General Chat

I've been thinking of tracing my family tree for such a long time but today's the day I decided to become a 'Gold Member'!

I'll work with my sister, although we live thousands of miles apart (me in UK and her in California) and have a go to see how far back we can go. We've got 6 months to see how it goes because I clicked 'single payment' on my membership.

So, hello to everyone and I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions... I just hope I ask them in the right place!!

Hi Jilly welcome to the boards, don't hesitate to ask anything you need to know. Lots of very experienced and helpful members on Tips, TTF and Records where most of the queries get put, and also come on here to chat when your eyes are tired from looking :))

As well as the site here can I recommend
www.freebmd.org.uk/
It does exactly what it says and is invaluable.

Hello jilly, you will get hooked , loads come on here to do there tress and we end just gossoping and getting nothing done lol, usually when asking questions some of us find the tips and record boards for help, all thats needed usually is a thankyou when and if they have found something for you, but saying that we were all new and someone will always point you in the right direction good luck xxx

Thanks for the welcome Rambling Rose. It'll be interesting what we might unearth, maybe a few skeletons... you never know!
Just going to have a look at the website... intrigued to see what it is.
Thanks again,
Jilly

Hi Jilly
Welcome to the boards
Hope you enjoy and dont be scared to join in on the chat and general boards you will be made very welcome by all
Also if you need any help plenty of people only to willing to lend a hand
Happy hunting :) x

Thanks Ladylol Pusser Cat and PollyPoppet,

I can't wait to talk to my sister about it but I'll have to wait for her to wake up as it's only 3am there! I'll send a Facebook message and she'll see it later.

It's a bit weird to think I can't even remember my paternal grandfather's name! And he wasn't married to my paternal grandmother... an unusual thing in the 1930's!

Thanks for the 'good lucks', I think I'll need them!!

-x-

Jilly you will be surprised what you find, bigamy cause of the shame of divorce, friends being added on birth cerftificets and marriage ones too again to save face, incest , beleieve me they are no differnt than the world we are in today , its great fun, you will hit brick walls and thats where other members can help, some times you cant see the wood for the trees pardon the pun, like the others say feel free on any page jump into conversations you will soon find your feet xx

Welcome to GR Jilly. Enjoy yourself researching your family tree.

It is quite addictive, so easy for the paperwork to take over. (I have piles of it waiting to be organised).

Although brickwalls are a challenge, it is really satisfying when you can knock them down.

You can get details of Births Marriages and Deaths on freebmd Using these details you can send for the relevant certificates.
Don't pay more tham 7pounds per cert! You can get them from www.gro.gov.uk

This is also a lovely place to make 'friends' and to chat away with them about anything under the sun!

Tess

Welcome Jilly

I'm sure once you get started on your tree it will become an obsession. Another good site which is free (and there are loads of free sites) is the Mormon church site www.familysearch.org.

Where it says all resources go down to 'International Genealogical Index' known as IGI and put in your ancestors details and click on search.

I have found a lot of information on there. Beware that information that says submitted by a member really needs verifying as it may not be totally correct

Wendy

welcome
but 6 months will just be start,
i pay every six months, and i bin on here flippin years

i dont do much research cos i get distracted by this bit, and end up chatting,
in fact i just log straight on here, general chat, to see whats happening out there,

im stuck on 1914 when my gran was born , cos her real mam was so common every one had same name i think back then in wales,lmao

Hello Jilly, Welcome to the GR boards. Good luck with your searching, there really are a lot of knowledgeable people on here willing to help you. I don't think anyone has mentioned this but when asking for help it is in your own interests to put the request on one board only, Trying to Find is a good one, try not to duplicate on the other boards as people don't like duplicating effort and things get missed. Also give as much detail that you know as possible. (i.e. if you have already checked a census please say so). Hope you have lots of fun.



Hi Wendy how is life in sunny Tenerife?

Hi Jilly, welcome to the madhouse.

I am fairly new myself (one year) but have found nearly six hundred direct rellies already,and that just my paternal side.

I can't add much more than has already been given,except don't order certs from anywhere but GRO. They only charge £7 if you know the relevent volume and page number,or £10 if you need a search.

By the way,this hobby is addictive,I am willing to bet that you are around for a lot longer than six months.

Happy hunting, Nina from Sheffield.

Hi Jilly and welcome. I know you are going to love this addictive hobby. may I suggest Family Search as well, it is free. Don't be disappointed if it takes time, in my haste for success I dashed off what looked like a convincing link and alas came to nothing.

I have had successses though and it is a real pleasure. Everyone will try and help if you askj.

I found some skeletons though so be a little prepared. Ask all your family for any info. Check it out , tou will be surprised at the family myths.

Hi JIlly,

Just want to say welcome to GR. As the others have already told you there are some very helpful members on here, that are always ready to help. You'll also find that there are a lot of nice and friendly people on here too. A lot of us on this board and on Chat just have a good natter about all sorts of things, so feel free to join us anytime you want to.

Best wishes, Sallie.

Hello Jilly, Welcome, As has already been said there is no end of people willing to help on here. I've had quite a lot and made many good friends. Geneology is addictive especially as it is your own family you are finding out about, housework becomes a swear word. There is lots of joking and harmless fun, just one thing, Don't get dragged into arguments, there have been quite a few and they spoil things for everyone, but you are allowed to have an opinion so long as you don't expect everyone else to have the same one.

Thankyou to everyone who has already given me help and advice - including to choose a board name. I'm not sure if I have succeeded in changing it but I'm sure I will find out as soon as I click the submit button.

I've given myself the six months to see how I get on as I'm one of those people who throw themselves into something 110% at first and then soon loses interest. I guess only time will tell. Thanks for all the welcomes.

Jilly