How to Find My Ancestors
Searching for ancestors, also called family history work or genealogy, has grown in popularity as methods for searching have become easier. With the use of computers and searchable databases, gathering information about ancestors is much less time consuming than in years past. Family history work is an exciting window into your own personal past. It provides a sense of roots and gives insight into traits you may not have recognized as inherited. Knowing your ancestors can often help you to know yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with internet access
- Family history software
- File to store family information
Instructions
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Create a pedigree chart, beginning with you, to outline the family information you already have. Pedigree charts are available in four-, five- and six-generation formats, and may be filled out on a computer or on a paper copy. Use more than one chart if you need to.
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Talk to or email family members to gather information you are missing. Find out if they have any verifiable resources like obituaries, newspaper clippings, funeral programs, marriage/birth/death certificates or photographs, and see if they are willing to send you copies. Birth and death dates are especially important. Personal stories and memories will enrich your history, especially when connected to photographs. Take detailed notes on who relayed the story or memory. Relatives may also be able to tell you if anyone else is researching family history.
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Obtain as much information as you can from free genealogical sites before subscribing to a paid service. Free sites draw information from several databases including foreign and domestic census records and U.S. Social Security indexes. The searched name is usually linked to parents, so beginners will be able to find many generations of ancestors. To search for a name online, you will need a first and last name and a death or birth date. Searches may be conducted within a range of years if you do not have a precise date. Use the maiden name for females if the married name does not produce the correct record.
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Once you have located a record on a genealogical site, take notes on the information you have found, including variant spellings of the name and the source of the information. If more than one record exists for the name you are searching, use the listed dates and links to parents or spouse to confirm that the record is for the correct person.
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If you have a name, but no other information to conduct a search with, you may check public records to find a birth date, marriage/divorce date or death date. Information from the previous generation may give direction as to the geographic location or time frame to search. Your goal is to find a verifiable birth, death or marriage date for the name. Some information is more difficult to find, depending on where you live and the quality of the records. Many public records are searchable online, but for personal information, such as birth/death certificates, you may need to provide proof of relationship or pay a fee. If you live within a reasonable distance of the place you would like to search, you may go to the county office and ask what the procedure is for searching physical records. You may also search newspaper archives at public libraries for additional clues as to time or location of deaths and marriages. Military records may be requested from the National Personnel Records Center.
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Cemeteries and churches are valuable repositories of information. Burial records at the cemetery may have information about relatives of the person buried there. Baptism and marriage records at churches may also list other family names and dates. Some larger cemeteries have searchable online records. Otherwise, place a call to the cemetery or church you are interested in, and ask what their procedure is for searching records.
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If you are unable to find any verifiable information about a family name, post a request for help at a genealogical site. Most sites facilitate information sharing among family historians. You may find someone else who has been able to conduct successful research on the name.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a filing system to store non-digital information. Computer software is available to help you organize your family history. Choose software that allows you to enter information easily, link individuals and has room for notes and pictures. When possible, list a cause of death. This will help establish a family medical history.
