How to Find Where I Come From in My Family History

Attics can be a possible source for family history information.

Many people are curious about their family history and are interested to learn more about the lives of their ancestors. Family history research has become a popular and enjoyable hobby. Researching your family history can be frustrating at times, especially when you hit that inevitable "brick wall." However, with a bit of patience and persistence, combined with a healthy dose of skepticism, family historians will be rewarded with fascinating stories to pass on to generations to come.

Things You'll Need

• Family group sheets
• Ancestor charts
• Notebook
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Interview relatives, especially elderly relatives, and ask them about details of your family tree. Keep track of the information you receive in a small notebook. Record names, dates and locations you gather on family group sheets and an ancestor chart. Download these and other genealogy forms at Familytreemagazine.com, or add the information in a family tree computer program. Be aware that the information you receive from relatives may not always be accurate and be sure to follow-up with additional research to verify your findings.

2. Search through your own family records. Look through boxes, drawers, closets, filing cabinets, attics and basements. You may find genealogical treasures such as vital records, photographs, Bibles, military discharge papers, obituaries, various newspaper articles and other information that will help you discover more about your family.

3. Connect with others through genealogy message boards. You may find others who are seeking information on your ancestors. Popular free sites include the Genealogy.com or Rootsweb.com message boards. For an effective query, be sure to keep your message short and concise -- describing what family you are researching, where they lived and other details to separate them from families that have the same surname.

4. Order documents you do not have in your family records to fill in the blanks of your ancestor chart. Important records to obtain are birth, marriage and death records, for these records help to prove relationships and link the generations together. Order these records through local county clerk or recorder offices or town halls. Be sure to include as much information as you know on your ancestor when requesting a vital record.

5. Continue your family history research by using online subscription sites, such as Ancestry.com. Many public libraries have local history or genealogy rooms where you can access Ancestry.com for free. Ask a library staff member how you can search online federal censuses, local histories, vital records, military records and more. These specialized rooms often have additional genealogy resources, such as microfilmed newspapers and genealogy reference books, for you to use in your family history research.

Tips & Warnings

• Although it is tempting to jump ahead and research a relative several generations back in your family tree, it is important to find out all you can on ancestors who are more recent. The further back you research in your tree, the more scarce the records become and more difficult to find.

• When copying the contents from an online family tree, make sure the submitter has included credible sources where the information was obtained. If no sources are listed, use the information as clues to help in your research, and attempt to verify all the facts before adding the information to your own family tree.

References

• Familytreemagazine.com: Basic charts and worksheets
• Genealogy.com: Genforum
• Rootsweb.com: Message Boards
• Ancestry.com: How to Search

Resources

• "The Genealogist's Question and Answer Book"; Marcia Yannizze Melnyk; 2002
• "How to Do Everything Genealogy"; George C. Morgan; 2009