One great way of learning and picking up new tips and ideas about tracing your family history is to take a look at some of the many genealogy blogs and sites that are online today. Don’t pay too much attention to ‘how the site looks’ but more particularly pay attention to what resources the writer uses and how they layout their data.
Over the past few years I have been in contact with many fellow genealogists and the one thing we all have in common is that elusive ‘missing link’ that exists in just about every family. It pays to spend some idle time just browsing around at what others have written; I certainly do. Step outside of that comfort-zone of the family names you are researching too because there are always things to discover.
Another thing; share your information and be generous. Yes, I know that gathering data can be time consuming and, often expensive, but one thing that really works in this genealogy thing is linking-up. Don’t be the type of person who thinks…”I paid to do this so you go find your own info”. I have encountered this and I do not understand it. Also, if you have old family photos and mementoes…share them with the family, let others have a look and record them. I have a distant relation who is possession of a precious and priceless item in the form of a handwritten diary that my GGG Grandmother wrote in her teens way back in the 1830′s/40′s. Among other items. When I enquired with her about 15 years ago if I could visit her and see these ‘relics’ she refused. She offered to send photos of them but I was not allowed to actually visit and view them. Silly, and so selfish. And pointless. Yet quite a common attitude from what I have been told by others who have experienced the same thing. Some people just do not like to share what they have.
That diary will be the subject of a special post in the not too distant future…
I have shared whatever info I have with various researchers over the years and have found it pays rewards. Take a look at the site of Antony Maitland and you will find a very well detailed stash of info. He contacted me a while back asking for some info and I gave it to him. The result is he was able to extend his work and record it for everyone else researching the same areas as he is. We can all help each other out and it pays dividends.
If you are looking for info regarding Australia then Genealogy in New South Wales will provide a great source of research including convicts, electoral rolls and immigration.
There are many huge and excellent sites around right now such as Genforum and RootsWeb but please consider those smaller sites that are put together by people like you and me. You will find that people are always willing to help out and you never know what you will find!
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