Does anyone know a FREE site that someone can go to and find out about their geneolgy?

Question

I found a site that did show my maternal grandfather's information (including his birth&death dates, along with his SSN, how screwed up is that!) but, when I searched my maternal grandmother, no hits. I have recently found out alot about my dad's side and would like to know a legitimate site (that doesn't cost) that could help me find out more information about the grandparents I never met. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Before I past my stock answer - not everyone is on the SSDI. Since he is dead, and credit card companies check that, the chances of anyone stealing his identity via his SSN is remote. Rootsweb has death records for California, Maine, Kentucky and Texas. Write if you'd like the links.

Here is the stock answer.
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I hope you'll accept a general answer. These questions come up every day:

Where can I find my family tree for free?
Does anyone know the {Surname} family?
What are good sites for ancestors / genealogy?

They are all about tracing your family tree on the Internet. The fourth time I typed in my favorite beginner's links I realized I should save them in a text file and paste them in. This is long and general. Because it is general, not all the links will apply to every question or questioner.

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

http://www.cyndislist.com/
(240,000+ links, all cross-indexed. If you want Welch or Pennsylvania Dutch or Oregon or any other region, ethnic group or surname, chances are she has links for it.)
http://www.familysearch.com
(Mormon's mega-site. Click on "Search")
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" You may find your grandparents.)
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)

(If you posted your question in Genealogy, ignore this paragraph. If you posted it in the "Family" category, read on.)
Tracing your family tree is called genealogy. YA has a category for genealogy,
Home > Arts & Humanities > Genealogy
There are hundreds of more links in the resolved answers there.


Notes:

You usually have to do some research. Sometimes you get lucky. Don't give up if your Great grandfather with your surname isn't there. Try all eight great-grandparents.

You won't find living people on any of the sites except the phone book one. You won't find many people born after 1920 on any of the sites except the SSDI one. Genealogists hide the birth dates, birth places and other facts of living people to protect their privacy. 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. Many people complain about advertisements. Please don't. They bring you the "free" sites. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

If you get serious you'll need a genealogy program. They are to family research what "Word" is to writing a novel. 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.

Answer 2

Working on Irish genealogy is extremely difficult. If you know the exact town that your family was from, I can help you. Otherwise, you are not ready to start. You need to find the town first.

Answer 3

http://www.plugonline.com
100% free dating services:

* Profiles with galleries and audio/video
* Personal weblogs and friends-lists
* Audio/video chat, IM and recorder
* Zodiac signs lookup in profiles and search results
* ZIP-codes search, matchmaking and so much more

Answer 4

the mormons' website... they call themselves the church of later day saints, i believe. they are majorly into genealogy and they have all kinds of information.

Answer 5

i believe ancestry .com also i know the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has a lot in their geniology site too good luck