HOW TO START YOUR FAMILY TREE TEN GREAT WEBSITES TO START YOUR SEARCH!
Firstly you need to gather information you can do this on line using key web resources, once you start investigating, the results will be fascinating!!
Begin with living relatives find old documents, photographs and information, there is a Family History Society which has 15,000 members worldwide, look at sog.org.uk for details of its services, also the Federation Of Family History Society at ffhs.org.uk,gives you access to surname databases and local indexes.
To begin with most people start by looking at their surname, starting with parents, you may be able to search back to many past generations.
www.familyrecords.gov.ukcovers census returns, birth, marriages, deaths and wills, giving advice on obtaining information and copies of the certificates.
www.bbc.co.uk/familyhistoryTips on getting started and also linked to the fascinating series Who Do You Think You Are?
www.genuki.org.ukU.K. and Republic of Ireland reference library details of record offices, for some counties there are records of individual towns villages and parishes.
www.cyndislist.comOver 2000,000 online resources maintained in the U.S.A but also includes the U.K and Republic of Ireland.
www.ancestry.co.ukProvides for an annual subscription fee access to its worldwide collection of records and indexes old telephone directories, and arrival records for the Port of New York!!
www.findmypast.comA rich source of information looking for English and Welsh records including military records, passport applications and ships passenger lists.
www.familysearch.orgA free of charge service (most require a fee or subscription) it has an index to the 1881 census of England and Wales, indexes to parish registers, and is run by the Mormons, who are still improving and updating these records and indexes.
www.genesreunited.co.ukAnyone can upload a family tree for others to see, I t is one of the most popular sites in the U.K.
Firstly start gathering your information off line, jot down everything you can find about your family, including as much detail as you can, includingan accurate list of names, dates of birth, marriages and deaths, for all immediate family.
Organising your findings is important saving you time and going over old ground.
Collect family memories, talking to near and distant relatives reminiscing will help to build a picture; you may need to record any interviews.
Ten Leading Questions to Ask
Name, date of birth, where you grew up and place of marriage.
Tell me about your parents and grandparents also maiden names.
Nicknames
Work that ancestors did.
Descriptions any photographs you could look at or loan.
The home where you grew up and the address the area and surroundings.
Schools attended.
Churches attended.
Childhood Memories.
Christenings, weddings and funerals any details that can be remembered.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT SOFTWARE.
There are reviews on familyrecords.gov.uk and my-history.co.uk also genealogyreviews.co.uk/genealogysoftware.htm it is a good idea to browse these before purchasing.Family Historian-.www.family-historian.co.ukthis website allows you to create different styles of family tree, you can add pictures audio files and videos.Family tree MakerEnables you to create diagrams and charts. Roots Magicwww.rootsmagic.co.ukYou can obtain a free trial of this version 3 programme, which shows you how to create charts adding pictures etc Legacy Family Tree Can be downloaded free of charge fromwww.legacyfamilytree.com.This has links to family history sites and has many extra features, including publishing the results of your research in a book.
Exploring your family history is a marvellous adventure, for young and old to share, you will enjoy embarking on a journey into the past, there are many resources available to assist you on your historical journey, which will endeavour to enrich and