Cemeteries

  A goldmine of information can be found in cemeteries and on gravestones.  Some headstones will have dates of birth and death, other family members interred there, spouse details.   There are many sites now where people have uploaded photos and transcriptions of headstones for people to access.  It is important to note that given the world contains billions of…

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Subscription Websites

  Whilst there are many great free sites, sometimes they will not carry the information you require such as the full original document.  This is where subscription sites become useful.  Also subscribing to a magazine can provide you with a wealth of information in regards to conducting your research.     Magazines Discover Your Ancestors – this magazine offers both online…

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Genealogical and Family History Societies

  Throughout the world, there are many family history societies for people to join and gain valuable local information.       Association of Family History Societies Wales Australasian Federation of Family History Societies British Association for Local History Federation of Family History Societies – this is the overall body for UK family history societies. North of Ireland Family History Society Scottish…

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Gateway Sites

Sometimes finding what you want in genealogy is like a maze of information sometimes never taking you to where you wanted.  These following websites are free and provide you with a stepping stone to your family research by providing information on where to find what you are looking for.   There are numerous sites operated worldwide.     Worldwide Cyndi’s List…

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Archives and Libraries

There are many archival sites around the world that carry a wealth of information for genealogists.  They store documents and records such as Wills, Schools, Hospitals, Orphanages, Immigration, Courts, Lands, War, Shipping, Business to name but a few.         Canada Library and Archives Canada – this website offers both English and French versions to explore the vast collection…

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Census

      Census records carry a goldmine of information for genealogists, a snapshot in time, in 5 or 10-year cycles.  Dependant on the year or location of your Census you will find information such as your ancestor’s names, ages, address, occupation, relationship status, amongst other information.  Different countries carry different information with more recent years carrying much more information than…

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Military

  Over the centuries there have been many wars and the military has always played a part in life.  There are numerous records available online in regards to a range of conflicts including World War I, World War II, Boer War, American Civil War, Vietnam War, Korean War.  Here I have started to list some of the numerous websites that…

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Obituaries

Obituaries are a great source for genealogists to find dates of death.  Sometimes there may be no official record but you can find a family notice of a death.   The Ryerson Index – this is a free searchable index to death notices that have appeared in Australian Newspapers from 1803 – current day. USGenWeb Obituary Project – this USA-based project…

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Newspapers and Publications

Newspapers and other publications are a rich source of information about family events such as births, marriages, deaths and probate notices.  If your ancestor was in trouble with the law or a local identity you may well find evidence of them in newspapers.   City Directories of the United States of America – search by state to find relevant directories, newspapers,…

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Copyright and Citations

It is important to understand your responsibilities as a Genealogist in regards to copyright and citation of records.  It is important that you understand what records you can use and reproduce as well as how to correctly cite records.  If for no other reason than you can find the records again at a later date! Click on a link to…

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