As you are filling in your beginning pedigree chart (your road map), you will be noting the
Where and When of your people. With this information you can go to the locality where
your people lived and search the right time frame. With this basic information, go to:
Scroll down to the bottom part of that page where it says: Message Boards. You will note that
there are two kinds of boards - one to search for the Surname and one to search the localities. You will
want to do both. These boards are for sharing queries. You should post a new query in each county
where your ancestors live. A good query will give the names, places and dates or at least the time frame
for when your people lived there. Many times there will be researchers in that county who will do look-ups
for you in their county records that they probably have at their finger-tips.
On each board you can do a search first for the name in which you are most interested. Type in the name
in the search box and then be sure to click the circle for THAT board before you hit GO. You will then
be able to read any queries for people of the same name as yours. Even if does not appear to be your
relative, it doesn't hurt to respond to the query by posting as the researcher might know of your line too
and be able to direct to more quickly to the records you seek.
When your searches have given you the name of your great grandparents, you can do a search for them at:
http://www.familysearch.org
Remember that the exact information that you have may not exactly match the information submitted by another.
So think about variations that others may have used. It is easier to use these databases at a Family
History Center, as you can scroll though these lists and select the one You want to look at rather than
having a computer do that for you. Family Search uses three databases: Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource
File and the Internation Genealogical Index (IGI). The first two are based on submissions individuals
send in to share from what they have recorded in their own computer copy of Personal Ancestral File (PAF).
The IGI is a database from information LDS church members have submitted from all over the world. There are
many duplications in this record. The Pedigree Resource File is from people everywhere and each submission
is only as reliable as that person's research. However, each family group sheet gives you the contact
information for the researcher so that you can coordinate with him/her.
FamilySearch also draws from the Social Security Index and other records. You are informed of the sources.
When you have gotten back far enough, it is sometimes beneficial to put your name into a Google search.
http://www.google.com
For instance, if you put in Lanty Graham, you would find the first entry to be the Will of John Graham
naming a Lanty Graham as son. Also are other references where the name is given. This is an especially
good search if the name is unusual. So when I am searching for William Caldwell, I use the name of
his brother, Kinkead as that one is distinctive and pulls me into the same record bases.
Cyndi's List is a springboard for many genealogical sites and a good place to further your research.