Links and Tools

 

Family history research requires access to a wide variety of records. The following is a list of links, tools and sources available to help you in your research.

 

 

Family Web Pages

 

The Western Association of Leavitt Families – Includes data on CARSON – FISH – REED – STEELE and related lines.

 

Gordon Drake’s Family History Page – Includes REED and related lines.

 

The Maret/Marett Family of SC – Trish Jones’ page includes data on MARET(T) descendants and related lines.

 

Old Pendleton District – Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society – includes database of original settlers and descendants.

 

Eliza Jane’s Family – Ancestors, descendants and history of Eliza Jane ADAIR – Carson – Pearson – Price.

 

Joseph Fish (1840-1926) – History, photos and genealogy of Joseph Fish

 

 

Free Research Databases

 

Cyndi’s List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet -- A large categorized and cross-referenced directory of sites useful for genealogical research, with hundreds of thousands of links. Widely regarded as the Genealogist’s online bible.

 

FamilySearch.org – The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon), provides free access to vital records, the Ancestral File and the International Genealogical Index (IGI). At FamilySearch, a major leap forward in the accessibility of primary source records is quietly taking place. Thousands of volunteers worldwide are digitizing, extracting and indexing information stored in the microfilm records of the “Granite Mountain,” the world’s largest repository of genealogical source records. The goal is to make EVERY record accessible to researchers online over the next few years. To facilitate access to these records, FamilySearch.org will be undergoing many new and exciting changes over the coming months and years. It is expected that access to these records via the internet will remain free to all.

 

FindAGrave.com – Search 14 million grave records. Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add 'virtual flowers' and a note to a loved one's grave, etc.

 

Rootsweb.com – the Internet's oldest and largest FREE genealogical community. An award winning genealogical resource with searchable databases, and many valuable resources. Originally an ad-hoc collection of data and resources, Rootsweb is now sponsored by Ancestry.com.

 

USGenWeb.com - Free genealogy and family history online made possible by the USGenWeb Project volunteers. Search free genealogy websites for your ancestors. Links to many State, County and Municipality resources. Volunteers willing to help with searches.

 

WorldGenWeb.org -- The WorldGenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer based organization dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for world-wide access.

 

 

Fee Based Research Databases

 

A number of companies offer fee based access to their vast collections of vital records and data. The following are links to services we have used to research our lines.

 

Ancestry.com--  Arguably the most widely known research service provider. Access to   millions of digitized vital records, including Birth, Census, Death, Marriage, etc. Ancestry also sponsors the World Family Tree, a collection of millions of user submitted trees.

 

Footnote.com -- At Footnote.com you will find millions of images of original source documents, many of which have never been available online before. But at Footnote, finding an image is just the beginning. We have created powerful tools that let you interact with and enhance what you find. Annotate important information on the image, easily organize and share your findings or collaborate with people who have similar interests. If you have original source images of your own that you want to share with your colleagues, classmates, friends and family, simply upload them to Footnote and use our tools to make your images searchable and available to others. Footnote also gives you an opportunity to share your story, ideas or research with others by creating your own "Member Pages".

 

Genealogy.com – Owned by the same company that owns Ancestry.com. Provides many of the same services. Free Bulletin Boards for Surname and Localities provide many opportunities for researchers to network with others researching the same or similar lines.

           

HeritageQuest.com -- HeritageQuest is the largest genealogical data provider in the United States and a leading purveyor of data, products, supplies and equipment to consumers and institutions.

 

ObitsArchive.com -- ObitsArchive.com is the largest and most comprehensive collection of newspaper obituaries and death notices in the United States. Each obituary or death notice is indexed by the name of the deceased person, to make searching easier and more precise. In addition, the text of each obituary or death notice is searchable, making it easy to find just what you're looking for using a place of residence, occupation, names of family members, or other personal information.

 

DNA Research

 

ADAIR FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

CARSON FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

CRAWFORD FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

MARET-MARETT-MERRITT FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

PRUITT-PRUETT-PRATT FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

REED FamilyTreeDNA Project

 

 

FamilyTreeDNA.com – America’s first genealogy driven DNA testing service.

 

Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation - The foremost collection of genetic genealogy data in the world. (Free testing for participants.)

 

Genetic Genealogy Project – Discover your deep ancestral roots using genetic technology.

 

DNA Tribes – What’s your tribe? Scottish? Italian? Apache? Find out with a personal DNA test.

 

Relative Genetics – Make your past > your present > to your future.

 

 

Software Providers

 

There are many, many, software programs that help organize data and help genealogist in their research. For organizing your data just about any GEDCOM compatible software will “get the job done,” it’s just a matter of how many bells and whistles you may want and what you are willing to spend. The follow is a list of software programs that we have used that are GEDCOM compatible.

 

NOTE: Descriptions are the publisher, or distributor’s own.

 

Family Atlas -- Family Atlas is the fun and easy way to map your family history.  Trace your ancestors migration around the world and pinpoint the sites of important family events.  Import your family data directly from your genealogy software, then automatically add markers to create personalized maps.  Print maps or save them to several graphics formats.  For Windows XP, 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000.

 

Family Tree Maker – “For beginners and experts alike, Family Tree Maker® is the easiest and most complete resource for building and sharing your family tree. Number 1-selling for over a decade, more people trust their family history research to Family Tree Maker® than any other genealogy program.”

 

GenSmarts – “GenSmarts is a utility that uses artificial intelligence to analyze your existing genealogy file and produce research recommendations. GenSmarts reads your data directly - it doesn't require a GEDCOM export. It works with over a dozen popular genealogy programs, including Family Tree Maker and PAF.”

 

Personal Ancestral File (PAF) – “Personal Ancestral File (PAF) is a free genealogy and family history program. PAF allows you to quickly and easily collect, organize and share your family history and genealogy information.” Available for download FREE at FamilySearch.com. NOTE: The LDS Church has announced that, due to the wide availability of GEDCOM based software, it will no longer “support” PAF. This means that they will no longer provide customer service or future updates for PAF.

 

Personal Historian -- From start to finish, Personal Historian is the quickest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to write your own personal history or that of another individual.  Personal Historian breaks your personal history into small, manageable pieces and then reconstructs it into a complete, publishable document.  Plus Personal Historian offers memory triggers, historical events, and other life capsules to help you with ideas.  For Windows XP, 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000.

Reunion – “Reunion is a genealogy software program -- a "family tree program" -- for the Macintosh. Reunion received the highest rating for genealogy software in MacWorld, MacAddict, and Mac Home Journal magazines. Reunion helps you to document, store, and display information about your family -- your ancestors, descendants, cousins, etc. It records names, dates, places, facts, plenty of notes, sources of information, pictures, sounds, and videos. It shows family relationships in an elegant, graphic form -- people and families are linked in an easy-to-understand fashion. Reunion makes it easy to publish your family tree information -- even if you want to share it on the Web. You can automatically create common genealogy reports, charts, and forms, as well as birthday calendars, mailing lists, questionnaires, indexes, and other lists. Reunion even calculates relationships, ages, life expectancies, and statistics. Reunion also creates large, high-resolution, graphic charts allowing complete on-screen editing of boxes, lines, fonts, and colors. Wall charts are one of its specialties.”

RootsMagic – “RootsMagic is the easiest to use family tree software available for Windows XP, 95, 98, ME, NT, and 2000, yet is also one of the most powerful.  See why professional genealogists and beginners alike say RootsMagic is the best genealogy software in the world.  Making Shareable CDstm to share with your family, direct integration with GenSmarts research suggestions, and many other new features keep RootsMagic 3 "the top of the genealogy tree".”