Where do i start?

Question

Im hoping to research my family tree but not sure where to start.i have asked my family what they know which is not a lot. I have my grandparents names and also my great grandparents names but thats about it. should i stop before i start because i am completly at a loss. My great grandfathers name was alan allman from the cheshire area.
I know it will take time but i know it will be worth it if i can unearth my past (if that makes sense) any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanx

Answer 1

RWWC (Below) has 16 entries for Surname = Allman, Birth place = Cheshire, none of them Alan.

The LDS 1881 census (below too) has 200+ entries for Allman in Cheshire, again no Allen.

Here is my standard 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. Many of them, however, have subtle ads for Ancestry.com in them - ads that ask for a name, then offer a trial subscription. Watch out for those advertisements.

http://www.cyndislist.com/
(240,000+ links, all cross-indexed. If you want Welsh 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.

In the USA, some public libraries have census image subscriptions. Many Family History Centers do too. FHC's are small rooms in Mormon churches. They welcome anyone interested in genealogy, not just fellow Mormons. They have resources on CD's and volunteers who are friendly. They don't try to convert you; in fact, they don't mention their religion unless you ask a question about it.


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 best way to get started is to ask your oldest living relatives about themselves and their parents. You may find great-grandpa's death date and burial place on the web, but only his children, your grandfather and grandaunt, can tell you what sort of man he was.

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.

This is a general hint. Even though you go in through YA Canada, YA Australia, YA UK or YA USA, all of the questions go into one big "pot" and get read by everyone in the world who speaks English. Most of the people here are in the UK and USA, but you sometimes get questions and answers from people who worry about kangaroos eating their roses. So - put a nation, or, better yet, if you are asking about a specific individual, a nation and a state / province in all of your questions. It will help people help you.

Answer 2

I'm sure not counting out any of the Hendricks drivers or Smoke for that matter. These are guys who've been racing a lot longer than Kyle & usually they don't start making their move until it gets down to the Chase. Look at the consistency from Junior. He's held it in the top 10 all season so far.( Give me the thumbs down...I said Junior.) When push comes to shove, the teams really start showing their strength. There's a lot of the drivers who know it's time to knuckle down and get in the Chase. Right now I'm not counting anyone out. It's show time now! =o`)

Answer 3

From what I understand, you have to unearth birth certificates. Siince most birth certificates list who was the mother and father, their dates of birth, and where they were born, you have to go from location to location to find the right person. My dad has done this for the past 5+ years and has some of our family records back to the 1500's.

Answer 4

why the (F BOMB) would u wanna know ur Past what if u find out ur GReat Great GrandPA was Hitler? Would u wish u still wanted to figure out? The Past Is the Past We Live for teh Future not teh Past

But if YOU REALLy wanna know ask ur grandparents About There Parents Grandparants

Answer 5

42

Answer 6

family search.org