What Genealogy Research Services are recommended?

[Vernon R. Snider]

I'm new at trying to research my family genealogy other than from information provided by my family members. I am interested in which genealogy services such as Ancestry.com and Archives.com that other Reunion members use and/or recommend. I have tried one trial membership in one and could not get it to return basic information or any information even close to that which I had when I researched one of my family members.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have about such services and the ones that are most helpful and accurate to use.

Vernon R.Snider

[Jan Powell]

Originally Posted by Vernon R. Snider

I am interested in which genealogy services such as Ancestry.com and Archives.com that other Reunion members use and/or recommend.

I have a great deal of success with ancestry.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk
(most of my ancestors came from UK and Ireland). I expect that ancestry.com would be good and you could opt in for the worldwide option if required.

[Mary Arthur]

Originally Posted by Vernon R. Snider

I'm new at trying to research my family genealogy other than from information provided by my family members. I am interested in which genealogy services such as Ancestry.com and Archives.com that other Reunion members use and/or recommend.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have about such services and the ones that are most helpful and accurate to use.

Vernon R.Snider

It all depends on what country you are researching and what time frame - you don't live near an LDS library? or a family history society? (my opinion, exhaust free first). Most/many are not 'services' but collections of transcriptions - I would still want to see copies or the original document.

[Charles Bourland]

Originally Posted by Vernon R. Snider

I'm new at trying to research my family genealogy other than from information provided by my family members. I am interested in which genealogy services such as Ancestry.com and Archives.com that other Reunion members use and/or recommend. I have tried one trial membership in one and could not get it to return basic information or any information even close to that which I had when I researched one of my family members.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have about such services and the ones that are most helpful and accurate to use.

Vernon R.Snider

There are two. If I read your map properly, it seems you have New England ancestors. I highly recommend NEHGS at http://www.newenglandancestors.org/.

With foreign ancestors, I recommend www.geneanet.com. It has a French orientation, but most European communities are active.

NEHGS ia $75 a year. Geneanet is 80 pounds.

More can be found on both at www.genealogyhowto.com.

[bchaplin]

Seconding NEHGS, particularly if you live near Boston and can get to their library. It's wonderful. They also have online resources.

Most of my research so far has been through ancestry.com. I found a lot of census records and draft cards that helped me grow the family tree dramatically in a short period of time.

[thboyd]

Originally Posted by Vernon R. Snider

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have about such services and the ones that are most helpful and accurate to use.
Vernon R.Snider

If you are just starting out ancestry.com has a lot of information. Other sources that I've used are findagrave.com (for tombstone transcriptions and photos). footnote.com has a lot of military records. I found quite a bit of information on ancestors that were in the US Civil War. Check the USGenWeb sites. Sometimes the county sites have a lot of information. Also look for local genealogical and/or historical societies.

Regarding accuracy, they all have errors, even source documents have errors. I like the sites that have scanned images of the source documents.

Tom

[Karen Peters]

Vernon,

First, check with your local library and see if they have any free services. In different places that I've lived, I could get on Ancestry.com for free (only inside the library). Great way to check it out and see if it's for you. Where I'm at now, I can log on to Heritage Quest at home for free through my local library's website. Heritage Quest has some years of US census indexed and many historical books. The books have been helpful for my New England ancestors.

Good Luck,

Karen

[AE Palmer]

Originally Posted by thboyd

If you are just starting out ancestry.com has a lot of information. Other sources that I've used are findagrave.com (for tombstone transcriptions and photos). footnote.com has a lot of military records. I found quite a bit of information on ancestors that were in the US Civil War. Check the USGenWeb sites. Sometimes the county sites have a lot of information. Also look for local genealogical and/or historical societies.

Regarding accuracy, they all have errors, even source documents have errors. I like the sites that have scanned images of the source documents.

Tom

While the for-pay services can be useful, they are by no means the be all to end all source of information. I HIGHLY recommend that you explore as many free sources as possible --- ESPECIALLY rootsweb..com. Their group lists are indisdpensable and FREE! They cover both surnames and place names as well as many odd ephemera topics.

Cyndi's List is also very good.