My Best Genealogy Tips: Researching Your English Roots

Book excerpt: In “My Best Genealogy Tips: Researching Your English Roots,” I will provide guidance on how to begin researching your ancestors in England, and I will show tips on how to gather information about your ancestors. You will start using what is online. It is important that you start an online family tree. I will describe how you can add your family to that family tree, and I show you the benefits of doing so. You can be looking for your family and not find them where they lived – or so you thought. Boundaries can be challenging so I will make sure you know how to tell which boundary they lived. Next, I will describe the distinct types of genealogical records. Some for England are census, church, and probate. All kinds of online resources are at your disposal. They provide a comprehensive list that can aid you in your England genealogy research. They are divided into births, marriages, deaths, divorces, cemeteries, censuses, military, wills, probate, and much more. Local resources provide information on what the England Archives and England Libraries have to see. I will make sure you know what is out there. There are county archives, museums, and record offices. I will show you how to do case studies by abstracting information from historical records. You then will evaluate the information. You will then be able to share successful genealogical research with family so they can apply strategies to their own research. Sometimes you cannot find ancestors. That is where DNA offers many benefits. You will also learn how to share with family and online. Today we do not write letters for example, because our family is on Facebook so we can post the records, photo, and story. Even putting out a blog post can attract cousins. By finding out about educational opportunities, you can keep abreast of recent technology and new strategies. I will show you where they are. I reference genealogical societies, RootsTech, FamilySearch Center, and the Family History Federation. All I have to say is get your mobile phone out! This is the new age. You can go to the website and keep reading about English Roots.