Hi lenny...When doing genealogy, all you have to do is be a detective and a packrat, as I love to say....I have been doing it for more than 30 seriously, and 40 if we count all the talking I did with my grandparents about it... Sure do wish I'd asked them names and PLACES, rather than names and dates. You can always get the dates..!
I'd suggest a few things...
-First put all your notes on Family Group sheets and Pedigree sheets, so that you can have 'road maps' to see where you are going.
--Go very carefully through every picture and clipping you have, and note all the names, and dates, and PLACES on appropriate Family Group sheets.
--If you have any old letters, go through each one of them, and write all names, dates, PLACES etc on these group sheets. I keep ALL old letters AND the envelope attached to the letter.
I put everything I'm keeping in an 8 1/2x 11" top loading plastic sheet, so the info keeps well, and is easier to deal with.
-- Be very careful to document EVERY source for every bit of info you put on your sheets. Trust me, there will be many times you will wish you had done this if you don't start now...!
There are many county historical societies, and genealogy societies, and I've found cousins by putting queries online...One came in today. I had seen his pedigree sheet in a Genealogy Bulletin of the county where one of my families were...He didn't put in an email. So I wrote him a brief note, and snail mailed it to him. Today he emailed me back...his Great Grandfather was my Great Grandfathers brother!!! Hope he has some original records to help me answer a couple of questions I have...<g>
If you do this, you'll have a head start...
I go to the Library and use Ancestry and Heritage Quest for free.....BUT on ancestry, be careful...The info is only as good as the person who put it in. I use anything I get on Ancestry as a clue, and that's all.... Sometimes it is good info, and sometimes not.
Have fun! And if I can help, let me know. |
