| Using to follow your ancestor's trails is a great | | | | libraries and if recently, online at local newspapers. |
| way to add members to your family tree for | | | | Obituaries can have a wealth of information that |
| free. There are numerous tools at the site to help | | | | could lead you to another generation; however |
| you in your research endeavors. If you're new to | | | | obits in the early 1900's contain minimal |
| I suggest you check out the getting started | | | | information. |
| guides, they'll help you use the site more easily. | | | | Another great tool to help find ancestors is the |
| I use the Social Security Death Index tool to find | | | | family trees that are hosted at Click on the link |
| birth, death, and residence information on my | | | | and enter your basic information in the search |
| ancestors. When you click on the link, you have a | | | | boxes or click on the advance link to enter more |
| basic text box where you can list your family | | | | detailed information. After you are at the family |
| member's last and first name along with their | | | | trees you can search through the listed trees or |
| middle name and social security number if known. | | | | go to the bottom of the list to enter more |
| Chances are you won't know the last two entries, | | | | detailed information. Keep in mind that the family |
| so just enter the last name and at least the first | | | | history listed here is another genealogist work and |
| initial. Then you'll usually find a large list to sort | | | | it may simply be copied from someone else, so |
| through, to narrow it down click on the advance | | | | try to prove the information you find here with |
| tab. You'll have a lot more options such as dates | | | | public records such as census records. |
| for birth and death as well as residence and | | | | One the best tools there are the message boards |
| benefit information. This is probably the | | | | and mailing lists. Boards are broken up into |
| information you are looking for, so just fill in as | | | | different categories, such as surnames, states, |
| much as you know or believe and click search. | | | | counties, countries, even wars which you can |
| If you still don't find information about your | | | | search by typing in your ancestor's information. |
| ancestors try omitting some of the info you | | | | When you find a board you're interested in you |
| entered. I have sometimes just filled out the last | | | | can post a query for information about your |
| name and state issued boxes and found relatives | | | | ancestor. The mailing lists are similar except when |
| listed with their middle names as their first. | | | | you join a mailing list your query goes out to |
| Sometimes just initials listed for first and middle | | | | everyone on the mailing list and they can send |
| names so play around with the entries and have | | | | you information they have via e-mail. These are |
| fun searching. After you've found a relative, | | | | great ways to interact with the community who |
| hopefully you'll have a death date and place of | | | | also have the same research interests, which can |
| residence with which to look for an obituary. You | | | | help you extend your family tree. |
| can find obituaries at genealogy societies or local | | | | |