Research my family tree for free (merged threads)

NOWSE

Try your local library.
Membership of some libraries allows you to use a genealogy site, that normally charges, for free. Sometimes you are able to do the research from your home computer but with some libraries you can only get access to the sites through the library computers.

System

thanks, I've opted to avoid genes as when I wanted to make a post in the forum, they wanted a subscription, huh!. I'm trying geni, and so far so good.

StockportGerbil

Hi!
The first (and cheapest) stage in Family History is talk to your older living relatives and gather what documentation / photos they have (ideally borrow them and scan them in if you have a scanner.)

Generally they'll be delighted to see you and talk to you about their parents / grandparents and take an interest in what you find out. However bitter experience has taught me not necessarily to take everything they say as gospel and you ought to try and double check it. (Same goes for what people have put into genes reunited and family search - double check that as other peoples standards of research may not be the same as yours.)

I don't think I've seen the freecen or freereg websites mentioned above - they're only starting to get going. If you're back to past 1837 some of the county online parish clerk projects are quite advanced. One of the universities was running a project a few years ago where they were making online versions of trade directories available.

As far as software is concerned the mormons used to do some free software (again have a look at www.familysearch.org) and brothers keeper always used to be quite highly thought of and is shareware. If you're just starting out I'd spend a few quid on Family Tree Maker (older versions I think can be found in supermarkets and the like - you just need the software not the versions with shed loads of useless and expensive data discs)

This is getting to be a FAQ - do we need a sticky?

Regards

Kevin

Dustykitten

You can get family tree maker 2009 platinum with clubcard vouchers (£15) which included 6 months essential membership to ancestry.