How can I go about searching for my roots?

Question

My mom is Liberian and my father is from down south. What is a good website or what are the steps in trying to find who my great great great great great ( you get the idea) Grandmother/grandfather, cousins,aunts,etc? Please help!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 1

Hey Bronx Gal,

You father should be easier, assuming you mean the South in the US. There are great records kept in the US. Start with his birth certificate, and work backwards. That will give you his parents. Then get their birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, etc. You should discover quite a bit about him.

Your mother, may be another story. You might have to go to Liberia to get records, or write. Maybe you can hook up on the Internet with someone who specializes in Liberian ancestry. The first web site posted below is one that specializes in Liberia. Do a Web search on "Liberia Genealogy", that will help too. Best of luck.

Answer 2

I have been working on my family tree since 1983. Another name for family tree is called genealogy. One of the best places for genealogy is www.cyndislist.com. You might be able to find some Liberian links there. This site has all kinds of other nationalities, not just U.S.A. links. Another place is Roots.com and Anchestry.com. They have message boards for specific last names, counties and such. You might could even start one for the Liberian link. Who knows? Leave messages. Even years later I get messages from people who have read my 2002 entries!!!!! It might pay off some day. Finally, you can try the genweb websites. For instance, if you live in Texas, you would search for Txgenweb.com. Tennessee would be Tngenweb.com. The websites are listed for the first two letters of every state. From there, you would search for county information.

You say that you are trying to find your ggggggrandparents, etc...Have you started a basic chart with you, your parents, your grandparents and so on? You have to start at the bottom, which is you. List date of birth, place of birth, etc... Now, go up the list. Where was your father born? What about his birthdate? Do this for your mother and then your grandparents. You have to start at the base (you), on paper, first and then go up the line. The point of the matter is that you need basic info in order to get higher on the list. It's just like a puzzle and it is a good thing if you are blessed with investigative abilities. You can also try the library where you live (some have genealogy sections that have info on other states) or the library in the south where your father and his kin are from. I don't know about the Liberian bit. Good luck on that.

Good places to get information are birth certificates, death certificates and census records. Birth and death certificates are usually listed on the internet by the state. ie) Rhode Island Vital Records, Mississippi Vital Records, etc... Be prepared to pay for the copies. Remember, this is an investment. Census records are available, too. One other good place to check is Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have a family history site and you can find social security numbers for older family members. This would be helpful in obtaining a birth/death certificate.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Take a look at one of the best websites for finding genealogical information: Cyndislist.com

Cyndislist has an enormous number of links to websites to help you. Every topic is meticulously organized to help you find what you're looking for.

I've included a link to Cyndislist for the "How To" section, to help you get started.

After you see the steps involved in researching your family history, try using Cyndislist as a "jumping off" place to find information. For example, go to her home page and use the search feature (for her website) to look for Liberia.

Be forewarned: this is a life-long addictive hobby. I've been researching my family for 30 years. You will probably find a "dead end" or brick wall in your research, but there are many branches of your tree to explore.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

First start with one lineage, working on two family lines can be over whelming. For instance, ask your mom about her place of origin, and her parents, and their parents. Get as much information you can through your mom. Use a pedigree chart to lable who is who on your family tree. Find out what church your family was affiliated with, were they baptized, married, single, widowed, divorced, ect...here are some useful websites to assist you in your search:

Try Ancestry.org, Cynthia's List, and other family search sites.

Read the responses of other members on this site, it should help you out.

Good luck with your search.

Answer 5

Your third answer has allot of good info !! But I've had most of my best luck through the www.cousinconnection.org if you want help you can post an inquiry and then someone will research for you.
I've been able to go back to the 1600's with one branch of the family tree.

Good luck and the more info you have the better the result's will be, so ask family question's !!!

Answer 6

Try the U.S. census for the known years your realtives were in a certain area. There is gen web to locate gravesites for each state. If you know their names , death dates you have So. Secuity records you can type in...there are so many sites...I suggest you simply type in genealogy and check each out until your needs are met.

Answer 7

You can try Ancestry.com, but be forewarned that it is a pay site. Very little of their information, comparatively speaking, is for free. There are a lot of free sites out there, but you might have to dig some to find them. Contact me if you'd like me to send some to you.

Answer 8

i went to Ancestry.com and guess what....I found two sisters (of my mother) that my mother never knew she had... just found out...60 years later,I guess grandpa and the military rumors can be true. Well i have tons of cousins and two new Aunts. Check this...we have always lived less than 4 hours apart.....

Answer 9

I don't need to give you anymore info. You have it all in all your answers. Print all you answers and get started. Good Luck. One you start searching your not going to want to take time out to go to bed. It's so rewarding. When you start to learn your ancestors by name you will begin to feel their spirit with you.

Answer 10

my grandma does this stuff a lot and here are some websites she works on!
ancestory.com
familysearch.com
or put "genealogy websites" in google and all kinds of websites come up!
good luck!