Monday, June 30, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Distant Cousin

Distant Cousin is a website with archives of old records, many of which are scanned in.

A Variety of information awaits you at this website for several different states.

Check out this wonderful free genealogy resource at
http://www.distantcousin.com/

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Pennsylvania Genealogy


I have found the Pennsylvania Genealogy Website full of great free information on my Pennsylvania Ancestors. This website will take you to other websites but is very helpful if any of your family actually came from Pennsylvania.

There is history, census records, court records, military records, wills, newspapers articles, etc. All kinds of information that all genealogist search for but focuses on Pennsylvania genealogy.

Just lots of free Pennsylvania search information on one page. Check it out at
http://www.pennsylvaniagenealogy.org/

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Native American Nations


Native American Nations is a website dedicated to helping people in their genealogy quest who have American Indian Ancestors. It is a website full of interesting information covering several different tribes. Native American Nations provides information on rolls, treaties, history and census.

There are sections with photographs that are quite interesting. Many of the laws that were created and enforced in several US States are available to educate you.

If you do have Native American Ancestors this website has many free resources to check out at
http://www.nanations.com/.

I do not have Native American ancestors, however, I did stumble across this site and found it quite interesting.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Free Genealogy Advice on Brick Walls

Sometimes Genealogy can be mind numbing. Just when you think your are progressing beyond your own expectations you hit a brick wall. On the other hand you usually find the best information in totally unexpected places.

When you do come across those brick walls it's best to walk away, go on to something different for awhile then go back to it. It does get more thank a little frustrating!

Check out this music video by Ray Stevens, it's fun and a not so far fetched as you first might think. It will help clear your head of your own problems for awhile. I believe he's experienced a few brick walls in his own research of his ancestry to be able to come up with this one.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Death Indexes & Records

Online Searchable Death Indexes and Records is another free genealogy website. You can search death records and death indexes in all 50 states.

Other genealogy searches on this website include obituaries & death notices and cemetery and burial records.

This website is the type that has lots of click-able topics that will take you to another website. I found it quite frustrating to click on something interesting only to end up on Ancestry over and over again. I did find lots of information on this website, I’m just not a big fan of Ancestry. You just have to take you time and weed through it for the best results.

The Searchable Death Indexes and Records website can be located at this web address:
http://www.deathindexes.com/

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Ancestor Hunt - Past Sheriffs of the US


Ancestor Hunt is a free genealogy search website with many unique informational searches. There is a section called Past Sheriffs of the US and one called Police officers of the past. If you have ancestor's that were part of law enforcement this site can give you insight on the history of a variety of police stations. There are also many names and pictures that are quite interesting.

Another interesting search you can make is for genealogical prison records. If you have a black sheep in the family you just might get to know them a little better. There is information on prisons such as Folsom, Alcatraz, Yuma Territorial, plus much much more.

Photographs, lists of executions and prison census records are just some of the listed prison record searches . This website is absolutely fascinating, informational and free.

Even if you don't have a black sheep jail-bird in the family tree or a Sheriff who helped tame the wild west you can't help searching the information on this website. Check it out at: http://www.ancestorhunt.com/past-sheriffs.htm

Friday, June 13, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Connecting Family Dots

Connecting Family Dots is a free genealogy search website that has a variety of information on people particularly in the Ohio area.

Connecting Family Dots has categories such as surnames, obituaries, births, deaths, marriage, military and bio’s.

This easy to use website and has lots of information, I highly recommend using it especially if you have ancestors from Ohio.

Check it out at
http://www.connectingfamilydots.com/

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Ellis Island Record Database

The Ellis Island Record Database is a must try for any genealogy researcher. If you have ancestors that immigrated to the United States between 1892 – 1924 it's a strong possibility they passed through Ellis Island. Over 12 million people passed through this immigration station in it's heyday, it is estimated that 40% of the US population today are descendants of Ellis Island immigrants.

The Ellis Island Record Database is well worth checking out. There are several ways you can search including name, year of arrival, or ship. If you only have a ancestor's name it's a strong possibility you will get information regarding their gender, age, nationality, marital status, last residence, date of arrival, and which ship they sailed in on.

This easy to use website is very educational and informative and you can spend hours searching both online or if you are in New York you can go to the Ellis Island American Family Immigration History Center. Check out the website at: http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Free Genealolgy Search - Access Genealolgy


Access Genealogy is a interesting free genealogy website that offers a variety of information. I really like this site as it is very easy to use and it has loads of information.

You can search assorted Census Records, Military Records, Native American Records, Bible Records, African American Records, Naturalization Records and so much more.

There are some very interesting biography's and old letters, none of which had anything to do with my genealogy, however, they bring me a little understanding of how people spoke and things they did. It's not only interesting but educational to read about people who lived in past centuries. Reading old articles or letters gives me a glimpse of both major and minor concerns of people, daily routine, education, community awareness & involvement in days long past.

Getting a grasp on how our ancestors lived their lives is a part of researching. Names and towns are just more interesting with a little history behind them. Check out Access Genealogy, it's another free genealogy website. http://www.accessgenealogy.com/

Friday, June 6, 2008

Free Genealogy Search - Genealinks

Genealinks is a free website that offers free genealogy searches. Genealinks provides a huge Marriage Records Database which includes 30,000 names.

You can look up surnames, connect with other researchers or just spend hours going through all the records. Worth a look for all you fellow reseachers! Check it out at
http://www.genealinks.com/

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Free Genealogy Photo Site - Ancestor Archive

Like Family Old Photos another website featuring old photographs is Ancestor Archive. Many of the photographs are either user donated or have been bought at flea markets, antique stores or estate sales. There is a special section with old school photo's and a mystery section where people are seeking info on pictures they have posted.

If you are lucky enough to make a connection many of the user's that have donated photo's are eager to communicate and share information with other ancestors. E-mail addresses are available for many of the researches seeking family.


Ancestor Archive offers free searches that are definitely worth checking into!
http://ancestorarchive.com/

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Free Genealogy Photo Site - Family Old Photos

Family Old Photos is a viewer submitted site with lots of old photogaphs that users submit with information about each photo. There is a section on this site that has unidentified photo’s but also many user submitted photos complete with name and a brief history. Some of the unidentified photo's are bought in flea markets or antique stores and others are from that huge box of pictures many of us has with no identification attached. These photo's are scanned in with the hopes of being found by the right ancestors.
I spent several hours on this site going through pictures hoping to find a long lost relative. I never did find any ancestors but it was quite interesting and fun to look over all these old pictures. We never know when or where we’ll find tidbits of ancestors, most of the time it in unexpected places. Check this website out, you might get lucky! http://www3.familyoldphotos.com/

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Free Genealogy Site - USGenWeb Project

The USGenWeb Project is a free website for researcher interested in Genealogy. It is organized by state and county, if you have ancestors around the world check out worldgenweb.

The USGenWeb Project is a volunteer run website so some of the states and some of the counties are so much more organized and offer so much more than others, you just have to try it to see what benefits you. I usually take one family name and try every state I know that is associated with that family. Somedays I feel like I've struck gold and others I feel like I've wasted my time and energy but that's how it is with everybody who researches their genealogy.

I have personally spent hours on this site and recommend giving it a try. For US Genealogy check out
http://www.usgenweb.org/ or for countries other that the US, check out http://www.worldgenweb.org/

Monday, June 2, 2008

Free Genealogy Site - Census Diggins


Census Diggins is a free website with a huge variety of free information. If you are searching ancestors from Texas there are several old articles from Texas Newspapers such as the Fort Worth Gazette, The Dallas Times Herald and the Dallas Morning News. These articles are from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. You’ll find marriage and death announcements, court cases and land transactions among other things.

There is a great section on Civil War Prisons with deaths and burials of many of the soldiers in these Prison Camps: Alton Prison, Camp Chase, Camp Douglas, Camp Randall, Elmira, Fort Delaware, Fort Jefferson, Fort McHenry, Old Capitol Prison, Point Lookout, and Rock Island.
There is also a Civil War Records Database, there is a database with Native American, Irish and Scottish Genealogy, Texas Orphans, these are all free resources.

I really enjoyed searching this website, there are plenty of free searches but all is not free, there are some area’s I wandered into that wanted fees or subscriptions but it is definately well worth a try, I spent a week at this site researching their free information. Check it out: censusdiggins.com



Sunday, June 1, 2008

Free Genealogy Site - Shadows of Time

There is a variety of free genealogy searches for New Zealand at a very nice easy to use website called Shadows of Time. I found these categories were very helpful for searching ancestors in New Zealand.

Early New Zealand Settlers
Dominion Post Births & Deaths
Early Mayors of NZ: 1862-1931
New Zealand Wars 1860-1870
NZ Military Pensions
NZ Teachers 1906NZ School Records
NZ University Records
Ankara, NZ Cemetery
Shipping Index: Passenger Lists & Information
Military Lists

There are also several other free searches that are quite interesting. Check it out!
http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/