Tips for Starting Your Research
- Begin with yourself and work your way back through the generations.
- Create a Time Line - who lived where, and when?
- Use a Pedigree Chart and Family Group sheet to fill in what you know. List parents and grandparents. (most genealogy software creates these or try free on-line)
- Identify 'Friends and Neighbors' - you'll research ALL these people!
- Talk to relatives and family friends to gather more information.
- Research vital records (birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates). Know what is available before you start! Delaware is an example here; but see city and county data as well!
- Research federal census records. Different questions appear on each census. State census records are often VERY helpful.
- Don't skip tax and court records. These can be especially helpful pre-1865.
- Seek assistance from Family History Centers, libraries, archives, and public records.
- Understand how search engines work; and make them work for you. The mistake we see most often is 'entering too much information' and getting no hits.
- Hints on search engine strategies
- Google free eBooks includes county histories, legislative acts and more. Advanced Search features are available!
- Using Google (multi-pages)
- Know where you are! Historic maps at the University of Delaware
Many video lessons are available (free) on www.familysearch.org
familysearch.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Family_History_Lesson_Series&oldid=2684996
Free DNA Analysis -
Always check the website for the most current instructions Uploading Raw DNA files from your testing Company to GEDMatch.com.
On the right side of the Home page for GEDMatch.com is a light blue box titled "File Uploads". Inside this box is a gray box titled "Raw DNAfile Uploads".
Under that are two links.
The first is "Generic Upload FAST" Click on this link to get links for detailed instructions for uploading your raw DNA file from either ancestry.com, FTDNA, WeGene, MyHeritage, or a generic company.
The second link is "23andMe fast & easy". Click on this link to get detailed instructions for uploading your raw DNA from 23&Me.
GOOGLE TOOLS FOR RESEARCH - FREE AND POWERFUL (from the Ancestor Hunt blog)
Online Resources
familysearch.orgFree
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Downloadable Resources
| deaahgs_genealogy_research__information.pdf |
| genealogy_resources.docx |
Software to manage your genealogy research - try Ancestral Quest Basics for free (available for Mac or Windows)
http://www.ancquest.com/index.htm
Try Google Doc samples for pedigree, family group sheets, etc .
Special topics and resources
www.familysearch.org/site-map
Before you get a DNA Test
www.blogtalkradio.com/bernicebennett
Cyndi's List
Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau
The USGenWeb Project
Find A Grave
City Directories of the United States of America
Chronicling America
African American Cemeteries Online
Genealogy Software and Resources
African Americans in America's Wars
Finding Your Delaware Roots
Delaware Resources
Delaware Roots
Delaware State Archives
Delaware Historic Society
Mount Olive Cemetery and early African-American burials in Wilmington
Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery
Delaware State Archives
Delaware Historic Society
Mount Olive Cemetery and early African-American burials in Wilmington
Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery
Do you have a genealogy will? Who will manage your decades of research?
You can tell people how to manage and share your work. (click the link to download).
www.devonfhs.org.uk/my-genealogical-will.pdf
You can tell people how to manage and share your work. (click the link to download).
www.devonfhs.org.uk/my-genealogical-will.pdf
RECORDS
Free access to online records may be found at Delaware Public Libraries and Family History Centers
The Family Search Wiki has research articles and how-tos.
The Ancestry Blog
The Family History Guide
TIPS for Family Reunions and Gatherings -
Family History Activities for Children
Reunion Genealogy
Free access to online records may be found at Delaware Public Libraries and Family History Centers
The Family Search Wiki has research articles and how-tos.
The Ancestry Blog
The Family History Guide
TIPS for Family Reunions and Gatherings -
Family History Activities for Children
Reunion Genealogy
Ellis Island Records
Although most records are not applicable to the arrival of enslaved ancestors – they can provide interesting details about your ancestors who:
- Were involved in the Back to Africa movement (recolonization in Liberia)
- Were ministers who traveled to spread the Gospel to Africa and the Islands
- Who served in the military
- Who traveled to visit relatives in the Caribbean or South America or immigrated from the Islands after the Civil War
- Who were expats or performers on tour
- Who had spouses who traveled to join them in America
Did my Black Ancestors Come Through Ellis Island?
Although most records are not applicable to the arrival of enslaved ancestors – they can provide interesting details about your ancestors who:
- Were involved in the Back to Africa movement (recolonization in Liberia)
- Were ministers who traveled to spread the Gospel to Africa and the Islands
- Who served in the military
- Who traveled to visit relatives in the Caribbean or South America or immigrated from the Islands after the Civil War
- Who were expats or performers on tour
- Who had spouses who traveled to join them in America
Did my Black Ancestors Come Through Ellis Island?