What's the best way to research your family tree?

Answer 1

Ask your parents and grandparents to get their birth certificates for you. I've found that the census reports are quite revealing and I've looked them up on www.ancestry.com, but that costs about $200 a year, and it doesn't contain census reports after 1930. The Mormon Church has amazing records. You can go to www.familysearch.org and see what you can find there. Also check out www.cyndislist.com

Answer 2

Start with you and your direct family. Get all the info you can. And don't be afraid to write down interesting stories, my grandpa had one involving Gen. Patton and some Army Mules. Then go to Census records, local churches, old newspapers, and it never hurts to check the local cemetaries, they can be a treasure trove of information. Even down to if the family had money or not. The bigger the headstone or monument the more money the family had. Once you've gone back a few generations you may want to look into Ancestry.com or one of those sites because they have access to ship passage records, plus you may end up finding distant family members doing the same research and you can help each other fill in the holes. To help you keep track of all this info get a program called family tree maker. It helps you chart the families and keep track a lot easier.

Answer 3

good ole fashion hard work.
I would suggest that you invest in a book called Unpuzzling your past by Emily Croom. She takes you step by step.

You may find stuff online but don't take it as gospel. The research is only as good as the researcher and trust me there are some bad ones out there. Make sure you document with birth, death, marriage certificates, obits and cemetery records. Family bibles are good sources also.

Then sit down with family and work your way back. Record it for future use. Get copies of their certificates that they have. Look thru old papers they might have. Make it a family project.

Visit your local LDS Center. They have loads of stuff to sift thru. They can also help you get started.

Good luck in your quest

Don't expect miracles. You can't just put your name in and out pops your family. Some people think that's how its done. Not even close. It's a lot of hard work, takes a lot of patience and loads of documents.

Answer 4

You know who you are, so you do not have to "research" yourself. Your State's Archives is the best...and cheapest...place to find your ancestry/heritage. If you are in the Washington, DC, area, the National Archives is the place where all of the States have recorded their data via the Census Bureau and other State and Local Census records.

A. Start with your mother and father.

1. Make sure you have their correct birthdates (mm/dd/yy)

2. Make sure you know the City/Town & State he/she born

B. Go to the Archives with your information and ask the Information or Desk Clerk where is the Research Area. Remember: In order to "find" your family members, you must go to the records AFTER to the actual birth of your relative. Example: Mother born 01/15/1950, look in the 1960's records. You cannot find someone BEFORE birth. (smilez)

1. Begin with the State of birth, seperately for each parent

2. Locate the City/Town of birth, each parent seperately

3. Research by beginning with your father's last name and/or your mother's maiden name (not her married name).

a. Father

(1) You will find the name(s) of your father's mother and father

(a) Under each parent, it should identify where your fraternal grandmother or grandfather was born to enable you to go back to the next generation.

(b) Under each parent's identity, you may also learn the birthdate(s) of each grandparent.

(2) You will also find birth names of any siblings (brothers & sisters) your father had by the unity of your father with your mother.

b. Mother (Maiden Name)

- You should find same or similar information format as you did with your father's family (above)

Many times, by locating your family and its background through the Archives, this can assist you in determining the exact birthplace and date of birth of each descendent.

If you want more in-depth copies of what you have found, you may have to go to several locations to obtain copies of birth (or death) certificates.

Oftentimes, this archival information also indicates blood lineage (.i.e., Caucasian, Black/*****/African American, Cherokee, Creek, Hispanic/Latino, etc.).

The Census Bureau may have started this process of "identifying" us to keep track of "where" and "who" we are, but it is a good source to learn "where" and "who" we came from.

You will "see" the names documented of relatives your family may have only told you existed. You will realize the connection and bond you have with your relatives.

The Recorded of Deeds is another way of documenting someone. If there is/was property owned, they will have the name of the owner and other viable information that may be helpful. You may learn you have property out there somewhere you did not know you had; and, through it being "Heir Property" you may be able to regain it...perhaps by paying back taxes, etc., owed.

Answer 5

Start with yourself then work backwards, next your parents, then their parents. You'll be amazed at how addictive it is once you start searching and coming up with the information.

Answer 6

FamilySearch.org is a good place to start.