How to Trace a Family Genealogy on the Internet

The Internet has revolutionized the way people research genealogy. There are many genealogy Web sites, and some of them are free. Here's how to trace your family tree on the Internet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Genealogy software

1. Gather the genealogy data you've already assembled. Organizing family data on pedigree charts and family group sheets is helpful. You can download these free (see Resources below.)

2. Log on to FamilySearch (see Resources) and enter the name of your ancestor in the "Search for Your Ancestors" box.

3. Investigate every hit that appears for the name you entered. The responses reflect information on file with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the 1880 Census, the US Social Security Death Index, the 1881 British Isles census and the 1881 Canadian Census.

4. Log on to other genealogy Web sites (see Resources below) such as RootsWeb (free), Ancestry(some free access, but a charge for full access), Cyndi's List (free) or Genealogy (some free access, but a subscriber fee for full access). These sites offer so much information, you can spend hours researching your family.

5. Access the USGenWeb page (see Resources below) for one of the most comprehensive collections of genealogical data on the Internet. Search for information by state.

6. Search online to find specific records. For example, enter "Colorado cemeteries," "Kansas land records," "Ohio vital records," or "Wisconsin births" into a search engine and see what appears. If you have an ancestor of some renown, enter his or her name and see if it pops up.

7. Keep your information organized and print out copies of pages that interest you. If it's not included on the printout, note the site where you got the information and the date.

Tips & Warnings

• On FamilySearch, scroll down to the box "Find a Family History Center Near Your Home." Enter the name of your state and a list of the Family History Centers run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will appear. It's a good place to visit for more help while constructing your genealogy.
• Read the message boards on genealogy sites. If you have a query about a long-lost family member, take a chance and post it on a surname or locality message board. You may just hear from a relative!
• Much of the information submitted to genealogical Web sites is from users of the site, and not from professional researchers. You should verify almost anything you find online--unless it's a copy of an original record--with another reliable source.
• Not all genealogy can be constructed online. Obtaining birth and death certificates must be done by snail mail or personal visits--and often involves traveling to a country of origin.