Researching your family history can be an enjoyable process. With that being said, obtaining this information is harder than it looks. Genealogy records are scattered all across the internet. Some of these records are free to use while other websites require you to pay a fee to use their services. Depending on how far back in time you research, some genealogy records may not be available on the internet at all. It can all be very confusing at times especially if you don’t know where to look.
In this article, we will discuss into detail a few techniques and resources to help you learn more about your family history. Knowing what to do and where to look will streamline the process and save you time.
Identify What You Want to Learn
People decide to dive into their family history for a variety of reasons. While many people look up their family history out of plain curiosity, others look into their family history for other things such as inheritance or medical reasons. If you already have a reason why you want to research your ancestors then you should construct your research around family members that relate to that particular reason. If you don't have a particular reason outside of curiosity that's fine too. Just start with any family members and from there write down things you specifically want to learn about them.Look at Census Records
Census records are a great way to get general information on past and present family members. Many genealogists recommend that you start with the U.S Census, as it gives you a solid foundation to start your research. Every 10 years, the United States takes what's called a Census which counts every person living in the country. The Census records information such as their name, age, gender, and other information. The 1900 Census is a great starting point, as it sets the foundation for learning your family’s history during the 20th century while also providing a way to uncover their history during the 19th century. You can find U.S Census records going back 72 years online.Check Vital Records
Obtaining vital records is something that should be done in any genealogy research. These records include the births, marriages/divorces, and deaths of everyone who's ever lived by state. Anyone born at the beginning of the 20th century onwards should have vital records available. Finding vital records for ancestors born pre-20th century isn’t guaranteed, but states that were part of the original 13 colonies are likely to have vital records available. You can obtain vital records by contacting the state government.
If you’re looking for
a specific family member born before 1900 and can’t find a vital record, try
looking for their church and religious records. In these times, church and
religious records were often used as vital records before vital records became
a universal thing. Religious institutions kept vital records for various things
such as baptisms, marriages, confirmations, school attendance, and other
occurrences within the church. You should be able to request copies of these
records from the church itself.
