Geneology

[David Thornton]

Not real sure where to post this, seems most of us look here though, so here goes. Sometime in the past I read about a link to a site where you started with the oldest know relative to start a trace back.
Anyone familiar with the site?
Any other recommendations on doing family research?
Thanks
David

[davedove]

The Mormon's genealogical site is a good place to start:

http://www.familysearch.org/

If you get lucky, it can sometimes take you back hundreds of years. Just be sure to verify everything you find there with official records.

[macwilkin]

Not real sure where to post this, seems most of us look here though, so here goes. Sometime in the past I read about a link to a site where you started with the oldest know relative to start a trace back.
Anyone familiar with the site?
Any other recommendations on doing family research?
Thanks
David

David,

Most genealogists recommend that you start with yourself and work your way back when beginning genealogical research, rather than trying to start with an ancestor and work your way forward. Am I understanding your question correctly?

The LDS Family History web site is a good place to start. I'll also recommend a web article from my old place of employment, the Local History & Genealogy Department of the Springfield-Greene Co. Public Library:


http://thelibrary.springfield.missou...t/basicgen.cfm

Happy hunting! ;)

Todd

[Cawdorian]

David,

An excellent place to start is at www.rootsweb.com. You should start with yourself and trace the lines back as you can based on information available from your family. (full name, birth, death and marriage dates are a huge help) Genealogy is a fascinating hobby, it can become an addiction, just like kilts.

There is a lot of incorrect information on some of these websites so it pays to find out as much as you can about your own family before you start on the web.

Good luck and good hunting!

Jim

[David Thornton]

Actually I had planned on starting with my Great Grandfather as he is the oldest KNOWN. Could start with me, but I know who my parents are.
Thanks for the links, might be a late night.
David

[Cawdorian]

David,

When you get to the rootsweb site, it has a great search engine. You will get a page listing several people with the name, go to the bottom of the page and narrow down your search by adding some of the information at the bottom of the page. You can also do a soundex search which searches for the name phonetically.

Again, good hunting!

Jim

[Riverkilt]

David,

Know that genealogy is just as addicting as kilts.

At least you can indulge both addictions at the same time.

Ron

[Hamish]

I have no proven details about my family other than details of my parents and that my late father told me that his mother came from Sutherland in Scotland. I've no dates for her nor precise locations to go on.

With that information, I went to Rootsweb.com, put in my own details and as much as I could of my parents - but the search told me that nothing could be found!

Do I exist?

[prattw]

I have no proven details about my family other than details of my parents and that my late father told me that his mother came from Sutherland in Scotland. I've no dates for her nor precise locations to go on.

With that information, I went to Rootsweb.com, put in my own details and as much as I could of my parents - but the search told me that nothing could be found!

Do I exist?

Rootsweb.com is rather USA-centric, Hamish. The UK equivalent is GENUKI <http://www.genuki.org.uk/>

Your best first step would probably be to locate your parents in the census, as children, with their parents. That will give you the general area of their parent's birth, and you can go from there. There's good odds you could follow your family back at least into the early 19th century in the census.

Will Pratt

[Hamish]

Rootsweb.com is rather USA-centric, Hamish. The UK equivalent is GENUKI <http://www.genuki.org.uk/>

Your best first step would probably be to locate your parents in the census, as children, with their parents. That will give you the general area of their parent's birth, and you can go from there. There's good odds you could follow your family back at least into the early 19th century in the census.

Will Pratt

Many, many thanks for that link Will. I have just taken a quick look, went to the 1901 census and popped in my father's details - only to remember that he was not born until 1902!! My mother was born, I think, in 1906.

It appears to be a very detailed site, so I am going to have to isolate myself for a day or two at some point and get into it.

I appreciate your help.