be confused on some things but what might seem to be insignificant story telling you wouldn't write down might turn out to be very significant!.

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

I believe Ancestry!.Com has the most original source records online!. 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 through 1901!. They have military, land, imigration and other records!. They have indexes to vital records(birth,marriage and death) of many U!.S!. states!. If you locate any of your family online it will save you time and money having to travel all over the country to courthouses, state libraries etc to obtain that information!.

Now, not all records are online but it is great to find the ones that are!.

If you find Ancestry!.Com too pricey, your public library might have a subscription to it!. Actually, it would be wise to use it for awhile at your library to get use to it before subscribing to it!.

Another good free source is a Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church!. They have records on people all over the world, not just Mormons!. In Salt Lake City, they have the world's largest genealogical collection!. Their FHCs 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!. Just call the nearest Mormon Church or visit their free website, FamilySearch!.org, to get their hours for the general public!.

Just remember, documentation is the meat of genealogy!. Look for documentation on family trees on the internet or in a published book!. Never take what some distant cousin has done as gospel fact!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Get a very large sheet of paper and put yourself at the bottom, with what you know about you!.
Draw a line up from you to a = sign
On the left put your Dad and on the right put your Mum
Under each, put what you know about them
Over the top of the = put the date they were married and over that, the place they were married!.
Repeat this for your grandparents, then your Gt!. grandparents!.
Once you have established what you know, it will become obvious how little you know about previous generations!.
Go to anyone left alive and ask for help in filling in the gaps!.
Then is the time to start on published family records!.
Things you know about people can include:-
date of birth
place of birth
school
occupation and where worked
where died
where buried
M!.I!. (confirmed Memorial Inscription on a headstone)
cause of death (this helps you to see if there is a particular family health problem)

Some useful sites which won't cost a lot:
Genes Reunited, Lost Cousins, Ancestry!.co (usually gives 2 weeks free trial - list beforehand all your missing info so that you don't waste time browsing), Cyndi's List

You don't give your location - I'm UK!. I belong to 3 County Family History Societies from which "my lot" originated!. For example Bristol FHS has a list of Member's Interests, i!.e!. names being researched, published on their web site!. If you shared one of my names on there, I would happily send you 30 years of research in the shape of Trees and BMD Certificates back to 1837, school records, apprenticeships, etc!.

Best of luck and "happy hunting"Www@QuestionHome@Com

In a nutshell, you start with you!. Using records (not just family knowledge alone), you work back from the present!. Using documents (census, birth/death/marriage, tombstones, etc etc) is basic!.!. because people are human, and tend to forget, get confused, or never knew in the first place!. Expect conflicts with info!.!. use several sources to identify which is most likely correct!.
You can use just plain notebook paper to begin with, and chart family into family group sheets!. What is needed on these!.!. name of husband/ wife with date and location of main events (estimate if need be); name of the parents of each (to "tie" to their own family sheet)!.!. and list of all children of the couple!. Include name of spouses if applicable for the kids!. Use maiden name for the women!.
Living people should not be online, for identity protection, so much of the beginning stufff will be home sources, or ordering lost documents!. If your grandparents are living and recall their own grandparents, it can get pretty far!. If you have a page for your parents, gr parents and gr grandparents!.!. that is 7 pages to start!.
http://www!.cyndislist!.com/ huge collection of sources!.!. and a beginner section, too!.
As you go back in history!.!. the source of records will shift!. People didn't always have birth certificates!. You can search US census from 1790-1930!.!. tons of info there!. Remember, it will NOT all be online!.
Oh yeah!.!. prepare to get hooked!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

The LDS church has tons of information or you could just visit blogs on familytree!.com or ancestors!.com!. Collect as much information as you can about your most resent relatives and the origin of your parents surnames!. That's a start!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you got to friend reunited you can go on genes reunited where you can create your own family tree and look back at people ancestors!.Www@QuestionHome@Com