Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
   

Genealogy Links

ANNOTATED LIST OF SITES:

An obvious use of the web is to access census information on-line. Use requires some effort:
Start with these four according to the year you want and whether you can access Ancestry.com--
            1. The indexed 1880 US census, critical because it is the first census giving information about parents (The search form changes as you enter your info): http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp
            2. Get into HeritageQuest from various directions. The link shown here goes through my own County library. (I have to turn off my firewall's "privacy control" to use it, and it requires a valid library card number.) Ask your own local library about access. HeritageQuest has the US Census for these years: 
    1790
    1800
    1810
    1820
    1860
    1870
    1890 (for the little that still exists)
    1900
    1910
    1920
    1930 (partial)
It is indexed by state, expandable by county:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Libraries/researchinfo/genealogy.asp
            3. Miscellaneous links for all years and locations: http://www.census-online.com/links/index.html
            4. Ancestry.com is a subscription service that provides all publicly available US Census records from 1790 to 1910, with index. (See below.)

The following sites are in order of importance (roughly) in my opinion. Anyone doing genealogy should be aware of the first six.

1. GenServ
More than 15,000 Gedcom files provided by researchers like you. Access is free if you submit your own Gedcom file. Otherwise, subscribe, i.e., pay for it. The site's relative popularity has fallen significantly since its early years.
2. FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
The LDS site, allowing access to data bases such as the IGI that were previously available only in Mormon Family History Centers. It is necessary to remember that much of the information was provided by individuals who could make human errors; verification is expected. You can search for birth records et al. on microfilm and have the film sent to a local Family History Center. The LDS is digitizing these records, intending to make them available on the site in 2007.
3. USGenWeb
A major project to get data online. Particularly important are the census and tombstone transcriptions, also links to state pages.
4. RootsWeb
Another major project for online connection. Links to county pages and world resources. [Use RootsWeb and USGenWeb together. RootsWeb hosts a number of sites, including GenWeb.]
            I high-light a service that I found valuable, to assure that you do not miss it on RootsWeb, a list of others now researching your ancestors, by family name: Roots Surname List Name Finder
5. Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
The original, definitive site for links to other sites, more than 262,000 links. Some users find the abundance intimidating.
6. Ancestry.com
A commercial site requiring subscription for full access, but with some free access. Includes good images of original census records and indexes. (Check if a local library has a subscription, allowing you use with no further fee.)

I list the next group of sites as possibly helpful, not as critical as those above.
7. Family History
Primarily message boards to support "online community," it is associated with Ancestry.com.
8. National Genealogical Society
Provides "courses" on how to get started, education and information on genealogical activities in the country.
9. Online Genealogy
Now Helm's Toolbox, promotes the use of computers and the Internet. It offers useful tips, provides digitized images and search engines, and describes software.
10. Gensource is still another collection of databases. If you search for a common name, you will be swamped.
11. AncientFaces presents lots of old photos.
12. Family History Center - Ellis Island Not limited to migration through the Island, includes passenger lists.
13. Genealogy Today Family Tree Articles and Genealogy Search Engines.
14. US Internet Genealogy Society appears out of date, but gives tips.

-----Other links that others recommend:

Here is the web site of Eve Gregory, another descendant of Samuel Montgomery. This link drops you into the page on Mary Montgomery Dunlop, daughter of Samuel.
For those working on the Simonton family, through Anna Louisa Simonton, wife of Isaac W. Montgomery, see these connections with Adam Simonton of Ohio and this site including Simonton Family Homesteads.

And here is the "resource page" on Montgomerys kept by Rootsweb.

Then, these sites are not limited to genealogy use, but they should be on every researcher's site list - -

Maps of towns (provided they still exist), both in the United States and abroad: -----MapQuest - - http://www.mapquest.com

Search for cemeteries, churches, hospitals, and many other features in an area. Enter town name and state to find out the county. Maps are also available here: -----USGS Mapping Information - - http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic.

City maps: -----U of Texas Map Collection - - http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/cities_sites.html

Link to another map website: -----1895 U.S. Atlas - - http://www.livgenmi.com/1895/

The Library of Congress (LOC) holds some references not available elsewhere - - http://www.loc.gov/
In addition to the LOC Online Catalog, visit the American Memory Project for historical background material and learn of events at the Library of Congress.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requires that you visit a physical location for most access, but its web site lists what is available for genealogy - - http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/
Find addresses of Web sites for U.S. government agencies here.
U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory - - ----- http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/fedgov.html
To e-mail me DELETE the capital letters in your mailer's address box.
Back to the genealogy page