Has the genealogy bug hit? If you're considering your family's genealogy, here are some great steps to begin your journey !!
📚 Step 1: Start with What
You Know
- Begin
with yourself and work backward.
- Record
names, birth/marriage/death dates, and places.
- Talk
to relatives—they’re goldmines of information! Ask for family Bibles, old
photos, documents, obits, and stories.
Tip: Use a pedigree chart or family group sheet to
keep track of names/dates.
🌐 Step 2: Use Free Online
Tools First
Start with free resources before diving into subscriptions:
- FamilySearch.org
(by the LDS Church) – Completely free, with a huge global database.
- FindAGrave.com
– Gravestone photos, cemetery records, sometimes obits or family links.
- USGenWeb.org
– State and county-level genealogical projects, often overlooked but super
helpful.
🧭 Step 3: Use Paid Sites
If Needed
These are worth it if you hit a wall or need to dig deeper:
- Ancestry.com
– Massive database of census records, military, immigration, and more.
- MyHeritage.com
– Great for international records.
- Newspapers.com
– Fantastic for obituaries and old news clippings.
- Fold3.com
– Military records and history.
Pro Tip: Libraries and Family History Centers often give free
access to these paid databases.
🧬 Step 4: Consider DNA
Testing
If you’re curious about biological lines or have brick
walls:
- AncestryDNA
or 23andMe – Huge databases and strong cousin-matching tools.
- FamilyTreeDNA
– Good for deeper Y-DNA and mtDNA analysis.
- GEDmatch
– Upload raw DNA from any site to find matches across platforms.
🗂️ Step 5: Organize Your
Findings
Use software or online trees to stay organized:
- Family
Tree Maker
- RootsMagic
- Gramps
(free and open-source)
- Or
build your tree online with Ancestry, MyHeritage, or FamilySearch.
🕵️♀️ Step 6: Focus on
One Branch at a Time
Once you hit a roadblock, move to another family line. You’d
be surprised how solving one branch opens up another.
🌍 Step 7: Go Local
- Courthouses,
churches, cemeteries, and local historical societies have treasure troves
of documents.
- Join a
local genealogy society—they often have member-only databases and
experienced researchers to help.
