Clues About Our Ancestors

Clues to our family's history can be found in many places. Here are some of my favorite places to find out more about our ancestors:

• Family members are a great resource for family information and stories. 
• The internet has become a necessary tool for gathering information. Many records have already been scanned and are searchable online.
• Find-A-Grave. It's completely FREE! You can become a member, create a memorial, submit data, add flowers, add photos and search their database at no charge.
• Visiting local area historical libraries and societies.
• Google books. Lots of great books on local area histories and some older families can be searched.

Let me share with you an exciting find I found today while searching on the FamilySearch website. My great-grand parents' marriage certificate. Click here to see the actual record page.

Check out all the information we can find out just from this document. Maiden name of wife, date and place of marriage. Also on many records, they will have witnesses on them. This one shows that Aden's brother, Woodrow Holland and his nephew, Frank Baker were the witnesses on this marriage license.

These are just a few places to start. Don't forget to think outside the box sometimes....church records, phone directories, family bibles, etc.