Genealogy Chat

Hi all, As you can probably tell, i really am extremely new to all this. Is there a website where i can find advice on how to begin? I've weeded all the info i can out of my family, now i want to look further (the whole point of this i guess!). I can find my grandfather's mothers maiden name, and i've tried google (a previous thread's advise), but i can't seem to find anything. Any help or advice will be much appreciated. Please, come to my help! I'm finding it all really interesting so far, i don't want to lose interest, just because i'm unsure of what i'm doing! Thanks Jon

Just a few general points that I would suggest..........(in no particular order) :- 1) Order up some certificates from the GRO - £7 each : you cannot research with any certainty unless you have the facts........and certificates whils't soon adding up the costs, are worthwhile. 2) Be very organised (don't rush your research) - you'll soon have loads of paperwork ! Get yourself a couple of big A4 binders. 3) Buy a general 'trace your family history' book : these always have loads of good tips. 4) Start with yourself, and go back one generation at a time. This way you will be certain of your Great Grandmothers maiden name. 5) Don't believe all that your family tell you.............facts get moved about a bit over the years, names change etc etc : Write it all down what you get told and you can always refer back to it. Others on here will add to your thread, but just a few tips that I have advised someone at work who is also interested in tracing back his family. Good luck and most importantly.............enjoy.

what name are we looking, date, area? I'm sure someone will come up with something.

Scroll down to 'Geneaology websites'

Jon if you google ''genealogy for beginners'' there is a very good site that is a one stop guide to tracing your family tree. Then if you get stuck you can always post some names & dates & I am sure you will get plenty of help on these boards. Georgina.

The best sources of information depend on what you want to do. To look at adding more names to your tree you need the birth, marriage and death index, certificates, census returns etc. To add some history to the names you have (and those you will find later on) you can look into the occupations and places noted on certificates and census returns. Many of your ancestors could have a skeleton in the cupboard just waiting for you to uncover. For many people putting 'meat on the bones' is the real fun part of this hobby. There is a basic guide to researching family history on this site as well as many others but some are better than others.

Here are some free sites to start you off: http://freebmd.rootsweb*com/cgi/search.pl (replace asterisk with dot) (births, marriages and deaths from 1837 to about 1905) http://www.familysearch.org (1881 census and IGI for pre-1837 births, marriages and deaths) If you decide you want to continue, you'll need a subscription to Ancestry for the censuses. Put the word 'Newbies' into the search box at the top of the Tips Board first page, and you'll find various threads with useful information.

you can search for free on Ancesrty BMD index 1837-1983 and 1984-2004 and register for free too http://www.ancestry(.)co.uk/search/rectype/vital/freebmd/bmd.aspx Remove brackets Jeanette and to reply to thread just click on add reply at top of page

I have just nudged a thread up for you Johnathan, its Information for new members ,Regards Ann

Jonathan, first thing to do is get a sub to ancestry - if you really mean to research all your family you will just be floundering without ancestry with all the census 1841-1901 plus the bmd index plus plus plus - and get yourself a decent family tree program NOW before you lose all the bits of info you collect. Most of us use Family Tree Maker 2006 - I think twr computing have it cheapest at mo and you can probably get it with a free months ancestry sub. No two ways, you need ancestry to start making real progress. And do what I did when I first started read each and every thread on this board and records office board - you will get a wealth of knowledge that way.