Genealogy sources?

[Cawdorian]

When you use rootsweb be sure and look at the sources of the information, sometimes the posters just copy someone's information, mistakes and all! Enjoy the search, like kilts, genealogy is addictive.

[Schultz]

Check your local library and see if they have a subscription to HeritageQuest and/or ancestry.com's library edition.

And as Cawdorian pointed out, make sure you follow up on any information you receive and try to find as much primary source material as you can. I took my uncle's word for it that the immigrant patriarch of my particular Beck family was named John Wendelinus (same as his son, my father's grandfather), but when I checked the primary records, I discovered his name was really Wendeline Georg. A simple mistake, but one that had me scratching my head because I could not find anything else on John Wendelinus, but had all sorts of info on this "Wendel" fellow.

Check and double check all sources!

[Colin]

Moved to Heraldry & Tartans section.

[davedove]

Your first source of information should be your family. Talk with the older members and get their stories. Look around for family records. Things like a family bible can provide all sorts of information. Do be careful though. Sometimes family stories are just that - stories. I wish I had had more interest when I was younger and could have talked to my grandparents. Now, I'm losing aunts and uncles and any information they might have had.

[Andrew Green]

I have the names back to my great grandparents from both of my parents. Everything else from there has been searching. The pieces really seem to fit for the one line of the family, names, dates, especially location, even the migration west seemed to be convenient with the time period given, and then settling down, and staying in the area for years on years... hell, most of the people on my dad's side of the family STILL live in the area. I am sure the reason we don't is because he was military, and thanks to that, got a taste for traveling it seems.

Thanks mods for moving this thread. I wan't sure if it would have been appropriate under heraldry and tartans, but I suppose it fits. I almost posted it in the off topic area.

I do not know if anyone kept a family bible, but the idea that there is a Moore family cemetary kind of lends to the idea that people from that side of the family cared. I'll have to ask around... we're not super close with my dad's side of the family... we're pretty far away, and the moves, and military stuff sort of helped on that end. Both grandparents, and great grandparents on my father' side have passed on, so information may be hard to get... I don't know how much other family members know.

[macwilkin]

Try your local public library and see if they have a genealogy department. Many public libraries offer free genealogy classes and have subscriptions to online databases like Ancestry and Heritagequest. Also, most genealogy librarians are genealogists themselves and have years of experience in the field. You might also see if there is a local genealogical society.

When I worked as a genealogical librarian for our local public library district, we had a very helpful handout about basic genealogy, which can be found here:

http://thelibrary.springfield.missou...t/basicgen.cfm

Happy Hunting!

Todd

[O'Neille]

I use onegreatfamily.com because it searches all the other databases automatically and you can be doing other research while the search goes on. It is a pay-service but well worth the price. I've gotten excellent information including pictures and biographies from distant relatives who just happen to be on the same quest halfway around the world. I'm back to my 16th Greatgrandmother, born in 1493. Kingswood, Wiltshire, England. O'Neille