TO BEGAN RESEARCH ON YOUR FAMILY GENEALOGY
Where In The World Are They From
Most of the following is how to begin family research, (other than using the Computer, and the Internet.) You can get a jump start, on you genealogy if use a genealogy program, for your computer, such as The Family Tree Maker, or Parson's Family Origin, and to search all the genealogy links, in which area that might be of interest to you in your search. They are too numerous to mention, because there are thousands. Just go to the Search and type-Roots or Genealogy to take a look. We think if you are just starting out that you might find the following tips some help to you.
Some families have information that have been handed down from generation to generation. If you are one of these fortunate few, you will want to proceed filling in your family group sheets immediately to complete as much information as possible on them. You may have a family Bible that has been passed down to you that contains many Birth, Death, and Marriage records. This would be a great help to you if this is available.
To begin researching on your family genealogy, it is best to obtain blank family group sheets. You will find a sample form at the end. You will want to list all the information about yourself, spouse and children, on this first form. On your second form place parents with all known birth dates including birth place, death dates and other data where your parents lived. Listing yourself as one of the children. On the third form, place the grand-parents of your father and list all the children, and information known on this family. On the forth form list the parents of your Mother, and list any children and family information that might be known. Keep working back in the generations, with as much data as is known. By filling out as much data that is known, it is sometimes possible to complete several generation. You will need a family sheet for:
Sheet #1. For You and Your immediate family
Sheet #2. Father's family with list of Children
Sheet #3. Mother's family with list of Children
Sheet #4. Grand-Fathers family (On Father's side)
Sheet #5. Grand-Mothers family (On Father's side)
Sheet #6. Grand-Fathers family (On Mothers's side)
Sheet #7. Grand-Mothers Family (On Mother's side)
The following is a list of different resource that will be an aid to you. As each new and interesting fact is learned about your ancestor you will find that this is great fun and is an enjoyable thing to do.:
CENSUS RECORDS
The census records are an important research tool in trying to find out
information on your family. Early census records began in 1790. Many
of the censuses have been indexed in book form which makes it much easier
in trying to locate your ancestor, instead of reading microfilm of each census.
So be sure to check out those indexes, when possible. Most libraries have
the inter-libraries loans in which you may order. Most all large cities have
libraries which will help you in this process.
AIS Census Indexes
Census Records
View Original Census Records at Ancestry.com!
STATE AND COUNTY RECORDS
There are many book that have been printed on State and County history records. They may prove helpful. Write to the County with a letter of inquiry. It is possible to get the information that you need.
PROBATE RECORDS AND WILLS
Probate records and wills have various information that may prove helpful to you in your ancestor research. If you think you know where your grand-grandparents died, be sure to check by a visit to the county or by letter writing to the county where they possibly lived at the time of death for any of this type of records. They prove to be valuable when some information is located on a specific person. Many wills are hard to read because of the handwriting of the time, but with a magnifying glass you should be able to decipher the information. You may want to ask for help from a professional if you have problems, as you wouldn't want to conclude the wrong name or date.
CEMETERY AND BURIAL RECORDS
Once you have located the area where your ancestors have lived, be sure to take the time to check cemetery and burial records from different cemeteries. The information many times can be also located in book form. If it hasn't been printed in book form, you may want to take a trip to the area for a personal look of the area. Be sure to take the time to check different cemeteries. Some times you will find lost relatives just from the tombstones. These may be overgrown with weeds and underbrush. You will find this to be true in small towns and private cemeteries. Many times the tombstone is worn so from the weather, that it is hard to read. You may find when holding a flash light to the side of the marker, the shadow will provide readable information.
MILITARY RECORDS
There are many books about men and women that have served in military
service, from the earlier battles and wars. If they were veteran's this
information may be ordered from the National Archives, provided your ancestor
received military benefits, such as pensions or bounty land. You can learn
in what service your ancestor served, what and if Veteran benefits were received.
There is a good study guide for this type of search, A Guide to Genealogical
Records in the National Archives.
National Archives Information Locator (NAIL)
Lest We Forget: The Value of Military Service Recs
WWI Burial Case Files & WWI Document Archive
In Search of the Graves of Our War Dead
US Military Records: Official Nat'l Guard Registry
NEWSPAPER
The newspaper is a very good source of finding information, about that long lost relative you are looking for. They contain all types of data. The obituaries, and marriage records are very helpful. Perhaps your ancestors and their brothers and sisters may be listed. This can really help in tracing your family line, remember this can take allot of time. If dates and locations are known, it is much easier to find the information. Many records of newspaper are on micro-film.
FAMILY PERIODICALS
A good source to check, is books on the families history. Many of the larger families, have a newsletter or periodical pertaining to a specified name. Genealogical Libraries have listing. Some are indexed, which makes it easier to find the specific name you are researching.
VITAL RECORDS
Locating the Birth, Death, and Marriage records will contain important information about the person you are seeking, and also the family. You will soon learn to never overlook the use of these types of records. They give you new and verified information. You may order the records by ordering them from the State or County in which the person was born, died or were married.
"Happy Researching Your Hicks Ancestry" If you have found any of these beginning suggestions helpful, let us know, we hope to hear from you. When you trace your family back as far as you can, we would be happy to print a query for you on our website, or help in any other that we can give in your research. Thanks and Good Luck -Virginia
Other Genealogy Sites that will help you with
your beginning Research:
http://www.ancestry.com/
http://www.rootscomputing.com
http://www.yahoo.com/arts/humanities/history/genealogy/lineages_and_surnames
http://www.everton.com/
http://www.onlinegenealogy.com/
http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/sites.htm
Phone books
White page
directory