Paying for genealogy resources?

[drcmk]

A few weeks ago I started using the Mormon free family research site to look into my family history. It has been fun and I'm excited by how far I've gotten in a short time. Since I'm enjoying this so much, I'm considering using one of the websites that requires a monthly fee to learn even more. I've resisted paying for genealogy resources in the past for two reasons:

1) I'm not sure that they have information that isn't already available for free elsewhere on the Internet.

2) I'm wary that it will be difficult to "unsubscribe" once I no longer want to pay a monthly fee.

Is there someone on the DIS who has used these resources and can "review" them for me. It is worth it to pay for genealogy resources? Is there a particular method/resource that you would especially recommend?

Thank you.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Ancestry.com is worth every penny. There are a LOT of resources on Ancestry, easily searched and saved to ancestors, that are simply not available anywhere else. I mean, just tons.

As for subscribing, you can do it by the month or the year. I usually just pre-pay by the years. Easier for me, and a little cheaper. But it's easy to cancel.

The folks at Ancestry are great. If you cancel, they will cancel you that day. If you need help, they have friendly people on staff (they're out in Utah, and the call center folks, if I'm not mistaken are from that region as well) who will help you out and no matter how simple or complex the problem, will be willing to help you, and will take as much time as you need.

I love my Ancestry.com account and don't know what I'd do without it!

 

[Phlip]

I used Ancestry.com as well. Absolutely worth every penny as PP said. I've been into genealogy for quite a while...I did a lot of my research the old fashioned way-going to town halls and looking up original documents, tracking down distant cousins and comparing research. Nothing quite beats the thrill of finding that last piece of the puzzle in an old pile of birth records from several hundred years ago...but finding it online inthe comfort of your home in your pajamas while everyone in the house is asleep comes very close. I love Ancestry-I'm not going to use it for the next few months and just cancelled it last night. Very easy. You can start it up any time, upgrade, downgrade or cancel any time too.
Good luck in your search--fun isn't it?

 

[marthachick]

With my job, I was researching cemeteries located in our county. One (free) resource I used was www.findagrave.com. I also found a distant relative through this! And she helped DS do research that helped him get a scholarship in high school. It was what I call a 'small world moment' when we connected.

 

[chris31997]

Another vote for Ancestry. I even had a poster done for my Grandparents thru Ancestry. It turned out real nice.

I have found a couple of cousins and made some in roads into locking down family rumors.

I would also talk with family members. I would let them know that you are doing this. You might be surprised. Someone may have already started some work and get you that much further.

 

[Swimalie]

Buyer beware. Identities can be easily stolen through sites like ancestry (and others) http://blog.identitytheftcouncil.org/?p=407

 

[Marionnette]

Buyer beware. Identities can be easily stolen through sites like ancestry (and others) http://blog.identitytheftcouncil.org/?p=407

As with anything on the internet, you have to be cautious about what you put out there. Making your family tree private can help. But keep in mind that all the information that you find thru Ancestry and the Mormon's FamilySearch websites is already there for others to find as well. The SSNs of the deceased are in the public domain as are the dates of their births and death. Anyone could find my grandmother's SSN, last known address, and next of kin (through online obituaries) if they searched the internet hard enough.

 

[Marionnette]

I just want to add that this week, I've made contact with 2 cousins from my father's side of the family through Ancestry. It's like putting together the pieces of a puzzle and we are slowly comparing notes on the families. There are things that I'm learning about my ancestors (not all of them are good things). But being in contact with these cousins is helping me to fill in the gaps.

I've also gotten help from other Ancestry members who offered alternate spellings of my mother's family name. Because of that assistance, I was able to trace the family's roots back to the homeland and I found baptismal records for my ancestors. It confirmed a family rumor that my great-grandfather and his brother had taken different last names when they arrived in this country - one kept their father's surname and the other adopted his mother's maiden name.

 

[Pigeon]

There absolutely is a lot of info on Ancestry that isn't freely available on the net.

If you want to cancel, that's easy to do. But if you set it up to bill your credit card automatically, it will do that until you cancel. So it is up to you to remember. Ask me how I know that...

 

[mommyjam]

Ancestry.com also has a free 14 day trial, so you can decide if its worth it before you actually spend any money.

 

[automaticsoap]

You may be able to access Ancestry.com and other genealogy resources for free through your local public library.

 

[JB2K]

As with anything on the internet, you have to be cautious about what you put out there. Making your family tree private can help. But keep in mind that all the information that you find thru Ancestry and the Mormon's FamilySearch websites is already there for others to find as well. The SSNs of the deceased are in the public domain as are the dates of their births and death. Anyone could find my grandmother's SSN, last known address, and next of kin (through online obituaries) if they searched the internet hard enough.

I am active with both Ancestry.com and a contributor at FindAGrave.com and have this advice to offer...

If any websites, etc. ever ask for your mother's maiden name -- run, don't walk away.

Furthermore, we now have at least a couple of generations of adults active on social media sites such as Facebook -- if you have an older parent (50+) using both maiden and married name, you may want to have them rethink that...

 

[manning]

You may be able to access Ancestry.com and other genealogy resources for free through your local public library.

Just remember to cancel after the 14 days or they will automatically bill you.

Ancestry.com also has a free 14 day trial, so you can decide if its worth it before you actually spend any money.

Our library offers it for free. You have to go to the library to use it. Can't use a computer from home.

 

[lucyem]

You may be able to access Ancestry.com and other genealogy resources for free through your local public library.

The library edition does have less on it. No public forums or user family trees for example. But well worth starting with if you are not sure you want to pay for a membership.