answers1: Ancestry.Com is a great website for records but family trees
on it must be viewed with suspicion until the information in them is
verified with records. This is true even if you see the absolute same
information on the same people from many different subscribers because
too many people copy without verifying. But as Ashley stated it would
be helpful for you to go to a Family History Center at a Later Day
Saints(Mormon) Church. In Salt Lake City they have the world's
largest genealogical collection. Their FHC can order microfilm for you
to view for about $3 if you find something at the FHC you would like
to check the original document and make a copy. I have never had them
to try and convert me nor have I heard of them doing that to anyone
else that has used their resources. A lot of their volunteers are not
Mormon <br>
<br>
Also Church records can frequently be just as helpful if not more so
than Civil Records. The Catholic Church keeps very exacting records.
They keep separate registers on baptisms, first communions,
confirmation, marriage and deaths. Periodically in our diocese those
registers are sent to the Diocesan Chancery Office to be microfilmed.
The Baptismal records usually also have the date of birth, names of
both parents including mother's maiden name, names of both Godparents.
The First Communion Registers don't have as much. The Confirmation
registers will have all the information the baptismal register has
except the baptismal Godparents. When a child is confirmed he holds a
little card in his hand, and on one side is the confirmation name and
on the other side is all the baptismal information. That card is taken
up as they are confirmed. They use that card to post the Confirmation
register and then they make a note in the Baptismal register that the
child was confirmed on such and such date by whatever Bishop. If the
child was baptized in another parish that card is mailed to the parish
of baptism and they note in the baptismal record that the child was
confirmed on such and such date in such and such parish by whatever
Bishop. <br>
<br>
So before you even think about going to Europe you need to get as much
information here as possible. <br>
<br>
Also a friend of mine whose father came from Sicily and mother from
Calabria has a niece who is an attorney in Washington,DC. who she
almost raised. She would go and visit the niece and go to the National
Archives. Not too long ago she told me that Ancestry.Com has all the
records on her family that the National Archives has. She spends time
now at a FHC. Actually they took a book that she and her cousin did
on her mother's family and now have it on their website. <br>
<br>
I would imagine the Lutheran Church would also have exacting records
as well as Episcopalian.
answers2: First, Google 'Genealogy Brick Walls' for articles on a few
systems you could check out. We all have the scary brick partitions
and feature all attempted more than a few approaches of breaking them
down. Next, the LDS Family Centers have an robust quantity of
knowledge to be had on microfiche. Find the closest Center and take a
seat down with a volunteer who will support you employ the assets they
have got and to make a decision what different assets they may be able
to order for you. Don't put out of your mind you nearby public
library. They could have assets for out of state files and books as
good.
answers3: As you probably know, FamilySearch is run by the LDS
(Mormon) church. The website is awesome, but at this point it only
has a tiny fraction of their records online. Their Family History
Library in Salt Lake City has the largest collection of genealogical
records in the world, including records from the countries you're
researching. If you can make a trip to Salt Lake, you'll have
billions of records right at your fingertips. It's like Disneyland for
genealogists! And lots cheaper than going to Europe or hiring a
professional. <br>
<br>
If you can't make it Salt Lake City, you're still in luck. You can
visit the Family History Center inside your nearest LDS church and
order the records you want to look at. For a fee of $5.00 per roll,
the microfilm will be sent from Salt Lake to your local center, where
you can view it for about 30 days. Family History Centers are open
for anyone to use (you don't have to be Mormon), and the volunteers
who work there are very friendly and helpful. <br>
<br>
The link on the top of the main FamilySearch page will help you find
the Family History Center nearest you. You'll also find a link to the
Library Catalog, to see what records they have for the locations
you're researching. If you can't find what you want, ask the folks at
the Family History Center for help... there are some tricks to
searching the catalog and they can show you how best to use it. <br>
<br>
Hope this helps! Good luck!
answers4: Ashley is correct to a point. The cost of film ordering has
increased and must be ordered online so you will need a paypal account
or credit card. Several people I know use a prepaid credit card. The
films are sent to what ever Family History Center you request and you
can view them there at no additional cost. <br>
As far as the amount of information on the Familysearch site, it
increases daily. The Family History Centers were the only source for
well over 30 years, that I am personally aware of. If it isn't on the
website, it is still one film and there are literally thousands of
rolls in the vaults in Salt Lake City, <br>
A trip to Europe would be a waste of time and money it you do not know
exactly what you are looking for and exactly where to look for it. In
Italy and Ireland Parish records are extremely important. In Germany
many of the original records were destroyed in the world wars. <br>
You can get a large amount of information from Immigration and
Naturalization records, and other documents that are in the National
Archives. <br>
If you want to do real research you will have to get away from
Ancestry. It is not the most respected site in the research community
as to much of the information is not documented or copied from one
chart to another with no additional research or documentation of the
information <br>
What most people do not seem to understand is that Ancestry,com is a
commercial site and not a research site. They are in the business of
earning money not providing documentation, although for a price they
have an accumulation of records that are available. <br>
Suggest that you try the public library or a Family History Center,
there are several subscription instructional sites available at no
cost, which might have much more information than you could imagine.
Then when you go to Europe, you can visit with relatives and see where
your family lived and not spend all your time researching what could
have been researched and obtained in the US>
answers5: I second Shirly's comment that copying ANY family trees from
Ancestry is a recipe for incorrect sloppy genealogy. Mine included - I
am busy cleaning up my tree and documenting it, but most people are
not. <br>
<br>
You have gotten some excellent suggestions. I have a few additional
ideas. First try CyndisList for Germany <a
href="http://www.cyndislist.com/germany/"
rel="nofollow"class=Clr-b>http://www.cyndislist.com/germany/</a> Italy
<a href="http://www.cyndislist.com/italy/"
rel="nofollow"class=Clr-b>http://www.cyndislist.com/italy/</a> and
Ireland <a href="http://www.cyndislist.com/uk/irl/"
rel="nofollow"class=Clr-b>http://www.cyndislist.com/uk/irl/</a> for
many more online resources. <br>
<br>
Then try the Message Boards for both the surnames and the region of
the country if you know it, the whole country if you don't. Good free
Message Boards can be found on Ancestry.com, RootsWeb and GenForum.
Search for your ancestors already being discussed. Lurk for awhile and
read what has already been written. Send anyone who seems
knowledgeable a private email and get a conversation started. I have
found just an amazing amount of information from the various Message
Boards.
answers6: Find out if you have a local Genealogical Society. If so,
JOIN IT. <br>
<br>
They love having the younger generation around. Be friendly and meet
people; they'll usually be friendly in return and help you out with
methods and information. Some are a bit snarky (just like some of the
Yamsters here), but if you can strike up a relationship and find a
mentor, you'll find these folks know all the tricks, and they also
know what to do to avoid barking up the wrong family tree.
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