Beginner Genealogy
Where to Start

Are you really new, and just have no idea where to start?

Start by writing down what you already know:

Names
Dates
Places

Talk to your living relatives, find out the following:

Full names
Full dates-day, month, year
births
deaths
marriages
Places of residence
Religion
Social customs
Occupations
Education

Find out all work already done on your families

Decide if work is valid
Check for sources

Record all information

Record information on pedigree charts and family group sheets
Write down where you get your information
Write down all sources that DON'T help so that you don't waste time and check them again!

Study all areas that your ancestors lived in

Histories
Social Customs

Record all information about anyone in the same area with the same surname. Even if you feel there is no connection. Check all spellings of the surname.

Spellings change
Mistakes are often made

Check these sources:

County histories
Atlases
Maps
City directories
Newspapers
Birth records
Marriage records
Death records
Census records
Bible Records
cemetery records
Wills and probate
Church records
Military records