Genealogy

meeks · #1 02-10-2001, 09:13 PM

Hey all,

I was telling Poplife awhile back that I needed a new hobby, and I have finally found one in tracing back my family's history. I must say what i have found is truly remarkable. There is an amazing wealth of infomation on the internet.

My first shocking discovery was that I found all of my Great grandmother's business (including SS#, date of death) on a certain site on the internet. I almost jumped out of my skin. I hurried to call my gram and she almost jumped out her skin. She told me that she was under the impression that once you die your SS# dies with you....I guess not.
Secondly I have uncovered that most of my ancestors on my mothers side are white and not Native American like I thought....

Anyway has anyone else traced their family? If so I would love to hear any extra tips that will help me along.

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The truly educated never graduate!

The Original Ape · #2 02-10-2001, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meeks:
Hey all,

I was telling Poplife awhile back that I needed a new hobby, and I have finally found one in tracing back my family's history. I must say what i have found is truly remarkable. There is an amazing wealth of infomation on the internet.

My first shocking discovery was that I found all of my Great grandmother's business (including SS#, date of death) on a certain site on the internet. I almost jumped out of my skin. I hurried to call my gram and she almost jumped out her skin. She told me that she was under the impression that once you die your SS# dies with you....I guess not.
Secondly I have uncovered that most of my ancestors on my mothers side are white and not Native American like I thought....

Anyway has anyone else traced their family? If so I would love to hear any extra tips that will help me along.

I know how you feel! I got into it 2 years ago putting together my family tree too. So far, I've traced my family(on my mother's side) back to 1835. I'm still in the process of tracking my father's side, as I have only went back to 1880. Like you said, it is incredibly habit-forming.

Here are some tips I can offer you:

1. talk to the oldest living relative on both your mother and father's side.
2.Tape the conversation.
3.Make sure you get the funeral home that handled their parent's funeral-they may have records.
4.Check tax records if they owned their own homes; there you can find social security numbers, etc.
5.Check census records: they usually list the names of family members

Hit me for more info if you want it.

good luck

MaMaBuddha · #3 02-11-2001, 10:59 AM

hi meeks...

can you pass on the information of that certain website?

that would be most interesting.

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MaMaBuddha

Devastating
Stimulating
Tantalizing
_________________________

Imaginer un métro rempli avec les anges tombés...

meeks · #4 02-11-2001, 12:51 PM

MamaBuddha

The website was for the Social Security Death Index. From this index you can order a copy of the original application for SS that was filled out for your family member. It includes info like race, parents names, place of birth etc. etc. The only way you will see a relative on the site is if they recv'd a lump sum benefit upon their death or if they were collecting SS at the time of death. But lets say like my grandfather, he was still working when he died. I KNOW he's dead, but at the same time, he's not listed. The list is current through 12/2000 I went through www.ancestry.com and they had a good search.

Original Ape: I have the names of each my Great-Great Grandparents. (not sure of dates as of yet) Thanks for the tips. I hear alot of my people are buried in the same place. I will check some funeral homes/Cemetery records.
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The truly educated never graduate!

[This message has been edited by meeks (edited February 11, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by meeks (edited February 11, 2001).]

AKA2D '91 · #5 02-12-2001, 07:33 PM

With the little information that ancestory.com provided, I became enlightened on relatives in areas I didn't know existed...

I was really amazed!

Taykimson · #6 02-12-2001, 09:22 PM

Another great site is Afrigeneas.net. There is a mailing list that you can join in which people send out genealogy questions to the entire distribution. One note: be prepared to receive 25-30 emails per day.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha
17-Alpha Phi-91
Alpha Psi Omega

[This message has been edited by Taykimson (edited February 12, 2001).]

AKA2D '91 · #7 02-12-2001, 09:39 PM

Hey, Sands!

It's been a few hot minutes since we have skeen you up in these parts...

SKEE-WEE, SOROR!

bcde · #8 02-13-2001, 01:42 AM

ancestry.com is an excellent site. you can also look up surnames of relatives and it gives you their address and phone number. I used it and recently found 4 aunts and uncles (on my father's side) that I did not know exsisted (I have some high phone bills now!). the social security death index lists some, but not all people who are deceased, but it can be a useful tool. I have also been able to find white and indian relatives. If you ever want to chat about my findings, e-mail me.

southernelle25 · #9 09-30-2005, 03:23 PM

A few more helpful sites and tips:

http://www.familysearch.org/
(1880 census is searchable for free)

http://www.skpub.com/genie/index.html
(some older census images are available for free)

Also, in addition to tax records, check the marriage records and conveyance records, do a title search through the vendor-vendee index to trace the transfer of family property. It often passed from one relative to the next.
(Generally, these are all available at the clerk of court's office or perhaps even your local library.)

A number of you mentioned the social security death index at ancestry.com, but you may also try a search at the one provided (for free) via Rootsweb at the address below:

http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

Rootsweb has links to a variety of local resources, as does USGenWeb. Happy hunting!

teena · #10 02-09-2006, 12:05 AM

I just watch this amazing program on PBS where famous american celebs, (Oprah, Chris Tucker, Quincy Jones) trace their ancestry back to Africa by using DNA. This technology is awsome.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/

They were only able to trace to regions of Africa. But I think this is amazing.

Afrochic · #11 02-09-2006, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by meeks
Hey all,

My first shocking discovery was that I found all of my Great grandmother's business (including SS#, date of death) on a certain site on the internet. I almost jumped out of my skin. I hurried to call my gram and she almost jumped out her skin. She told me that she was under the impression that once you die your SS# dies with you....I guess not.

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I was shocked as well when I found my father's info on there. I couldn't find my grandparent's info on there though.

Wonderful1908 · #12 02-09-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by teena
I just watch this amazing program on PBS where famous american celebs, (Oprah, Chris Tucker, Quincy Jones) trace their ancestry back to Africa by using DNA. This technology is awsome.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/

They were only able to trace to regions of Africa. But I think this is amazing.

It was great I went to a workshop on it before they aired it. I taped it and my class will watch portions next week.

teena · #13 02-10-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Afrochic
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I was shocked as well when I found my father's info on there. I couldn't find my grandparent's info on there though.

Did you pay to get access?

Afrochic · #14 02-10-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by teena
Did you pay to get access?

No, it was free, I just entered his info. After I saw his info, then I got curious about what other info could be on the site. I typed in several family members and also different celebrities names and some of them appeared with social security numbers. I was shocked that I could get that info so easily.

mccoyred · #15 02-11-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by teena
I just watch this amazing program on PBS where famous american celebs, (Oprah, Chris Tucker, Quincy Jones) trace their ancestry back to Africa by using DNA. This technology is awsome.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/

They were only able to trace to regions of Africa. But I think this is amazing.

I watched this special and it left a big impression on me. I am amazed at what science can do now. I am also intrigued about how the family trees took twist and turns and the many surprises that were uncovered in their family trees.