Everywhere I look I see online genealogy databases that promise instant access to your ancestors. I spent hundreds of hours sifting through any website that I could find looking for that illusive ancestor that seems just out of reach. I bet you have done the same.
Genealogy databases are gaining popularity because of the vast number of people who are serious about uncovering their heritage. The question on everyone's lips is which database should I use? Well the answer is not quite so easy to say. Ancestry.com has one of the largest databases ever with hundreds if not thousands of different online sources that you can search. These sources boast millions of names that may be people you are looking for. These indexed sources include Birth, Marriage and Death records; Census records; Immigration records; and Military records from many countries around the world. For some, this information is very pricy at almost $300 per year. However, Ancestry.com has plans that range from approximately $12.95 per month. That's a small price to pay for discovering your ancestors' origins in the United Kingdom or actually seeing a copy of your great grandfather's signature on a Border Crossing document or an immigration paper! Have a look at my webpage that shows you step by step how to check out your own family by clicking this link Name Origins - Ancestry. For me, I have found lots of historical documents that show names, places and dates for many of my ancestors at Ancestry.com.
I have also tried other databases to see what information and surprises that they hold. Another very popular site that offers lots of family history is OneGreatFamily.com. I have loaded a number of my ancestors into these databases. Unfortunately, I have not found anyone else that is searching for my family name. But you might have better luck. This website boasts over 180 million names in the databases and generations of your family might already be documented. The advantage of this website is that it allows you to access other family historian's research. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to independently verify that research. But it does mean that you have a starting point and even a contact that you might be able to exchange information, ideas and source documents. The big advantage is that it builds teams to uncover the family’s heritage.I have created a step by step guide to accessing the power of OneGreatFamily. Check out my page at Name Origins - OneGreatFamily.
There are literally hundreds of other sites that provide historical information as mentioned above as well as passenger lists, Church records, social group records, land records, probate records to name just a few. Which ones have you used? We want to hear from you. Tell us what worked and even what didn’t. If you are already a member of All-About-Family-Trees.com, simply click on the "Add new comment" button and add your comments. If you are not a member yet, take a few minutes and join our growing community and tell us what databases you have used. Simply click on the link at the top right of the page, create a username and be sure to signup for our weekly newsletter. If you signup for the newsletter I'll send you a free copy of my e-book '10 "Must Know" Tips to Uncover Your Heritage'.
We all look forward to hearing from you soon.
