Family Tree?

Question

How do I find out my ancestry or my family's heritage without having to pay someone? I'm afraid a lot of those paying places are scams! Does anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

Hey Skye,

The first thing you should do relates directly to the root of your Family Tree. Document your self, and your parents. Get Birth, Death, Marriage certificates if you can from all your living relatives that they may have collected. Interview all the living family members for valuable clues, pictures, certificates, and information. There are Charts, and a couple of sites below to do the interviews. The charts help keep you focused on relating people to eachother.

Then, you should get some inexpensive Genealogy Software. Sites also below, the ones there are about $30.00. This software comes with free time on pay sites. So, you take full advantage of the free time, and make note of how not to pay them (shut them off prior to being charged).

After that initial startup - you will have a really good start, and can now consider all the internet web sites that are free. GENFORUM, Ellis Island, FREE BMD, Family Search, and so many more.

After you get rolling on this, you will have questions more specific, come on back and ask.

Answer 2

I don't use ancestry, but not because they are a scam. Most of my work is well past need for census records.
You need to take a look at www.cyndislist.com, and see the thousands of sites related to research.
You can do ALMOST all without paying. There are times when it can be worth while... a cemetery record is NOT online, it is across country, and it would cost you plane fare to get it. Someone local may do it for $20. I have done paid research for others, but only when it makes sense for them.
And.. remember, it is not all online. Think about how people did it before the internet (I can share that). When you really love doing this, it is an investment, like someone else might buy the best golf clubs.

Answer 3

I've been doing genealogical research for 28 years, and have found many FREE sites on the Internet that have been extremely helpful:

http://www.rootsweb.com

This is the oldest and one of the largest free genealogical websites. You can go there to learn how to do research, download free genealogical forms, and find people searching the same surnames you are, as well as going to websites to the countries, states, and counties where you family lived. There is a wonderful section called World Connect, which includes donated family trees--there are over 900 MILLION names listed!

Heritage Quest

I can't give you a URL, because you get to this site through your local public library. You can get the URL from them--I use my library card number to gain access. This site has three sections I've found valuable-US Census data with a search engine (1790-1930, with some gaps). They also have a collection of family histories and local histories, also with a searchable database. They also have Revolutionary War pension papers on line.

Answer 4

Ancestry.com is a paid site but not a scam...you can access all sorts of records. The 1870 census is free, but others you have to pay to access. 1840 and earlier is almost not worth it, because it only lists the name of the head of household, and just the number of people within age groups.

Now RootsWeb is a place where people upload their family tree files, and you can run a search for free and see if your ancestors pop up in someone else's tree. How do you think I wound up with almost 17,000 names in my file so far? :)

Answer 5

Rust Skipper was here before me. His answer is superb. I had one point:

Some pay sites are scams. Ancestry isn't. They are like cable TV, except you get census images and county histories. If you are serious about it, and have a fast connction, and have ancestors who were in the USA from 1850 - 1930, the census images alone are worth the Ancestry fee.

Answer 6

It isn't an easy thing. I personally use Ancestry.com, which is a very legitimate site. Yes, you can pay to use some of the more advanced features, but you can also do some basic research for free there.

The fees, if you chose to pay, are nominal, but you have a plethora of information at your fingertips once you do get a membership. It's worth every penny.......

Found out, using their service, that my ancestors were royalty in 2 different countries. Of course, living here in the US, that don't count for much, but it's still nice to know!!