Rosie...checked that out too (thank you!)...their records start at 1892...my ancestors arrived before then...besides individual passenger lists, any other idea?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> their records start at 1892...my ancestors arrived before then...besides individual passenger lists, any other idea?
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Here is a site that may be of help:

http://www.kinnexions.com/kinnexions/savage.htm

Also one of my ancestors wrote the book "Planters of the Commonwealth"...a list of emmigrants to New England from 1620 - 1640...

also at genealogy.com there is a surname list and forums for each surname for family searches;

http://genforum.genealogy.com/surnames/

hope this helps <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> That's it? One year?!?!?!? I'm very envious!!!!

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I was lucky enough to discover that several of my ancestors were genealogy buffs too...and alot of my legwork was done for me..."one wrote, " The History of York, Maine" and all I had to do was find the connection down the line and fill in my info where my ancestors emigrated from York, Maine to Canada

I'm so excited to see some other genealogy buffs here! Ditto on the advice about Family Tree Maker. It works so well to keep everything organized.

I enjoyed ancestry.com but I had my sis use my membership to check it out instead of joining since it is so expensive. She's done much more research than I have (time in the libraries and state records going over census, land and military records) and was VERY disappointed with ancestry.com. She's found the Mormon site much more helpful.

Personally, I somehow found myself sidetracked a couple of years ago and haven't worked on things in a while. But it is so much fun. I consider it a never ending puzzle. My H's g-aunt had her DAR and I inherited a lot of her work, a great start on that side of the family. It made it so easy to find others online with all the names she had.

My children all had projects in 5th grade to do their family tree. Most kids used a sheet of paper. Since we have info into the 1500's, my children went and got the paper the teacher decorates the board with and tore off about 8 feet. Their teachers and classmates were stunned.

Another thing, my sis put together a booklet w the story of our family. Basic genealogy w a little of the story (Rev. War soldiers names,etc) of the overall history but she did a wonderful job w the story of our grandparents and their children. She spoke to all the aunts, uncles, and any old friends who are still around. Then she included a short story about our gm and gf, the story of how they met, a page for each of their children with their special memories and info, old family pics, a family tree showing all the living relatives, and birthdates and contact info on members of the family. She printed up copies for everyone. (Fortunately one of our aunts pitched in and covered the costs.) That booklet is a treasure and has been so great! We're at the age where our parents are getting on up there in age and somehow that booklet really helped pull us all together. Everyone became more interested in family reunions and get togethers, more interested because all of a sudden they were more interesting!

LINY, good luck on your research. It really can be worth the time and a lot of fun when you find new info. Thanks, also. You've gotten me interested in starting back on my own work!

MM

I'm so excited to see some other genealogy buffs here! Ditto on the advice about Family Tree Maker. It works so well to keep everything organized.

I enjoyed ancestry.com but I had my sis use my membership to check it out instead of joining since it is so expensive. She's done much more research than I have (time in the libraries and state records going over census, land and military records) and was VERY disappointed with ancestry.com. She's found the Mormon site much more helpful.

Personally, I somehow found myself sidetracked a couple of years ago and haven't worked on things in a while. But it is so much fun. I consider it a never ending puzzle. My H's g-aunt had her DAR and I inherited a lot of her work, a great start on that side of the family. It made it so easy to find others online with all the names she had.

My children all had projects in 5th grade to do their family tree. Most kids used a sheet of paper. Since we have info into the 1500's, my children went and got the paper the teacher decorates the board with and tore off about 8 feet. Their teachers and classmates were stunned.

Another thing, my sis put together a booklet w the story of our family. Basic genealogy w a little of the story (Rev. War soldiers names,etc) of the overall history but she did a wonderful job w the story of our grandparents and their children. She spoke to all the aunts, uncles, and any old friends who are still around. Then she included a short story about our gm and gf, the story of how they met, a page for each of their children with their special memories and info, old family pics, a family tree showing all the living relatives, and birthdates and contact info on members of the family. She printed up copies for everyone. (Fortunately one of our aunts pitched in and covered the costs.) That booklet is a treasure and has been so great! We're at the age where our parents are getting on up there in age and somehow that booklet really helped pull us all together. Everyone became more interested in family reunions and get togethers, more interested because all of a sudden they were more interesting!

LINY, good luck on your research. It really can be worth the time and a lot of fun when you find new info. Thanks, also. You've gotten me interested in starting back on my own work!

MM

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Another thing, my sis put together a booklet w the story of our family. Basic genealogy w a little of the story (Rev. War soldiers names,etc) of the overall history but she did a wonderful job w the story of our grandparents and their children. She spoke to all the aunts, uncles, and any old friends who are still around. Then she included a short story about our gm and gf, the story of how they met, a page for each of their children with their special memories and info, old family pics, a family tree showing all the living relatives, and birthdates and contact info on members of the family. She printed up copies for everyone. (Fortunately one of our aunts pitched in and covered the costs.) That booklet is a treasure and has been so great! We're at the age where our parents are getting on up there in age and somehow that booklet really helped pull us all together. Everyone became more interested in family reunions and get togethers, more interested because all of a sudden they were more interesting!
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hi Marsmom.. I did the same..when I compiled the book I added all the personal interesting info...for example my first ancestor died defending his family against an Indian raid..in that raid many townspeople were taken as hostages and were resold or died...it is fascinating to discover what struggles our ancestors endured to pave the way for us <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

RISE AGAIN

When the waves roll on over the waters
And the ocean cries
We look to our sons and daughters
To explain our lives
As if a child could tell us why

That as sure as the sunrise
As sure as the sea
As sure as the wind in the trees
We rise again in the faces of our children
We rise again in the voices of our song
We rise again in the waves out on the ocean
And then we rise again

<small>[ February 08, 2005, 05:55 AM: Message edited by: New Outlook ]</small>

LINY,

I did this a few years ago. I sucessfully traced several branches of my family tree online.

A few things I learned were...

If you have an unusual last name (as I do) this will be a piece of cake.

If you have a common last name like "Smith" or "Jones" GOOD LUCK <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

How I started gathering info was to type my unsual family name (and all of it`s varitations/spellings) into a search engine. And I contacted everyone who shared my name. And these were NOT people who necessarily had their names on the web for genealogy purposes. Anyone who shared my name got an e-mail telling them I was interested in our family genealogy. I got alot of responses. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I also searched the Latter Day Saints sites, the Rootsweb, and the US Genweb among many others.

The problem with the Latter Day Saints site (and the others) is that it is only as good/accurate as the people who submitted info. You will find in your searching that there will be MUCH inaccurate information floating around. Take everything you find with a grain of salt unless there are official documents such as ship lists, church records, birth certificates, death certificates, census records, wills, family bibles and letters ect to back it up. Ask for copies.

You need to look at this whole project like putting a puzzle together. You hold certain pieces of the puzzle. You need to hook up with others who hold different pieces. You can`t do all of this by yourself. You need to form a network.

And one more important thing to remember, in the old days many people could not read or write. So the "officials" spelled the names phonetically. You will sometimes see a last name spelled three different ways on the SAME document. That is why there are "sounds like" options on the genealogy online websites.

Go back to your place of birth ansd start there. Start with the facts you already have and work your way backwards. And hook up with others who are researching your family tree. That will cut your task by two thirds <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

LINY one more thing...be mentally prepared for whatever you might find....

Out of curiosity one day I was going through very old online state prison records ....didn`t think I`d find anything there I was just curious....

Lo and behold there was one of my ancestors listed there (not a direct one Thank God) who was tried and convicted for STEALING A SLAVE!!!!! I already knew this branch were slave holders...(which made my skin crawl when I uncovered this) but to STEAL A SLAVE????

You can`t get much lower than that!!!!!

This just goes to prove the old saying "if you go back far enough you will find a king and a horse thief"

And I did find a King too...a Scottish one. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Daisy, NO, mm, pd...thanks for all of the input...I guess as I was picking my "folder" up again, I was hoping for a magic switch that would turn on or something. Now, more than ever, I "need" to know my roots. Like I posted, I've done alot of it already (I'm pretty sure I got back to NYC as my ggggrandfather immigrated) but I'm just not so sure of "other" links in the chain, where they may be weak, and other "branches" which just don't make any sense. I don't even know if I'm making any sense!
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">If you have a common last name like "Smith" or "Jones" GOOD LUCK </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thanks for the vore of "confidence", from Mr. Fitzgerald. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

If anybody is interested, you can certainly email me at fitzirishcream@optonline.net. for any specific discussions/info that you feel uncomfortable sharing on MB.

Thanks and blessings,
LINY

LINY when you hit a brick wall try speaking with researchers of the female lines.

Many people concentrate on the men but sometimes you can get good information from the researchers of the women`s families. Sometimes they have info on the the men`s families into whom the women married.

Don`t be daunted by this task...I had great time doing this. I turned detective. And I hooked up with distant family members and even people who turned out NOT to be family members and we have remained friends to this day.

And there is something kind of neat about contacting some stranger halfway around the world out of the clear blue sky and realising they are close kin to you....and have the same family stories as you do.

I`ll think you`ll enjoy it once you really get into it.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Many people concentrate on the men but sometimes you can get good information from the researchers of the women`s families. Sometimes they have info on the the men`s families into whom the women married.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Great advice daisy! It's really odd with my grandparents--all my relatives know *everything* about my grandmother's side (some really intersting facts too!), but when it comes to my surname--nothing.

I'm picking it up after more than 3 years (think I said 2 yesterday, but went onto rootsweb and found my old posts from Jan 2001! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> ). F-again already may have found a flaw--I was looking for the wrong maiden name of my ggggrandmother.

It is all intersting. I love research! Just don't have the money, so most if not all will have to be on line. (I do have a LDS library close by, but time is also a factor.)

Anyway, thanks for the input!!!