There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of free genealogy websites on the internet that provide a variety of different resources and services that can help you discover your ancestors and the heritage that they built. This article will cover a few of the possibilities from search tools to the trial version of genealogy software. Perhaps it will introduce you to several other website tools that you haven't tried before.
Simply type in 'free genealogy website' into your favorite search engine and select any of the sites that are displayed. As a matter of fact, you can even misspell genealogy as 'geneology' and still find most of the same sites. Each site will provide its own unique list of resources, but many will include:
- Website based search tools;
- Links to other websites;
- Personal family tree information loaded by their clients;
- Newsletter services;
- Family forums for you to communicate with other family tree enthusiasts;
- A trial version of their software; and/or
- Tutorials and 'how to' manuals.
Carefully review the menu options that the site has and if there are free or purchased services that you may want in the future be sure to bookmark the site for your next visit. Ancestry.com , one of the primary genealogy website research tools provides detailed information from census records; birth, marriage, and death records; ship passenger lists; obituaries; newspaper death notices; WWII links and resources; as well as sites that contain downloadable charts and forms. Other sites, like OneGreatFamily.com. provides a free trial of their services. This can provide a great opportunity to trial the latest family tree software without having to lay down your credit card.
As you search these sites be sure to note the sources that you find and the usefulness of each website for future reference. You will find that these free genealogy websites can provide many hours of searches that can take you back a 150 years in the blink of an eye. Use the information carefully and be sure to compare results, particularly information that does not seem to fit with the version you have on file. A genealogy site can provide valuable clues to finding that long lost branch of your family tree.
