Free genealogy databases serve as a starting point for people that want to research their family trees.
The data is published online and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
A number of different records have been digitized and stored in this fashion.
Below is an overview of a few choices, what you can learn from them and what you should do next.
Marriage Records You can search marriage records by surname or the location of the wedding.
If you search by the surname, your results list may include hundreds of results.
As you browse through them, you will see that each result lists the couple's names, the dates and the place they were married.
This information allows you to determine if the records listed are relevant to your family history or not.
Once you find a listing that looks promising, you can click on the result and see what comes up.
Prepare to be frustrated when you begin.
Some of the websites are not functioning properly.
For example, if you click on a result, you might be taken to an irrelevant page or a listing of different names.
County Histories There are some companies that allow for advanced searches and storage of records.
They offer free genealogy databases to give you a "taste" of what their full services have to offer.
You might say that they offer just enough to pique your curiosity.
That's not surprising if you think about it.
It's how they get people to buy.
County histories are among the digitized data that many of these companies have access to.
If you use their search engines, you may see the name you are looking for, but to get the full information stored in the database, you will need to pay for a subscription.
Military Records Some of the free genealogy databases allow for simple searches of military records.
For example, one of my ancestors was Daniel Rose.
He served in the military in 1864 during the Civil War.
That information is available to anyone, freely online.
Other details, such as events and locations are only available to members.
While you might not want to pay for a subscription, you should be able to understand why the fees for full access are charged.
Someone must research the data.
Someone must enter the information into the database.
There are website hosting charges to consider.
There are a few free genealogy databases that are run strictly by volunteers.
They are able to keep the websites running via donations.
So, if you visit one of those sites, be sure to donate.
The data is published online and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
A number of different records have been digitized and stored in this fashion.
Below is an overview of a few choices, what you can learn from them and what you should do next.
Marriage Records You can search marriage records by surname or the location of the wedding.
If you search by the surname, your results list may include hundreds of results.
As you browse through them, you will see that each result lists the couple's names, the dates and the place they were married.
This information allows you to determine if the records listed are relevant to your family history or not.
Once you find a listing that looks promising, you can click on the result and see what comes up.
Prepare to be frustrated when you begin.
Some of the websites are not functioning properly.
For example, if you click on a result, you might be taken to an irrelevant page or a listing of different names.
County Histories There are some companies that allow for advanced searches and storage of records.
They offer free genealogy databases to give you a "taste" of what their full services have to offer.
You might say that they offer just enough to pique your curiosity.
That's not surprising if you think about it.
It's how they get people to buy.
County histories are among the digitized data that many of these companies have access to.
If you use their search engines, you may see the name you are looking for, but to get the full information stored in the database, you will need to pay for a subscription.
Military Records Some of the free genealogy databases allow for simple searches of military records.
For example, one of my ancestors was Daniel Rose.
He served in the military in 1864 during the Civil War.
That information is available to anyone, freely online.
Other details, such as events and locations are only available to members.
While you might not want to pay for a subscription, you should be able to understand why the fees for full access are charged.
Someone must research the data.
Someone must enter the information into the database.
There are website hosting charges to consider.
There are a few free genealogy databases that are run strictly by volunteers.
They are able to keep the websites running via donations.
So, if you visit one of those sites, be sure to donate.
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