Create your family tree book




If you really want to gather a good collection of your family’s history, try to create your own family tree book. Searching your family tree can be a fun hobby and an interesting way to learn more about where your ancestors came from.

Family tree book creating tips

Putting your photos into your family tree book will help to put a visual interest into your project as well as provide a safe place to preserve your photos for future generations. Add important documents to your family tree book. Include sections for birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates in your book. Add a label next to each photo to identify the people in it. Even if you know who these people are, future generations of your family will look at your family book and they may not be able to identify your relatives as easily as you can. Fill in the basic information of names, dates of birth and death, marriage details and all the children each couple had. If you find details that contradict your own information, save both sets and research further to try and find proof of which is correct. Find published works containing information on your ancestors. Uncover details of intriguing family photographs. Search historic newspaper archives for long-forgotten details. Visit your ancestral home towns as often as you like.

Go online

Trying to research every person on all sides of the family can get overwhelming for beginners. Post what you’ve found on online repositories and you’ll likely find that distant relatives will start contacting you to share information and ask you questions about the family lines you’ve been researching. Information about our ancestors is not enough for us; we also want to find out about the people who share our forefathers and are living today.

Share family photos online and link your photos through albums so that other members of your family can see them. Family members can share photos and work together to create profiles for common ancestors. Your tree and all records attached to those in your tree can be shared via email with anyone else. Family members can also share videos and pictures through there own website as well. Use special online tools and software. Such tools allows families to build and collaborate on family trees, as well as to share digital videos, photos and memories.

Use Google for your research

Today family researchers can gather hundreds and thousands of pieces of information about distant relatives and family origins. But did you realize the most powerful tool for your genealogy research is completely free! Google is the most powerful tool available worldwide for online research. So use Google to your full advantage.


Ancestry tree building – quick start tips


Here you will find quick start tips for ancestry tree building.

Grow your family tree:
• Begin with what you know.
• List the names of your parents, grandparents, and other relatives.
• Research and document dates and locations of family births, deaths, marriages, and other important events.

Conduct a treasure hunt:
• Search for official documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, deeds, and passports.
• Find photos and picture postcards.
• Read letters, journals, and diaries.
• Search old newspaper clippings.
• Look for artifacts such as medals, jewelry, and needlework.

Talk to older relatives:
• Ask them what they remember about their parents, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives.
• Ask them to identify people in photographs.
• Ask about specific events.
• Ask open-ended questions and take the opportunity to reminisce.
• Record the interviews using a tape or digital recorder.
• Take notes (even if you are making a recording).

Verify facts:
• Remember, we are all fallible.
• Ask others.
• Avoid leading questions.
• Cross-check records.

Get assets onto your computer:
• Scan photos and documents.
o Save scanned images at a high resolution. For letter size save at 300 dpi, and for smaller sizes save at 600 dpi or more.
o Store the originals in a safe place.
• Save downloaded files and email attachments in a central location.
• Name files consistently and carefully. At the very least, use the subject’s first and last name, and the date.

Standardize names, dates, and locations:
• Do not get caught up trying to settle on the “correct” spelling of family names.
• Capitalize surnames (last names).
• Use maiden names.
• Nicknames should be placed in quotes.
• Jr. or Sr. should follow the last name and be separated by a comma.
• Roman numerals such as III or IV should follow the last name, but no comma is required.
• Titles (Captain, Lady, Sir, Doctor, Lord, Baron) should be entered in the Title Fact field.
• For multi-word surnames use backslashes, e.g. \VON FURSTENBERG\.
• For persons with no known last name, use UNKNOWN, e.g. Jane UNKNOWN.
• Format dates using the day-month-year format. (Family Tree Maker will auto-format dates for you.)
• If you’re not sure of the exact date, use the following modiiers: Aft. (after), Bef. (before) or Abt. (about).
• Locations are written from small to large, e.g. city/town, county, state, country.

Find documents online:
• The U.S. Census Bureau releases each decennial census 72 years after it was recorded. The most recent data available is from 1930. Most censuses include family members, boarders, ages at the time of the census, address (or neighborhood), place of birth, occupation, and neighbors. Some include the month and year of birth; whether the subject owns or rents their home, has a mortgage, or has a farm or house; number of farm animals; the value of house and possessions; length of marriage; level of education; whether the subject is “deaf and dumb”; names of any “servants” (who are frequently not actually servants); and whether the subject is a “survivor” of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.

The Social Security Death Index lists the deceased’s name, Social Security number, state and year of issue, birth date, death date (or month and year), and last known residence (city, state, and zip code).
o For $27, you can purchase a copy of the original, handwritten application for a Social Security card (SS-5) issued to a person who is listed in the Social Security Death Index. To do so, fill out form SSA-711 at: https://secure.ssa.gov/
• Ship passenger lists include the date of arrival (and possibly debarkation), the name of the ship, passenger name, birth year and location, and address.
• Passport applications include the applicant’s full name, address, occupation, birth date and location, actual signature, and sometimes photographs.
• Naturalization and citizenship records include the subject’s full name, address, occupation, and birth date and location.
• Military draft registration cards record the address, birth date, occupation, name and address of employer, physical description, and signature of the subject.

Find public record documents (occasionally available online):
• Birth certificates list the date of birth, full name of the child and the parents, ages of both parents, maiden name of the mother, hospital, and attending physician.
• Marriage records list the full names of the bride and groom, and their parents’ names, birth dates and locations, witnesses (frequently close friends), location, date, and name of the person who performed the service.
• Death certificates list the full name, birth and death dates, cause of death, length of illness, spouse, address, funeral home, and cemetery.


How to trace ancestors and where to start?




If you are going to trace ancestors, you have to make your pedigree chart. It’s a form that lists an individual family member and his direct ancestors along with all the important data about his life.

And of course, you start this chart with you. Otherwise, the initial entry is the ancestor whom you’re documenting. This individual is placed on the first line on the chart. The father’s information is placed on the second line; the mother’s information on the third line.

From here, the chart takes two distinct routes. The first is following the ancestral routes of the individual along the father’s family history. This is the upper track of the form. The mother’s route uses the bottom track.

So, I can hear you say now, you’ve limited me to four generations. What do I do after that? Pull out another pedigree chart. Create a new one, starting with the fourth generation on your previous chart. Now, each individual in this generation is placed on the first line of his or her own pedigree chart. In order to keep track of “who’s who”, reference their number on the original chart.

Let’s say you’ve created your pedigree chart. Your father’s father father (normally referred to as your great-grandfather) is ancestor number 8 on your original pedigree chart. As you find more documentation, you’ll follow his family line still farther back into history.

You’ll need to create a new chart. Be sure to designate this as “Chart Number 2”. Right now it might not make a large difference, but as you begin to collect these charts, this simple tracking system becomes indispensable.

Family Group Sheet

The next most common form you’ll use as a genealogist is the family group sheet. This is when the pedigree chart focuses on an individual’s history, the family group sheet spotlights an entire family. This particular tool provides a space for a couple and their children. It also contains fields for you to record the birth, marriage, death and locations of burial for each member.

These are vital tools. This sheet allows you to include information not only on the individuals, but on the children of your ancestors – and their spouses. As you progress in your journey through your family, you may indeed discover how convenient and essential this tool is.
When you have difficulty locating a birth certificate on a specific ancestor, turning to this sheet and checking on his sibling may yield more clues.

The pedigree chart and the family group sheet go hand in hand. For each marriage you record on a pedigree chart, you’ll fill out a family group sheet.

The pedigree chart gives you a quick and easy glimpse into your family tree. The family group sheet provides you with a more up close and personal view of it.


Tracing family history online – to pay or not to pay?




There is nothing like sitting down in your pajamas in the house and discovering a new genealogy websites or database to explore for family connections.
Those online materials are available any time you have a few moments to fit in a little genealogical research. But unless you’re able to find what you need on free sites or those sponsored by genealogical groups or maintained by dedicated individuals, you’ll likely have to either: a) subscribe to a group of databases, or b) obtain a membership for special access to more sophisticated information. After all, someone has to bear the cost of putting all that information online.

So it’s confession time. How many databases do you pay for? I’ll bet that you subscribe to at least two; a web-based service like Ancestry.com and one sponsored by a non-profit group like the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). Back in the old days of the Internet, when databases weren’t so plentiful, there wasn’t much overlap between memberships. Now, however, that’s a different story. Here are tips to help you find what you need without going broke.

FREE VS. FEE
Think about the information you’re looking for, then try to find a free source for that information. Before you spend a penny, explore free and fee-based online services.

VISIT THE LIBRARY
Another good source of no-cost or low-cost access is a library. Most public and private libraries subscribe to online resources that can be used by members onsite or from home. If you need to access a specific database sponsored by a bricks-and-mortar organization, ask about non-member usage. For instance, anyone can pay the day fee at the NEHGS and use all the online resources
on www.newenglandancestors.org while they are in the library. Need access to an academic resource? Try your local college library. They subscribe to special scholarly online sites for their students that aren’t available through individual membership. Ask the reference staff about their policies regarding visitor access.

COMPARE, COMPARE, COMPARE
Explore the databases offered by different organizations before you sign up. Some duplication may be unavoidable, but try not to subscribe to two services that offer the same material, unless you really require the unique resources that are also available.

LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS
Afew sites offer short term memberships or pay-per-view. For instance, you can sign up for a month with the Origins Network, www.originsnetwork.com.

BUY WHAT YOU NEED
Rather than subscribing to several networks all at once, use one for awhile, then add other memberships as your research warrants. Some sites will allow you to tailor your subscription. Since


Hiring A Professional Genealogist




Probably the most expensive option for you to use is that of hiring a professional genealogist. These individuals are likely to provide you with the highest quality results, if you select one that is responsible, experienced and dedicated to providing the information to you.

Hiring a professional to do this work for you is a good idea, especially if you find yourself at a road block. Yet, it is essential that you do your homework to find someone that is willing and capable of providing you with the information that you need. There are, unfortunately, many organizations that are only looking for a payday rather than looking to help you to put together your family’s story.

Find out what history that professional offers. What has he done for others? What is the farthest back he or she has been able to go for other families? In addition to this, you want to know how it will happen. Where will they gather additional information, how will they do more than you did and what can you expect to learn from what you are offering them?

In getting this information, you should also make sure that the professional will be providing you with an accurate family tree. For example, it makes no benefit to you to be filled with inaccurate information, and since you likely have no way of knowing if it’s authentic, you need an upfront guarantee.

Getting references for those that you employ and then understanding what they really can offer you is essential. Make sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau or similar organizations as well.