anyone do geneology?

i started about a yr and a half ago and it is fascinating. i have gone all the way back to 14oo's on one side of my hubbies ancestors. only problem with geneology is that it is addicting like gardening and sometimes it is hard to get time to do all.

my sis in alabama does ours and shes back into the 1300 now im related to some famous people in history. Its really neat to find out all that stuff!

Yes, I've done my dh to the 12c. and I've been working on mine, and I'll present to my grandparents next year at our family picnic. We have a really big family from georgia and I even met a lady online who ended being a double cousin. I thought that was pretty neat. Geneaolory can be very addicting!!!

I'm related to my GrandParents...that's all I know, altho I do have some info on who my GFathers Father was. I think I may have asked before, but is there a simple website for doing geneology searches on?

Yes, I started doing this a couple of years ago. Just be warned: The information posted on the Internet by other people can be fatally flawed. Even the LDS Family Search site has a lot of incorrect information. Realize that if you take bad info and post it, many other people will take it as "gospel", add it to their family trees, and the mistake will be multiplied many times over.

What you find on line is a good starting point, but the only way to get true and accurate results (and even then you can't always be sure!) is to obtain actual documentation. Birth, death, and marriage certificates are some of the best sources you can find. Visits to cemetaries are very helpful as many grave markers have names and dates that you may not find anywhere else. Census records, tax rolls, and land grants are some of the best sources available for locating ancestors.

This is a great hobby, and I've had lots of fun chasing down elusive relatives!

Yes, started genealogy some years ago, can be an addiction. Amaryllisgal makes an excellent point, every connection must be proven and documented. Many or most published genealogies are flawed. A beautifully documented genealogy of 4 generations can be a source of great pride. Much of the LDS information is as submitted by contributors, and while serving as excellent 'clues' cannot be taken as definitive links.

Most important is to start with yourself!!! Your own birth certificate may hold some surprises, as may those of your parents. Work back ONE generation at a time, resisting the impulse to add 75 generations obtained online from someone else's research.

One more point, then I will exit teacher mode: waste no time interviewing the eldest members of your family. The information they have to share is of inestimable value. And don't forget to get those family photos labelled!!! Genealogy is more than names and dates, preserve those photos and family stories as well.

Happy ancestor hunting!!!

John

Indashade is very much into geneology.

"eyes"

Why I met about 4 no make that 5 cousins here on Dave's.

you are right about verifying info. i usually make sure i have 3 to 5 references all stating the same before i take it as truth.

I was just going to chime in here, and I see "eyes" mentioned me. Thanks eyes!

I have been doing genealogy for about fifteen years, and have written several books on various topics related to my family and genealogy. It certainly DOES get addictive!

In addition to all of the other comments that people have made, I would like to share this: It is IMPOSSIBLE to accurately trace back to Adam and Eve, and anyone who claims they can is ~seriously~ misguided. There is all kinds of info on this subject, but this is one of the better articles:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/genealogy/DAY/day6.html

IndaShade, thanks for the great link. I came across one family which actually 'traced' their line 3 generations BEFORE Adam and Eve, and claim that God created the Earth 'under' the feet of their third generation.

Georgiaredclay, I well remember that amazing thread where your cousins kept popping up, what fun! Tamlamb and in are cousins too, our common ancestor was born about 1790!

My DH has been into geneology for years, about the only thing he uses his computer for. He uses ancestry.com and rootsweb.com some, but says, you still have to triple check everything. He insists I use acid free pen to write names & dates on back of pictures and keep in acid free albums.

I only know that some of my ancestres was a gypsy and where my grandparents come from etc.. :} Sure would be neat to know a little more.