OT: FAMILY TREES - Page 3

Jan in CA · 06-06-2007, 08:12 PM

You shouldn't have much trouble getting info as long as it's in the US. You have to check a lot of sources sometimes to get info, too. That's why all the links.

bailsmom · 06-07-2007, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by Jan in CA

You shouldn't have much trouble getting info as long as it's in the US. You have to check a lot of sources sometimes to get info, too. That's why all the links.

Oh thank goodness!! I've got all those links saved to my favorites! I had to take today off due to my healing process from my surgery, I was in a bit of pain today. I keep overdoing things because I "feel" good at the moment and then I do 10 things I shouldn't. :rollseyes:

I'm such a dork.

Thanks again for the help.

06-07-2007, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

Don't forget to ask the librarians at your local library. They can clue you in on local information and people in your area who know stuff. Plus they are really good at researching!

LL

Absolutely. And you should check to see if your library subscribes to any genealogy databases. My library has HeritageQuest, which you can access from home with a password, and the library edition of Ancestry.com that you can use in the library.

It might also be worth it to contact your official state library. Often they're repositories for copies of wills, birth certificates, death certificates, etc. They may charge a fee, but it could be worth looking into.

Knitting_Guy · 06-07-2007, 02:11 AM

To do it right takes a great deal of hands on research and going through old documents, old family bibles, and whatever public records still exist. We've managed to trace our family history back to Ireland as far back as the 1100s with some speculation beyond that (records earlier than that are almost impossible).

debinoz · 06-07-2007, 04:07 AM

Stick with and don't get discouraged.

My dad, nor his sibs, even knew what their granfather's name was. There was no record of my grandfathers birth. As my dad told me that they were poor share croppers and didn't have time to run to the city. My dad's birth was recorded only because his great aunt happened to be going that way, and as she didn't like the name they had picked out, she changed it to what she wanted. He was 15 when his mom passed and he had to have his birth certificate to join the airforce. When they couldn't find him in the records, his aunt spoke up.

bailsmom · 06-07-2007, 04:08 AM

Oh my goodness! I was talking to my Dad again and got some more info from him and in doing so it popped up a 5 generation list!! All I did was fix one name and boom there it was. For me it'd be 6 generations cause it was off of my great-grandpa. And the names that he gave me came up on some of them. So I know at least some of them are correct. I realize the info may not all be correct, but it's something to go of off.

I am so excited to do this, and it came up to tell us that our family is from Germany. Back in the 1700's. I called my Dad back and he was so glad because they never knew exactly where our family came from. I'm so glad I'm doing this for him.

I just had to gush!!!

bailsmom · 06-07-2007, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by debinoz

Stick with and don't get discouraged.

My dad, nor his sibs, even knew what their granfather's name was. There was no record of my grandfathers birth. As my dad told me that they were poor share croppers and didn't have time to run to the city. My dad's birth was recorded only because his great aunt happened to be going that way, and as she didn't like the name they had picked out, she changed it to what she wanted. He was 15 when his mom passed and he had to have his birth certificate to join the airforce. When they couldn't find him in the records, his aunt spoke up.

OMG! You're kidding me??? That's unbelieveable.

I will stick with it, thanks for the encouragement it means a lot.

cftwo · 06-07-2007, 04:18 PM

It sounds like you're having a lot of fun! Do you know what part of Germany your family is from?? You can also find information if you can get your hands on old obituaries. They'll often tell you more details and make your ancestors seem more real. But double check what you find there! One of my ancestors had a whole bunch of lies in her obituary (she was covering up some family skeletons), but it did give her place of birth, which helped track down what was true. You'll learn pretty quickly, too, whether family rumors tend to be true or not.

If you haven't bought Legacy software, I encourage you to do so before you get overwhelmed with details. It's a great way to keep your research organized!

madametj · 06-07-2007, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ingrid

My daughter found an amazing amount of things about our family at www.ancestry.com . I think it was free, too. She even found a copy of the papers my father filled out when he came to the country back in the '40's.

I'll double check the site when I get home to make sure that's the free one.

Because you you and this thread I've spent the past hour researching and building my family tree.

Thanx

bailsmom · 06-07-2007, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by madametj

Because you you and this thread I've spent the past hour researching and building my family tree.

Thanx

My pleasure!! It is so easy once you get the names everything just seems to fall into place.

I'll look into that Legacy Software this weekend.