Tracing family history

[rpbert1]

We started looking for DW family history as little was known, we knew 2 of her fathers [died 1970] sisters had went to US in 1928, but that was all as his mother died in 1926, and he was sent to Belfast in 1924 when he was 4, so guessing his mother was ill.
We have hopefully discovered family members in Casa Mera California, San Francisco , Boston Ma and kentucky, everything points to these as bein full cousin as they are children of her fathers sisters, and there family who would be 2nd cousins.
they originally lived in Ft lauderdale area for many years.
We are still missing info on the other sister , but hopefully if these are who we think , then hopefully they will be able to give us some details, and DW hoping for some photos of Grandparents she has never seen.
Anyone have any websites they would like to share , for tracing Geneology

 

[JR6ooo4]

I know it has been done by my uncle and an uncle of DW's. But I do not know any of the tools they used.

You can look up family names at the ellis island website.

Mikeeee

 

[rpbert1]

We found info here
http://stevemorse.org/vital/natural...nter=exact&court=bronx1&pgsz=100&dkindenter=d
a marriage, and from there discovered they lived in Boston in 1934, and another girl on a site helped me no end tracing direct children from them,
DW was advised to call and check the links trhat they are correct, we are 99% sure this is the sister.
found there arrival from New york on there.

 

[61292cna]

I don't know the website, but the mormon church has a very, very extensive geneology data system & last I heard they didn't charge for searches, like some websites do!

 

[snowy76]

I did a ton of research two summers ago on Ancestry.com - they'll let you set up a family tree for free but you pay a subscription to search their databases from several countries - you can pull up records and "attach" them to your tree. We eventually found out DH is a Mayflower descendant this way.

They also have a ton of message boards where you can pose queries. We've found several distant cousins this way who were searching for ancestors we had in common.

And never underestimate Google, honestly. So many people have their own family tree websites out there, you never know what you'll come across when you search a name.

 

[rpbert1]

Just an update , we have been in contact and these are my DW cousins, we have been in touch with3 of them, and will be in touch at the weekend with the fourth. One of them had been back in Scotland on at least 5 occassions recently trying to trace descendants, with no luck, and could not believe when her brother called her to say we had been in touch, we have since been on the phone a couple of times, and 2 of the sisters are going to see if they can get flights and Accom when we are over, although it will only be for a couple of days and stay in Orlando when we are there, which will be a very emotional time for all of us, but also a very exciting one as well, and will make our trip even better.
We have already booked a hotel for next year in Disney , but we are thinking of going to California either before our 2 weeks in Orlando or after it, but will definetly be visiting .

 

[judykay53]

I have been doing genealogy for several years and it is so much fun. I use Ancestry.com but my family has been here since the 1700's for sure so I can find out a lot of info from the U S census. I haven't attempted looking back to Ireland and Scotland. That is going to be out of my league. It has been so cool finding a "cousin" I never knew. When you do talk to a relative, take in every piece of information no matter how little it is. You never know when that little bit will break something wide open. Warning: It is addictive!!

 

[rpbert1]

DW was only wanting the info on her fathers sisters who went to New York from the UK in 1928, so we achieved this, and with exceptional results and very quickly. We never knew them and nothing was ever talked about, DW father died in 1970 and her mother on 1990, but no one ever talked about the sisters and no on talked about why they split up, and there was no contact with any of them over the years, not even sure they knew where each lived. We found that the mother died in 1926, and probably the main reason, but to find cousins after all this time is amazing, as we did try before a few years ago, but got nowhere. DW aunt married an Italian in 1931 in Manhattan, and they where together for over 55 years before she died, and sadly he died about 4 months later, as he apparently said he had lost the love of his life and basically gave up, it was very sad, but they had a lovely life together, the other sister died about 1973 , she apparently had a son who was born with something wrong with him , sadly he died although not sure what age, so the cousins we have now are the only relatives on DW fathers side.
we are looking forward to meeting them, and the sooner the better.
Yes judykay53, it is very addictive, would consider registering for Ancestory or something similar, if i had the time.