What is the best way to research your family history/geneology; can you do this without having to pay?

Question

I know there are methods of doing this without paying sites for this information, and without having to resort to public records which are private. I do not want a ton of scheming internet sites to have to know my families history just because I had to enter it into their database to retrieve some info about my family. However, I would be willing to do so at a legitimate site; I would like to do my own research, if possible.

Answer 1

Someone asks a question like yours 1 - 4 times a day, sometimes in the Family category, sometimes in the Genealogy category, sometimes elsewhere:
Where can I find my family tree for free?
Does anyone know the {Surname} family?
What are good sites for ancestors / genealogy?

I paste this answer in. It is long and general. Not all the links and paragraphs will apply to everyone.

If you want to type in your name somewhere and get a 12-generation tree, skip the rest of this. I can show you where to dig, but you'll have to buy your own shovel and do the work yourself.

Buying a shovel: If you get serious you'll need a genealogy program. Trying to do family research without a genealogy program is like trying to write a novel with a pencil and yellow pad, instead of a word processor. I like Roots Magic. Family Tree Maker is the market leader. Both cost around $29. The Mormons will let you download PAF for free. It is clunky, but it is free. You can sometimes find old versions of FTM or Family Origins (FO is the predecessor of RM) in bargin bins at CostCo.

These may help get you started. They are large and free.

http://www.cyndislist.com/
(240,000+ links, all cross-indexed.)
http://www.familysearch.com
(Mormon's mega-site)
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi
(460,000,000+ entries, of varying quality)
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?ln=
Surname meanings and origins
http://www.tedpack.org/begingen.html
My own site: "How to Begin"

United States only:
http://www.usgenweb.net/
(Subdivided into state sites, which all have county sites.)
(The Canadians have Canadian Gen Web, by province)
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
(Social Security Death index - click on "Advanced".)
http://find.person.superpages.com/
(US Phone book, for looking up distant cousins)


United Kingdom Only:

http://www.genuki.org.uk/
(Biggest site for United Kingdom & Ireland)
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/
(Free Birth, Marriage & Death Records)

Notes:

You won't find living people on any of the sites except the phone book one. You will have to find your grandparents' or great grandparents' birth dates and maiden names somewhere besides the Internet.

The free sites are supported by advertising, just like TV. You can't watch the Super Bowl without seeing a beer commercial, and you can't surf for dead relatives without seeing an Ancestry advertisement. Don't complain about advertisements. They bring you the "free" sites. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Since you are in favor of free data, give some thought to helping others. You can look up obituaries in your town for people who post requests for them on bulletin boards, for instance. Another of my pages tells you how to ask for and look up obits:
http://www.tedpack.org/obit.html

Answer 2

drop me an e-mail i'll help you.also most libraries have the "free"ancestory library edition.however alot of the info you get turns up false.you're right,the pay sites will sew you.
you're wrong about public records being private though.you do sometimes however have to pay for look ups and copies.after tracing my family back to 1643,i started helping others the way,i was helped.I have lots of connections and they are always free,so mail me and tell me exactly what you're wanting and we'll help you get going!

Answer 3

Ive never heard of a site that doesnt make u pay but most of them are only 9.99 I would like to know my family history to but hte library only has a limited amount of people that they have records for good luck sorry

Answer 4

Yes! The church of Jesus Christ LDS has the largest geneology data labs in the world. We do not charge anyone for anything and you can become a person who is here to represent he that sent you too. Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.....