The Big Four Internet Genealogy Sites
• Ancestry.com • FamilySearch.org • FindMyPast.com • MyHeritage.com Ancestry.com
Subscription-based genealogical website and DNA product with over 16 billion records online. The majority of records are from the United States, though records are being added for other countries, such as Canada, the UK, and other European countries. Excellent learning center.
Library Edition Available Free
Williamsburg Regional Library
Swem Library
Family History Center
Library of Virginia
Many Local Libraries
Library Edition has US and International Databases Membership Options
Level Benefits Cost
Basic • Build Family Tree Free • Access Free Databases • DNA ethnicity DNA Insights Access Shared Ancestor Hints, $49/year DNA Circles and Genetic Matches’ Tree
US Discovery Access US Databases $19.99/month $99/6 months
World Explorer Access US and International $34.99/month Databases $149/6 months
World Explorer Plus • Access US and International $44.99/month Databases $199/6 months • Fold3 • Newspapers.com
14 Day Free Trial with Credit Card Trees
Create and Manage Trees
Create a New Tree
Start with a person and add name and some information Family Tree Controls/Editing
Add Parents
Save
Name Tree
Tree Setting
Name and Description
Privacy Setting
Public
Private but Findable
Private Hidden
Sharing (Invite others)
Editor
Contributor
Guest (Viewer) Searching Records First and Last Name Exact, Exact and Sound-like, Exact and Similar
Event Date Birth, Marriage, Death, etc. Exact, Year plus or minus 1, 2, 5, 10 years
Location Exact, County and Adjacent counties, State, State and Adjacent States, Country Search Hints
Slider to Adjust Results To left of your results under Search Filters are slides to adjust the filters Search Specific Record Categories Select category under Search Search Specific Collections Select Search > All Collections Scroll down to map Select State Select Collection and complete search criteria and search
Insider Advice
Search with Wildcards for names ? for one character; * for up to 5 characters Must provide at least three characters
Automatic Hints Need to have an Ancestry Family Tree
Free Free Index Collection Ancestry Wiki Save Records to Family Tree
With a Subscription Attach records to individual(s) in Family Tree Upload Pictures Stories PDF Note Need an up to date subscription to access records attached from Ancestry.com Uploaded files do not need up to date subscription Ancestry DNA
Autosomal DNA Test Microarray-based autosomal DNA testing, which surveys a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations
Predict your genetic ethnicity Maps ethnicity going back multiple generations
Help you find new family connections Help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of possible DNA member matches Help
Support Center DNA Member Trees Search and Records Accounts and Billing Mobile Free Mobile App Community Message Boards Hire Expert (ancestry ProGenealogist) Extras
IOS & Android App Ancestry for your mobile device Photobook & Posters Create a family photobook and posters ($) ProGenealogist Professional help ($) Ancestry Academy Online educational tools Gift Subscriptions ($) Short Cuts
Search search.ancestry.com
Ancestry Wiki ancestry.com/wiki
Ancestry DNA dna.ancestry.com
Card Catalog search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx
Mobile app ancestry.com/cs/ancestry-app
Recently updated collections ancestry.com/cs/recent-collections FamilySearch.org
Genealogy organization operated by The Mormons (LDS)
Maintains a collection of records, resources, and services designed to help people learn more about their family history
Gathers, preserves, and shares genealogical records worldwide
Free access to its resources and service online Family Search
Membership Options Level Benefits Cost Public Member • View Records (Some are Free (registration viewable only at FHC required to view some • Create, edit, view records and use family family tree tree)
LDS Member • Above plus Free (registration • Home access to required) restricted records • MyHeritage • FindMyPast Search for Records Records Search Hints
Name ? In place of letter; * replace several Letters: Must have at least 3 letters Event Try 2, 5, or 10 year span Relationship Try entering parent’s name looking for children Restrict Records by Type – e.g. Birth, Baptism and Christenings, Marriage, Death, Census, etc. Browse Image Image only available; not indexed thus non-searchable Search Comments
Some collections require you to be registered as per agreement with the collection owner
Some collections link to subscription site. May need a subscription or view at a Family History Center Browse Record Collection Other Searches
Old Ancestral files and Pedigree files
Enter information on your ancestor and click search
Hits can be used a clues; need to verify the information
Catalog
Collection of films, books and fiches
Search by place, last name, title, author, subject or keywords
Books
Books of family histories and genealogies
Click details to see information on contents and if available online
Wiki
Genealogical Wiki
Search by surname, place or topic Family Tree
No Guarantee information accurate. Anyone can modify. Should provide sources. Remember others can edit your data. Carefully merge duplicates. To locate an individual, click Family Tree Click Find and enter individual name and information. To view or edit an individual detailed information In Tree view. Click the name to display the individual’s summary Click Person to see detailed information On the Tree page Move the tree by clicking <. Hold mouse down and drag the page to view On the Tree page View a couple’s children by clicking the children link below the couple’s names Memories
Memories Gallery is a place where all of the photos, stories, documents, and audio recordings that you add to FamilySearch are collected
From Memories Gallery the items are linked to individuals in the Family Tree Indexing
Sign up to help create searchable indexes collections
Volunteer efforts to make collections available to the general genealogical community Get Help
Help Center Getting Started Contact Us Learning Center My Cases Research WiKi What’s New Short Cuts
Browse All Published Collections www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list FamilySearch App Gallery www.familysearch.org/apps Search digitized books books.familysearch.org Search the FamilySearch Catalog www.familysearch.org/catalog/search Search historical Records www.familysearch.org/search FindMyPast
Subscription site Available free at the Family History Center Initial focus UK and Irish Records UK - Census, parish, military, passenger and newspapers Irish – Catholic parish and newspapers Recently added US and Canadian Collections Partnership with FamilySearch large collection of US marriage records Now adding Catholic records for the archdioceses of Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York (1800-1920) Level Benefits Cost
Basic Free Collections Free Build family tree
Starter US Records (except premium marriage and Catholic $9.95/mo or $34.95/yr records) and UK/Ireland census records Build family tree With 12 mo membership FindMyPast webinars, support, special offers
Premium US and International records $19.95/mo or $239.50/yr Build family tree With 12 mo membership FindMyPast webinars, support, 1939 Register and special offers
Pay as you go Access to records and transcriptions exchange for cr @ $10.95/60 cr good for 90 days 5 – 60 cr per transcription
14 Day Free Trial
Free Records
US Census
US and Canada: Public Records Birth and Marriage
Irish Catholic Parish Register
Build your own Family Tree Blogs and Help
Blogs You can join blogs
Help Obtain online assistance Short Cuts
Free Records www.findmypast.com/free Help www.findmypast.co.uk/frequently-asked- questions List of all records Search.findmypast.com/historical-records MyHeritage.com
Online subscription genealogy web site, mobile, and software products and services
Users can create family trees, upload and browse through photos, and search billions of global historical records including a large collection of newspapers
Autosomal DNA services (extra cost), partner with 23andme
Support for multi-languages
Free Download of Family Tree Builder software
Library edition available at Family History Center
MyHeritage.com
Level Benefits Cost
Basic Family Tree up to 250 names Free Basic Smart Matching
Premium Family Tree up to 2,500 names $100 /yr (25% Discount 1st Time 1,000 MB storage Subscribers) Enhanced Smart Matching
Premium Family Tree unlimited size $175 /yr (25% Discount 1st Time Plus Enhanced Smart Matching Subscribers)
Data All premium record collections $159.25 /yr (25% Discount 1st View Record Matches in your tree Time Subscribers)
Complete Combination of Premium Plus and Data $250.74 /yr (30% Discount 1st Subscription Time Subscribers)
Home
Data on Family Web site created under MyHeritage Family Events – e.g birthdays, etc Family Statistics – Statistics based on the members of the family tree Invite Family – Have others view web site Site Members – List of those invited to view web site Site Account – data on owner, when created, etc
Discoveries
Matches by People All Matches Record Matches Smart Matches Matches by Sources All Matches Record Matches Smart Matches Instant Discoveries All Discoveries Person Discoveries Photo Discoveries DNA
Ethnicity Estimate DNA Matches Manage DNA Kits Order DNA Kits Upload DNA Data MyHeritage.com DNA
Autosomal DNA Test Ethnicity Near relatives (up to about 4th Cousins) Cost $99 but on sale for $79
Can upload at-DNA Require a Family tree on the site (can just be the individual) Photos
Allow you to add photos to your family tree Research
Birth, Marriage & Death Census & Voter Lists Family Tree Newspapers Immigration & Travel Collection Catalog Hire a researcher MyHeritage – Collection Catalog
Short Cuts
Help Helpcenter.myheritage.com Mobile app www.myheritage.com/mobile MyHeritage DNA www.myheritage.com/dna Search MyHeritage genealogy records www.myheritage.com/research Other Sites for Future Reference
National Archives and Records Administration
Fold3
Free at Family History Center
Free Online at Library of Virginia under collections Military
Military Records, City Directories
Free 7 Day Trial
GenealogyBank ($)
U.S. Newspapers
Library Of Congress
Newspapers.com ($)
Mostly US Newspapers plus some foreign newspapers
Free 7 Day Trial