Can anyone help me?

Question

Trying to research my family history and started with me but I can't bring anything up at all on my history, birth, marriage, nothing about my mother and only my dads birth record. What do I do to find the living. Very confused and aggrevated.

Answer 1

Aren't you relieved that your data isn't out there for all to find, and that ethical genealogical research is mostly about dead ancestors.

Once you've organized all you can learn from your living ancestors onto genealogy software so you can see what you know and don't, having ordered birth, marriage and death records they'd told you about, then you're ready to tackle online and other research. You will need to have covered most of the 20th century "at home". Don't overlook local resources like your library and family cemetery for names, dates and places.

You will need at least access to census images. In the US the best is at ancestry.com which is among the subscription (pay) resources not their free resources (read carefully and you'll see that all you do is sign up with a username and password for the free stuff).

Answer 2

Records on living people aren't something that genealogical sites have because of privacy issues. However, Ancestry.Com does have the complete Texas Bureau of Vital Statistic Birth Index thru 1997, which is unusual.

Don't depend on websites for family history. Use them only as a supplement.
You need to get a copy of the vital records from the state or maybe the county where the event took place.

You really should start by getting as much information from your family as possible, particularly your senior members. Tape them if they will let you. What might seem to be insignificant ramblings might turn out to be very significant.

Genealogical sections of public libraries should be checked out. Also LDS Data Center (Mormon Church). I have never had them to ring my doorbell because I availed myself of their services.

However, first get as much information as possible from your family.

Ancestry.Com has lots of records and is obtaining more all the time. However, infomation in family trees submitted on any website must be taken as clues not as fact.
Most is not documented. Even if you see the same information over and over by different submitters, a lot of copying is being done which is not true research.

Answer 3

What I've learned is books REALLY help, I've found so many dead ends, but they give you good tips. AND starting w/ yourself, may be too current. Go back a few generations. When I started with my great grandparents things got moving quicker. The Mormon church actually has an extensive geneological library as well. AND....you can always pay someone.

Answer 4

Nothing to be aggravated about. Records of those who are living are restricted to those who can show the legal authority to have them... in other words, NOT online. You will find some exceptions... but unless you have no fears of id theft, be relieved.
Persons who have the right to those records can obtain them via "normal" routes, to document what you can learn at home.
Once you get past 2-3 generations, you will have an easier time finding records of ancestors.
Standard operating procedure.

Answer 5

You will first need to get as much information about your parents, grandparents, etc. as you can from talking to them, because you can typically only search for DEAD people on the Internet. Once you have some information farther back in your family, here are a few resources for you to use:

http://www.familysearch.org

Probably the best free online resource.

http://www.ancestry.com is one of the best but has a hefty subscription fee.

Also, you can check the surname message boards for your surname at:

http://genforum.genealogy.com
http://boards.ancestry.com

For links to helpful sites, you will want to take a look at:

http://www.cyndislist.com

And finally for a lot of different resources:

http://www.rootsweb.com

Good luck,
Dave
--
http://www.familypulse.org

Answer 6

Your birth record is on record in the courthouse of the place you were born in. Assuming your born in the states. Then look up the Social security number - follow the tax records which are public knowledge after a while.

also try ancestors.com, they have a bunch of people who have already done what your trying to do.

Good luck.

Answer 7

talk with mom and dad to find out what they know. they may know back to their grandparents. once you get back a few gens to a deceased person their information is much easier to trace. but dont accept everything you find. most of the info online is just bs that people have just lumped together.
supposedly my moms line goes back to the marevingians and supposedly to jesus. i dont buy it and neither should anyone. just be careful to dot your I and cross your T before adding to you family history. dont discredit everything just hold it suspect until proven.