Getting started with your genealogy search can be very intimidating, particularly to the novice. Where should I start researching? What reference material should I consider for my searches? The good news is that much of the information that you are searching for has already been found...and even stored in a searchable database. Your job is to have searched and researched the person, book or manuscript that has already recorded the event.
Genealogy research is very accessible because of the internet. Hundreds of searchable websites allow anyone access to literally millions of historical records. Much of this information is made available by the families that searched, researched and documented it. One such service is OneGreatFamily.com. Its databases are available for searching (for a small monthly fee) and can provide invaluable information and all you have to do is enter your family name into their search boxes and hit "Search". For a small subscription fee, you can search for hundreds of family members and research through decades of family history. Naturally, you don't get something for nothing. The cost of researching is the fact that what you searched for doesn't uncover that lost relative that you so desperately want to find. However, once in a while your searches will uncover treasure that your family will be able to enjoy for generations.
Searching for ancestors in your family tree can be very rewarding and provide some insights into the lives and times of your ancestors. Your research might discover that one of your ancestors is a well known historic figure. Those searches aren't the most important. When you have researched through searchable databases for your family's past you develop an understanding and respect for your heritage. Researching that heritage can be a rewarding hobby that can bring your family closer together.
