Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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38 UCW SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM "I want to do research on my family, but where do I start?" That's the right question, but what is the right answer? It is always best to start with what you know. Who are your parents? When and where were they born? When and where did they marry? Seems simple, right? Start with what you know. Then begin to record information. There are simple four-generation charts online to begin recording this information. Here is one source: http://fayettevillesar.us/resources/4- Generation-Chart.pdf. Start the chart with what you know and then work backward. What do you know about your grandparents? Record the information on the chart. If possible, look at family records. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, family Bibles are all good sources of information. If you have older relatives, consider interviewing them to see what they remember or maybe what items they may have. My wife has two aunts in their 80's. I show them information and see if it is right. Then I make a note of the date and time I asked the question. There are several online data sources that are readily available and easy to use. Ancestry.com is the largest, but there are others like FamilySearch and FindMyPast. Remember that just because you find it online, doesn't make it true. I had one person tell me they had over 400,000 in their ancestry tree. Great, but can you prove the lineage? The secret is to find records that support the family lineage. Birth and death certificates, marriage bonds or records, census records or wills. All these sources will help prove your family. That's what the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution use in their memberships. The Cumberland County Library has a great section dedicated to genealogy. They will help you get started and you can access online databases there at no cost. Not everything is online yet, so trips to places like the North Carolina Archive in Raleigh make for an adventure. Imagine holding a copy of your great-great-great grandfather's handwritten will from 1834. So start your journey where you are with what you know. If you need help, contact the local SAR or DAR Chapter. They will welcome your inquiry and jump at the chance to help you along the way. Don't be surprised at what you find, one preacher friend found a horse thief when he went looking. Finding your family is a legacy that you can pass on to those who come after you. Your Family Lineage — Where to Start? by BOB ERVIN Often, family photos are a good place to start when researching your lineage. best wine shop! • thank you! #AffordableFineWines visit our sister coffee shops next to each the wine café shop 100% organicious! ® shop small drink big! skip the supermarket wine aisle food & wine pairing class on sept 24th • register today! Thank You for Voting Again! UP & COM ING W EEK LY 'S Tonya Simison BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT! It's an honor to find you a new home! 910.309.3008 tonyas.1@hotmail.com www.come2nc.net BOB ERVIN, President of the Marquis de Lafayette Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com.