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How Can I Assess BIRTH And DEATH Records, MARRIAGE Records And Other PUBLIC Records For FREE …?

January 11th, 2010 7 comments

I’m trying to track down my family history. Mama can only tell me so much, and then it’s a dead end. All the older folks in my family are gone, and the public records at the courthouse only go so far. Mama is also ill, so she gets short-tempered if I ask her too many questions. I have to almost catch her when she’s in a reminiscent mood … and THEN I’ll have to be ready with a tape recorder, or I’ll miss a lot of what she’s got to say.

I can’t find a good online site that’ll give me anything! I can, of course, pay for the records I need just to get the names and the dates that I’m looking for … but it’ll cost me a pretty penny! Some of these records won’t be in the free archives for a few more years, since they wait 50 years after the person’s death to release them to the public for free.

If it were a simple thing like tracing one family lineage, I probably wouldn’t have much of a problem. But I’m talking centuries of scattered slaves with no Census Bureau records, as well as Native American ancestry … and I don’t even know what tribe!

It’ll be REALly interesting to find out if I’m related to a certain public figure with whom I share a last name … maybe one of his ancestors owned one of mine?

But, Alas! I don’t exactly know where to start!

Wendy provided you with some valuable advise. You will incur some expenses as she said and cyndi’s list is an invaluable resource. There is a site I recently found that will provide you with some public records for many local courthouses:
https://www.virtualgumshoe.com/resources/index.asp?CATEGORY_ID=90. Many public records for various counties are available. I’ve been able to obtain copies of actual documents (without visiting the courthouse or paying a fee) for my tree. Even my marriage record is listed on my county site!
It’s great because most public records will cost you and these are available on-line. Not every county is listed here but there are many. If you can obtain any tidbits of information from your Mama write them down. Gather up everything you can. A great site to help you begin learning how to research and organize the information you collect and gather is http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Family-and-Relationships/Genealogy.html?xa=1.
There are many genealogical sites that are free. One thing you should remember about the information you find that others have compiled is – you must research the historical records for yourself for accuracy. The compilers’ may have just copied what others have found. Make sure the information is correct by viewing official documents, i.e., marriage, birth, census records, etc. yourself. Here are some very good free sites:
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp FamilySearch.org is a non-profit service sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can also download free software that will help you keep your family tree organized.
http://usgenweb.org/. This site has been created by a group of volunteers that are committed to keep genealogy free and have provided a website for genealogical research in every county and state in the United States.
http://rwguide.rootsweb.ancestry.com/. RootsWeb is also a great site. It’s funded by Ancestry.com. It provides links to ton’s of additional sites as well.
http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/index.asp . Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. Genealogy Learning Center. This site has also has some great getting started tips and free downloadable charts and forms.
http://www.myheritage.com/. Is free, private and secure. You can create a web site, build and save a family tree, share photos and videos and much more.
http://www.geni.com/home. You can build your family tree and invite others to join via email and expand your tree. You can add photo’s and video’s.