Tips for beginning genealogy

I can tell you what led me to my genealogy. I needed to "know" who I was, am and where my family lived. During my youth I was not particularly proud of my parents because they were alcoholics. But in my mind, I just learned that my ancestors were not all been disappointing. Looking back type, have a laugh at my first attempts. I started in 1980. I was always looking for pictures for my family and I had a greatThe uncle who was a Mormon, and had written some time before 1980, my mother for more information about their spouses and siblings. This gave me the first image of what you look like a family tree table.

Jump forward to 1994. My nephew was getting married and Eric had made his future mother-in-law's genealogy for many, many years. When Carol H. asked my mother has given more information on our family tree, my mother gently in my own way and said, "I learned a lot. This was aexaggerated, but by the time I knew more than the rest of the family.

My luck would hold, when the computer has become an object of domestic use and could buy genealogy software for your family to save the file. I was in heaven! I have been using Family Tree Maker, although I'm sure that I am, like many good programs for genealogy. Now it's 2006 and I have a good file size for both my family and Yates Wilkerson lines, and many of their families.

Random adviceBeginners

O People always ask, "Where do I start?" Even if you have names for their family members, start with yourself first.

o If you were serious about your family history with a computer, get a genealogy program which allows an easy to use. It is not necessary that the cost of an "arm and a leg." Look for the basic program. I would not recommend a disk group (for example, when the World Family Tree discs contain) as FTM sold. These trees werethat may be inaccurate by genealogists others (including myself), and information. This brings me to my next piece of advice ....

O Document your sources! If you are family to transfer files and images to your heirs, you can show them a big favor, and every bit of data you cite. Let me tell you a funny story in regard to this request.

Three of my older cousins, who lived in Missouri compiled a small "book" on my grandmother's family tree. Athe family name was listed Oglethorpe and was said to Clay, Overton and Jackson counties had lived in Tennessee. When I took over the reins of this line of research, I got my surname on RootsWeb TN http://www.rootsweb.com for the districts. A very nice man wrote me and told me, his best friend was to explore in these circles, and databases of many families. He gave me his friend, e-mail address and I contacted this other researchers. To make a long storyIn short, transformed the family as "Osgatharp" for my ancestors who had lived in this part of Tennessee. I was told, and I studied on my own that there is Olgethorpes living in these environments. Period. So I told my cousin Allen only new bit of information. I asked them where they come in the name of Oglethorpe. He said: "This is what my mother called him"! We had a little discussion about it, and I finally convinced them that the name wasInstead Osgatharp. This is not where it ends, though, so I'll just add here that the name is / was also Osgathorpe, and as it turned out, our ancestor was Richard Osgathorpe a patriot in the Revolutionary War!

I can not really blame my cousin for not quite the correct term. Most people in their time and age was word of mouth and the Bible records based on the documentation.

Label the images, while the older generation can helpYou!

O my father may have failed, but in his previous life as the eldest son, was able to identify many of his predecessors only watching their photos. He called everyone he could and it was so helpful. You might also many old family photos will surface when you start, contact with relatives to be surprised by the genealogy. I have a picture of my great-grandfather, I thought I would never see. In my research I discovered that my branch of theFamily moved often, images of old ancestors were still with their families in places where the family farm or stayed longer.

Do not bite the hand that feeds you!

O Well, here are some tips that I have a lot of all races happy beaver who think they are in a bit, 'first, or most information in no time. NOT for the members have done their best research genealogicalrequire that they give you everything they have on your family. This is not the way to go. Many people are willing to share what (I am one of them), but some are not, and feel that they "are in 30, 40 or 50 years, this research and you just want handed to you"? I advise you to tell them that you are happy to share what you have, and that you would like to share with you all look to the future. Believe me, it works much betterin this way.