how to find ancestry/genealogy/etc for free?

how would i go about finding my genealogy/family history for free

First, start by asking all your living relatives about family history and get any documents or pictures they are willing to share with you for your files. You can photocopy or scan these and return them to their owner. Your public libraries will most likely have both Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest.com free for anyone to use while at the library and with a library card you should be able to use Heritage Quest at home.

Another free online resource is USGenWeb at http://www.usgenweb.org/ this sprawling all-volunteer site is packed with how-to tips, queries and records for every state and most counties within those states. Special projects usgenweb.org/projects cover subjects such as censuses, tombstones and family group sheets. Do not miss the easy-to-overlook search of the entire site http://searches.rootsweb.ancestry.com/htdig/search.html/. Then, there is Rootsweb at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ a free site hosted by Ancestry.com where you can search for surnames and leave queries on the message boards.

Additionally, there is the LDS/Mormon site, which has many free online records at http://www.familysearch.org/ . In addition to their online records, they have the Family History Centers where you can go to get help with research and look at microfilm and microfiche and they only charge if they have to order something for you or you need photocopies. Finally, if you need software to organize your genealogy data you can download their Personal Ancestral File [PAF] free at http://www.familysearch.org/ .

Also, be sure to check each state that you need information from as many have their own projects, for example, the state of Missouri has a great website that has many free source documents online at http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ and South Carolina has many free wills and other court documents at http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx

And, do not forget to check Cyndi’s List at http://www.cyndislist.com/ and ProGenealogist top 100 genealogist websites at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/101best2009?r=adcFTMText
both of these sites have many links for both free and fee based sites but I believe most of the fee based ones are marked with a $.

I am certain I could list many more websites but this list is rather comprehensive while being easy on the wallet, which is something everyone can appreciate these days.
You can always come back here if you get stuck and ask questions.

Ancestry – Genealogy files organized

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