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

[Kiltedmusiclover]

While we are talking about genealogy I have some questions.

Has anyone done any genealogical research for family in Ireland?

What is the best online site?

I have traced down a relative to his 1773 immigration from Ireland to

South Carolina. I have used Ancestry.com but it seems to be

tuned in to research in the USA.

[Cawdorian]

Most of my research has been completed using www.rootsweb.com. They seem to have the largest free collection of genealogy files on the net. If the information is available and posted the lines will go back across the pond. The site is very user friendly and allows you to display the information in many different formats.

H'mmm a 1773 migration from Ireland to South Carolina, sounds like you may have an Ulster Scot in your family tree. You can join the message board for your surname on rootsweb, many questions get answered on these message boards, you might meet a very helpful cousin who is researching the same family line.

Yes genealogy is addictive, however, it is usually cheaper than the kilt addiction. But like Ron said you can enjoy both addictions at the same time, they work very well together.

Jim

[jkdesq]

Hey David,

All the sites people mention are good resources. However, in my view, the best resource for finding Scottish forebears is http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/. It is the official Government of Scotland website and is a fee site. Compared to other countries, not suprizingly, it is cheap -- how else would the get Scots to use it LOL.

Anyway, you pay 6 pounds for 30 credits. It costs one credit to view a list of names derived from a search and either 5 credits (if it is a .pdf image of the actual registry/census document) or 1 credit (if it is a typed up pseudo replica of the registry/census document). All births, marriages and deaths after 1855 are online. I haven't found an exception yet. Census for 1881, 1891 and 1901 have been online for awhile and I think they added more. For births and marriages prior to 1855, it is possible to find records from the "old parish records". I have never had much luck with these. So, this site you are guaranteed to find anything after 1855.

Another nice thing about Scottish research (as opposed to English) is the completeness of records. Births, marriages and death records always include information on the persons parents (ie. parents occupation, age (or if deceased) and, if live, residence). English information is not that helpful. With all these, it is very easy to be sure you have the right record and easy to jump back to the next generation.

Be careful though. The day I discovered Scotland's People, I spend about C$100 and about 5 hours on line. It was like a video lottery terminal. Happy ancestor hunting!