New to genealogy? New to researching?

Start thinking like a detective

One of the first steps to take would be to talk to all of your relatives for any information that they can give to you. Names, dates, stories etc.; Old photos would be a plus.

Now that you have names and dates; you can begin your investigation.

Obtain all of the primary source records that you can.

Example:
Birth certificate
Death certificate
Marriage certificate
Divorce certificate
Adoption records

Over the years I have recieved many, many e-mails from folks asking me about their ancestors.

Their question most of the time is "Do you know who the parents of so and so" are?

In most cases they give me the person's approximate date of birth and also date of death; some have the exact date of death.

I always look them up in the Pearsall Genealogy book index. If they are not there; I suggest that if they have the county and state that the person died; they should send for their death certificate.

It's easy to find out where to send for the record.

Go to Google.com and enter the county, enter a plus sign + and then the state + Vital records.

Easy stuff huh?

Even if your ancestors are in the Pearsall Books; send for as many death certificates as you can possibly get.

Why? Because the books can contain errors. Besides having documentation is better and every good detective needs proof to back up the facts. The death certificate also contains extra information that you might want to know that maybe the books won't have. Such as: the place of death, age of death; the date and place of birth; the residence at where they were living at the time of death; their occupation; and most important ---> their parents' names and place of birth; marriage status; their spouse's name and may include the spouse (wife) maiden name; the cemetery where they were buried; and the name of the funeral home. If the funeral home is still in existence; you should try calling them and asking them for more information on the deceased. It worked for me!

Another great source to look for your family is to the Check Census records. Today, you can search through census records on-line (for a fee). Try Ancestry.com or Genealogy.com both have almost all of the census from 1800 to 1930. Be a good detective and follow their trail. If you found your anctestor in the 1880 census look in the later census records and also check the 1870 etc. You might find others who were living with them at the time. For example; an aged parent; an in-law; you may also find additional children.

You can also order census records through your local library and also if you have an LDS library in your area. If you would like to know if there is one in your area (click here) Which reminds me; if you use the "Family search" at the LDS site be very careful and don't assume that the information is correct. There can be a host of errors there. Some people contribute data about their family that is not researched thoroughly.

The LDS on-line has a catalogue section
You can search for a place to see if they have any film on that area, or you can do a surname search to see if anyone has written a genealogy record on your family. They may even have a city directory for your area.

Social Security started around 1936; anyone you're researching after this time period you can send away for a copy of their SS-5. The SS-5 is the form that they filled out when applying for a Social security number and benefits.

There is vital information that will help you here: It will show you Their full name and age; their address; their emplyor's name; If a woman; it will show you her maiden name; also and importantly, it will show you their parents names. A signature will also be there.

There is also a Social Security Death index that you can search. There is one on Rootsweb.com. You need not have their SS# providing you know the area where your ancestor lived and approximate date of death. Rootsweb has a printable form that you can use to send for the information.

You should have several copies of Family group sheets to enter all of the information you have been accumulating. You can download one for free at Ancestry.com.

Or you can buy software that will help you keep all the information in an organized manner. I think Family Tree Maker it one of the better ones.

Where was your ancestor born? If you know you can check out: Local Historical Socities
Sometimes these libraries have small booklets on families; also check to see if a local historian wrote a book about the area. Check his bibliography section for more clues. (Where did he/she get their information?)

Another source with a wealth of information are old newspapers. If you live in the same area where your ancestors lived; you can check with your local library or if your state has a lending library as New York does: New York State Newspaper Project http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/

You can purchase or borrow the film and look at it at your local library.

Sometimes these libraries have small booklets on families; also check to see if a local historian wrote a book about the area. Check his bibliography section for more clues. (Where did he/she get their information?)

I was lucky that I lived in the same county that my ancestors lived in for the past 300 years! So I had no problem accessing old newspapers which I read for hours and hours. I found a marriage announcement for my ggrandparents, how my gggrandfather Mott died; he was hit by a train (ugh), I even found little tidbits about my gggrandfather Thomas Pearsall; and he had a sloop named "Florence". ahhh now I knew where my aunt got her name; Florence! No one in the family had that name before.

Court records are another great source: Wills, land, Town records, Church records, Cemeteries, deeds, tax and probate records.

Within no time you'll see your family tree grow and grow.

Happy digging!