I just finished figuring out which new cell phone I should buy.
Although I was able to make a choice, it didn't happen until after getting fried and frustrated.
With a growing treasure trove of resources online, ancestry research can bring similar overload.
With many sites asking for money up front, it's hard to tell which are worth it.
So let me give you some great free ancestry resources that are not only free, but will bring your ancestors to life in surprising ways.
Do an internet search on your ancestors name: If you have a name, town and birth date, you might find that many others have research posted.
You'll just want to make sure that there are some sources sited.
People tend to feed off each other's research, and one person's mistakes get turned into everyone's.
Find-A-Grave: Many people are taking cemeteries under their wing, and excavating information on those buried.
Although many profiles are basic, some have really valuable information.
Many times you can trace back generations.
Once you know the cemetery, you can then move on to do a cemetery search.
Search/Contact Cemeteries: While it's fairly easy to find death dates on genealogy sites, most don't share valuable information such as cause of death.
Ordering death certificates can be expensive.
Search the web for your cemetery and see if they have records posted.
If it's a larger cemetery you can try calling to request information.
Many times they'll give it to you for free.
City/Town Websites: It's hard to understand an ancestor without getting to know the town or city they lived in.
Once you know a hometown, search for the town website, which will have town history, and possibly historical pictures.
Some also note town historians who might have a file on your family already.
Also look for the library contact.
Local Libraries: Some libraries will do a bit of research for you, especially if you have specific questions.
Their time is limited, so figure out what you need before you call.
If your research takes time, they will most likely ask you for a voluntary donation.
County Genealogy Resources: Many counties have begun to digitalize their records.
Once on a county site, see what they have available.
Local Newspaper Archives: Track down the newspaper that covered your ancestor's town or city.
Sometimes they've been digitalized.
Newspapers have obituaries, society pages, court cases, political activities...
and more! If your ancestors lived in the state of New York, check out Fulton Postcards.
California also has an incredible archive of state newspapers - California Digital Newspaper Collection.
Search for city directory archives: In earlier times, not only did directories give a home address, they also listed the man's place of business,s and trade.
You can track over time where you ancestors lived and worked.
Mapping Sites: What good are all those names of towns your ancestors lived in if you don't know where they are? Mapping sites are also great to track the movement of your family, not only from home to home, but from town to town over the generations.
Also look up addresses of old work places.
It's interesting to find what the commute was.
It's also very possible that the home your ancestor once lived in, still exists.
Google Maps, has a street view option.
You might be able to see the actual house, and get to print a picture.
Real Estate Sites: If the home your ancestor lived in was recently on the market, sites such as Zillow.
com and Trulia.
com will have not only detailed information, but great pictures.
Search Military Regiments: If you find an ancestor who served in a war, do an internet search on their specific regiment.
If you know their specific time served, you can find out exactly what campaigns and battles they were involved in.
Some regiments have notes from personal journals, giving day to day accounts.
Bing Free Images: I can't tell you how much I love this site.
I have found pictures on the smallest of towns, obscure historic sites and naval ships past and present.
You might even find a picture of your ancestor.
Whatever you might like to see...
put it into the search and see what pops up.
Search for a History Timeline: It's hard to understand our ancestors without putting their lives in historical perspective.
There are great history timelines online.
Search the country, and region as well as the century you need.
I not only love finding out important events and who was in power, but also inventions of the time.
While these ancestry resources are free, your overall research will be much easier if you use a well reputed genealogy site for your base of action.
Ancestry.
com is remains my favorite.
I use Ancestry.
com to build an overall tree, but branch out into these other sites regularly to turn documents into real family.
The most important thing to remember? Unlike buying a new phone...
ancestry should only be about intrigue and fun.
It's natural to get overwhelmed, or fried from time to time.
When that happens, close it down for the day.
Like everything else...
when we come at genealogy with fresh eyes - new information pops up where we didn't see it before.