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Why would anyone want to search for facts about
long dead ancestors?
Well... this writer has had hobbies and/or areas
of interest over the years ranging from Amateur Radio to Zulu
Dancing. Genealogy just has to be the most interesting hobby
of all.
It's almost a sure thing that if you search long
and hard enough, you're going to discover you are related to
some very famous people... and a scoundrel or two who really
make things interesting.
My mother has always accused me of being an argumentative
soul. In searching my family history, I found out a possibility
of why. There are several nationally prominent attorneys and
jurists on not one, but both sides of my family tree.
After more years of interest in genealogy then
I'll admit, a recent discovery was one of the most interesting.
The discovery was that I'm related to Sam Houston of Tennessee
and Texas fame! Always wondered what my trouble was... now I
know. :-)
Tracing your family tree is somewhat like putting
together a jig saw puzzle. One big difference however, is that
you are never going to get all the pieces of your family tree
fitted into your big picture.
It sure is fun to search for those elusive pieces,
though!
In years gone by, searching one's family tree
usually involved traveling great distances to dig into musty
records of far away libraries and court houses.
No more! Now, thanks to this wondrous internet,
finding the facts of your family history can be as close as the
next mouse click away!
Below are links to the best sites we've found
on the Web for tracing your family tree and learning about your
family history. The USGenWeb Project is listed first for a reason.
It is tops of all the sites out there. Best of all... it's all
absolutely free! They never (as far as I know) try to sell you
anything.
Go to USGenWeb, scroll down to the U.S. map and
click on the state where your earliest known ancestors lived.
You will see that each of the 50 states are represented by knowledgeable
and hard working volunteers.
In most of those 50 states, you'll find even harder
working souls volunteering their time and effort as "County
Coordinators." They're quickly building the databases and
help you need to learn about your ancestors in each individual
county of the states.
The USGenWeb Project
The next five links are to commercial sites. These
five are the ones we consider tops in the USA... in terms of
being useful. And, like most commercial sites on the Web, including
our own, they give away some super useful goodies in hopes you'll
also purchase some of their wares while you're visiting.
Ancestry, Inc. has been around awhile as a company
who will search your family tree for a price. About five years
ago, they completed a research project for me which provided
the break I needed to make several giant leaps on my own in discovering
my ancestry. I personally recommend them highly.
Now, Ancestry is on the Web with (and this is
a personal opinion) the most useful site available. They have
scads of freebie databases you can search... and for a very small
price... dozens more useful research tools.
Ancestry HomeTown
Family Tree Maker is the publisher of one of the
best selling genealogical software programs available... appropriately
named, "Family Tree Maker."
We use it. It's a good program. Their
online database which you can search free changes so quickly...
we can't keep up with its size. At last look, however, it was
considerably over 100 million searchable individuals.
Family Tree Maker
Online
Everton Genealogy is probably the oldest commercial
company of its type. It has been around since the early 1940s
and offers some real goodies... free as well as for a price.
Everton's Guide to Genealogy
Lineages, Inc. is another old line research company
who is now online with some very interesting material.
Lineages, Inc.
The following company was among the first to put
genealogical material on CD-ROMS. They are probably now overshadowed
in that field by Family Tree Maker, but Automated is still in
there fighting for marketshare... and in the process giving away
free goodies.
Automated Research, Inc.
Here's another commercial site which gives away
lots of good information.
Kindred Konnections
Most of the sites we give you on this page are
absolutely packed with facts... data resources to help you trace
your family tree. The following site is a little different. Its
main purpose is to show you how to trace your family tree.
If you're a beginner in this fascinating pursuit... this is one
of the first places on the World Wide Web you should visit.
Treasure
Maps
When you start serious research into your family
tree, you're going to need to know things like in what county
a certain town or village is located. You'll also need to know
where to write and how much money to send for copies of birth
certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, wills, court
records, etc. The following site will give you those valuable
facts, plus hundreds more... all free and at the click of your
mouse.
United States Vital Records
Information
The following commercial site has a very extensive
listing of U.S. census records and offers to do lookups for $10
per search. We've never used them, but if anyone does, will you
please share your experience with us. Thanks!
Record
Retrieval Service
There is lots of good research material and links
at the following site.
The Genealogy Home Page
The following site is the home page of Richard
Eastman. Richard publishes a weekly newletter on genealogy which
you will find very informative and helpful. This guy "covers
the waterfront" in everything to do with searching family
trees and family history.
Roots Computing
If you even "suspect" you have any Native
American heritage in your background, you will do well to visit
the following comprehensive site.
Native
American Genealogy
Here is another reliable, old line publisher of
genealogy materials who now has a great Web Site.
Genealogical Publishing
Company
At the Roots Search Engines below is where you
will find the "RSL" or "Roots Surname Lists."
You can search for the surnames of interest to you among the
scads already submitted by others... then email the submitter
for more information.
Also while at the site, be sure to submit the
names in which you're interested to be entered into the database
so others will see them and email you to compare notes on common
ancestors.
We were recently able to give a lady who contacted
us through RSL, her complete line back to 1600 England. It goes
without saying, she was elated!
Roots
Search Engines
Matthew Helm is an individual who has maintained
a very helpful site about genealogy for several years now. It
just keeps getting better and better. You'll do well to visit
here often.
Helm's Genealogy Toolbox
You'll find several excellent links at the following
site. Also, a sample of the 1880 U.S. census.
Genealogy Online
If you have ancestors who lived anywhere in the
"Old South", this library probably has something to
help you.
The Library of
Virginia
The following folks are the guardians of our national historical
treasures. We haven't found their site among the most helpful
yet. The National Archives recently, however, gained funding
to digitize and make available online zillions of the abundance
of records they hold. Watch this site for help in the near future.
The National Archives
Here is one of the most comprehensive listing
we've seen for Genealogy Books, CD-ROMS, etc.
Heritage Books: History,
Genealogy, Americana
Here is a super Web Site by the "Mother"
of all U.S. genealogical societies.
National Genealogical
Society
And then... the "Grandmother" of all
genealogical societies.
New England Historical and
Genealogical Society
Following is one of the most amazing databases
available on the Internet. It is courtesy of the U.S. Geological
Survey and will give you information on any feature... city,
county, state... in the U.S.
We have found this site invaluable in locating
cemeteries. When you arrive at the site complete the State Name,
County Name, and type "cemetery" into the Feature Name
field. Send your query and in seconds you will have a list of
all the cemeteries in the county you asked for.
Click on the name of a cemetery in which you're
interested and then click "Show Location" and you will
shortly be presented with two maps. The first locates the cemetery
of interest in the USA... then just below will be a very detailed
map with which you should be able to easily drive to the cemetery
of your choice with no problems.
USGS
Mapping Information: GNIS Data Base
Here is a map generator site which will "blast"
you a map for any address in the USA. It's excellent when you
know a street address, but not how to find something.
Vicinity Corporation's
MapBlast!
Ancestral Findings has some very extensive and useful databases
you may search. You are limited, however, to researching only
two individuals per day on their site.
Ancestral
Findings
Reading Recommendations
"Ancestors : A Beginner's Guide to Family History and
Genealogy"
By Jim Willard, Terry Willard and Jane Wilson
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