Genealogy Chat

I would like to research my fathers family but I don't have much money and am not able to travel. Is it even possible under these curcumstances or should I wait for it to become easier? How much time and energy does it really take?

Of course it is. Start with your own elder living relatives and glean as much info as possible. Write it down because if your anything like me, it will take years! Then go to your local (Main) Library. They may have a Family History section where you could be lucky enough to find enough to whet your appetite. Good Luck and Good Hunting. Jim

When will it become easier? Talk to relatives now and get the bare bones sorted out. :o)

Jennifer, Start by writing down all you know about the family and build it up from there. Many main librarys have a local studies section where it is free to look things up. On the Internet there is a site called free BMD where you may be able to find births, marriages and deaths. Then there are all sorts of people on this site who will help you. where abouts will you be researching? Do you know and how much do you already know about the family, parents? Grandparents, Gt Grandparents? Ages, may be date of birth and place of birth? Write it all down and please come back to us for advice any time. It is well worth doing and great fun and takes as much effort as you are prepared to put in. You don't say what age group you yourself are in. Ann Glos

GET HOLD OF LIVING RELLIES. Talk to them, write to them, ask if they have certificates, photos, etc. They are irreplaceable and have an unknown sell-by date. All other information is semi-permanent and will be added to in time. Rellies will decrease over time, at least for the periods you will want to know about.

Jennifer. I designed a family questionnaire which I circulated around my family, and got them all to complete. If you would like a copy, (or anyone else for that matter), send me an e-mail, and I'll send one as an attachment. It's done in 'Word' format, so you can alter it to suit your requirements. Good Luck! Janet

Hi I am on income support and limit myself to £15-17 a month spending on doing research. This means that My research does not take huge amounts of my time at any one time, but it is the most ineresting and exciting hobby I have had. There are many sites that are free to use like genes connected, free BMD and the LDS one and those that I have to pay for like 1837 0nline and 1901 census allow me to use £5 of Credit at one time. Also £17 will allow you two Birth or marriage certificates a month. As other people have stated start with your older relatives and ask them questions but don't take every word as gospel because older peoples memories are sometimes selective. Go on soon you will be addicted like the rst of us Linda P

Yes I can only spend £10 a month. If you know the right indexs (normally from freebmd) you can obtain a certificate online for £7. Definetly try to talk to relatives even if you just write to them. Recently my Grandad died and I have now no information from that side of the family, however a brother of his turned up at the funeral! The most helpful site is the Latter day saints site this is not just a religious site!. Web site called family search and contains 1881 census and International Geneology Index, and some parish registers. Ancestry.com does charge but you can search some of the site for free. Also check out ukbdm to see if others have already purchaed the certificates you want. Genuk gives information of where records are held. I only started this 3 months ago and have traced one line back to a marriage in 1801, found relatives in Australia and now my nans cousin who is also researching. I'm hooked and find it hard to stop. I have two young children and so can't get out to library's and so far have only used the internet. Once you get some details ask on the records board for a census lookup. Or check out the 1901 census online, install a decoder from the internet and you can narrow down your search to see who lived together, But will have to pay for actual address. Good Luck Angela Born