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In my previous article about how to get a family history started, I recommended writing a biography about a favorite ancestor. In this article, I write about starting your family history with a family tree.
Assumptions: In these articles, I assume that the final goal is an online ancestral family history using a blog platform.
» Read more: The top three ways to get your family history started ? No. 2: A family tree
Interest in family tree research is growing rapidly, with North America, the UK and the Antipodies leading the way. Perhaps this is hardly surprising as North America, Australia and New Zealand are the ‘New World’ seeded by Europe, and by Britain and Ireland in particular. The histories of all these countries are intertwined and for any English speaking family historian looking further back than the 1900′s, it is likely that part of the family is located in these areas. For those living in the New World, who are not from the indigenous population, all roads lead to Europe, at least as far as family history research goes.
Luckily, family tree research and creation has never been easier, even though distance from the source can still be a problem. There are numerous free family tree software packages on the web giving information and support on how to create a family tree and enabling users to create and print their family tree in ever more interesting ways. One downside of these “free” family tree products is that sometimes they are integrated within commercial websites that require you to use their other (paid for) services in order to access this “free” service. Also, always check the terms and conditions to ensure that by using a free site to begin building your family tree you are not giving the provider any rights over the family tree information that you add. The website My Heritage is an exception and offers free access to family tree charts and other helpful services with no strings attached. Family tree software is also free to download from the Legacy Family Tree website, and the Family Search site, whereas the very popular Family Tree Maker by Ancestry.com has to be paid for.
Keeping tabs on the events in our relatives’ lives has never been easier than today, now that the Internet is practically ubiquitous. One way is by signing up for a free family tree website, which would allow you to easily generate graphic charts showing the members of your family and much more.
Despite being free of charge, the service offers a whole lot of features that can help keep even distant family members bonded. You may input an unlimited number of names and create pedigree and descendant charts. This would allow you to have a graphical representation of how one member of your family is related to another. You also have the option of uploading a previously made family tree into the website, as long as it is in the supported file format.
» Read more: Putting Up a Free Family Tree Website Can Help Keep Family Ties