How to Go Back in Your Family Tree

You never know what you'll learn about yourself when you search your family tree.

Whether you're just getting started or have reached a roadblock, researching your family tree requires pooling several different resources to piece together the big picture that is your family tree. Start by talking with family members to collect information such as dates of birth and death, where your ancestors lived and whether any served in the military. This will jump start your search, and then you can begin collecting information through other channels.

Instructions

1. Locate state records. Each state keeps records pertaining to things like birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and immunization records. If you find a birth certificate, for instance, it should list your relative's mother and father, which can lead to more information. You can also look into census records, which are updated by the government every 10 years and have been kept since the late 1700s.

2. Look for military documents. Military records are another search tool at your disposal -- even if your relative didn't serve in the military. For example, men born from 1872 to 1900 were required to fill out a draft card once they turned 18. Your search results may have several men of the same name, so other pieces of information such as a birth date will come in handy.

3. 

   Knowing where your ancestors came from will help your cause.

   Focus on where your ancestors came from. If you know you're part Irish, this means you probably had a relative or two from Ireland who came to America. Since 1820, the United States has kept records of all passengers who arrived by ship from other countries. You can also check immigration records to find a match as well.

4. Don't ignore the small stuff. Even if pieces of information you obtain seem meaningless or insignificant, they may give you clues that lead to a bigger piece of the puzzle. There are several online sites that specialize in genealogy as well as access to many state and government sites providing the records listed above. Local libraries can also be of service, as many have records of land purchases as and copies of old newspapers from which you can glean factual information -- as well as interesting pieces of anecdotal knowledge about your ancestors' lives.

References

• U.S. National Archives and Records Administration: Genealogy Information
• Family Tree Magazine: Now what; 10 Go-To Genealogy Records