Apr
22
Written by:
Henry
4/22/2008 4:08 PM
Genealogy can be fun, rewarding and at times very frustrating. Sometimes things are going along fine, record after record giving you valuable information about your family’s past. Then suddenly you hit a road block when you just can’t find any more information. It can make you feel like there is no hope and nowhere left to turn for information. Running a people search on the web might give new clues and help you find the records you need by getting you in touch with distant relatives who might have the answers you are looking for.
One way to use a people search to help locate genealogy records is to trace the line forward to another part of the family. You might find a second or third cousin that you never knew existed. Often other family members from a different branch of the family tree are also doing genealogy work and may have already run across the information you are in need of. It is absolutely amazing how often this happens. Not only are you able to locate the information you need, but you just might discover a helpful ally that you can continue to work with as your genealogy work moves forward.
Running a search on a people finder site may also help you locate the actual person you are looking for if they have been deceased in the past 20 years or so. Often there are still available records online that may indicate last known address and provide clues about where the person may have died and been buried. You can then follow up these leads with the records department of the county the relative last lived in and hopefully find a match.
Of course there are also people finder sites that cater to genealogy work and will help you locate birth and death records. Sometimes these sites charge a fee, but if the lead is needed to complete your work, then it is well worth the cost. These sites will generally allow you to search for records with as little information as the first and last name and approximate date of birth.
Another way to use a people search to help with genealogy work is to contact friends and neighbors of the deceased person or their ancestors. Often the smallest clue they remember is enough to get things rolling again. You may be surprised at how much information others have about your family history and talking to as many people as possible will make the job more fun and more rewarding as you fill in the facts and figures with delightful anecdotes and begin to get to know your predecessors better.
There are several free people searches available and others that charge a moderate fee, but provide a wealth of information. Some of them even have subscriptions, which will save you a lot of money over paying for each record if you plan to use it often. People searches are a great way to locate people and information on the web and helping with genealogy is just one more way that they are beneficial.
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1 comments so far...
Re: People Searches—Help With Genealogy
I looking for David Lee Hanner. He is around 60years old. He is my bf's fater. We looking for him. I think he living in Indiana in U.S.A. If you know about him, please tell me. Small information is really okay!!!
By Eri on
5/14/2008 1:09 AM
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