If you are new to genealogy, like me within the last 6 weeks, who would you ask for help on this forum.?

Question

I am in England , but there is only about two okay posters, in the USA, theres lots, of good ones, why?

Answer 1

I think that's a bit overboard, about the English only having "about two" okay posters. There is a couple of really good helpful researchers on here, on our side of the water. The USA, like Ted Packer says is huge in size of population so that makes sense to me, and I do agree there are some brilliant USA posters,but don't put ours down they try they get results, and they don't ask for any money in return so be grateful.

Answer 2

I'd ask me because I'm warm, witty and devilishly handsome. Arrogant, at times, but if someone asks a question I can answer by looking into the census images I subscribe to, I'll often do it. I don't let lack of knowledge stop me from having an opinion, either.

I suspect there are more genealogists in the USA than in England per capita, and I know there are more in absolute numbers, which would explain your second question.

Almost all Americans' ancestors came over on the boat less than 400 years ago. Our ancestors are a mystery. Some of you Brits can go back 400 years just by wandering down to the little thatch-roofed Norman chapel in your village and leafing through the Parish records. If it is so easy, why bother? People who live on the beach don't collect sand for a hobby.

Our population is 3 - 5 times bigger than yours, too. So, if one out of every 1,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 genealogists in both countries decides to while away his/her time telling people where to find their family crest, what their surname means and how to get started in genealogy, there will be more from the USA than the UK.

You guys have cuter accents, though.

Answer 3

When i first started genealogy i was helped by people all over the world. I was shown great kindness, I have found out that is what we do. Genealogy is a sharing kind of hobby, Just ask your questions and some one will answer, no one knows it all but together we can help. Good look and good hunting.

Answer 4

I am not a professional genealogist, but I HAVE done a lot of family history research for my own family and others as well. In fact, I traced a friend's family back to his 14th great-grandfather on his father's side in Germany and his 12th great-grandfather on his mother's side in Switzerland. I have my Mother's family tree traced back so far to 1700 in England's Shropshire (Salup) area and a town named Coston (her maiden name) that was listed in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror in 1086 (now I just need to find the links between the 2 time period to bring it all together). It could be there are more "good posters" in the US because it has become sort of a "national hobby" within the last few years--especially since author Alex Haley traced his family back to Africa and wrote about it in "Roots."
It is a hobby that takes a lot of time and effort, and sometimes you get so frustrated that you want to quit, but then curiosity takes over and you continue on.
I would be glad to help you all I can because I have several websites I rely on. I would need at least your grandparents' names, birth/death dates/location to get started. I usually find just the listings on these websites, instead of actual documents , but some places you can order copies of them. If you would like me to help at all, my email address is in my profile.

Answer 5

There are people at all different levels of research skill. Your best bet is to post as much information as you have, as organized as you can make it, and ask everyone for help. Those who are best versed at researching that area will come to your aid within a day. The rest will throw silly answers at you and you take them with a grain of salt.

Personally, I'm best versed in Canada, Benelux, France, Germany and Poland. Others are great in the UK but may or may not post daily. If you can give it 2-3 days, you should have a pretty decent answer.

Answer 6

Many new people come in asking for the "best" website, and I try to explain that limiting themselves is one way to sabatouge themselves. The MORE sites you find and access, the more opportunity there is to find what you want.
I think the same applies as to posting. The format here is set up to get exposure to many different perspectives, all of them may have value. If you directed your question to one selected person, it lessens your opportunity to get the most help. Personally, I have almost no experience in British research.. but someone may have already utilized online resources, irregardless of where they are located. Have you used genuki.org? They seem to have some solid 'stuff' behind them.
And, I notice many new names coming on board here, with some obvious talent. Keeping an open mind is to your benefit, I think.

Answer 7

Well, before you worry about who to ask, you need to have a question to ask. :) If your question is how to start, here is an answer which I give to other beginners:

The best way is simply to start with your own family. If you want to do it on the computer, you can download PAF (Personal Ancestral File), which is free genealogy software at http://www.familysearch.org under Order/Download Products. I imagine you can pick it up pretty quick because it is very user-friendly. Then talk to your parents (and grandparents if still alive) and get as much information as you can from them including names, dates, and places.

Here are a few online resources for you to use:

http://www.familysearch.org - Probably the best free online resource.

http://www.ancestry.co.uk is one of the best but has a hefty subscription fee (for most of its databases).

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
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