Re: where to start!
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In reply to:
where to start!
megan bourne 3/14/04
I certainly would love to help Megan but not sure if that is possible, or rather if I have the 'know how' with so little info?
All the girls here have helped one another at various times but we did have names to start with.
I have been in exactly your position Meg, just checked my first post here (number 16) 9/10/01.
Am embarrassed by my bad typing, bad everything contained in the post! Have gradually improved (sorry to congratulate myself but I was particularly rubbish then and knew nothing about this marvellous genealogy which I now find addictive).
Am not referring to your ability Meg, no offence meant, you are miles better than I was!
Hope you do not mind my 'passing on' tips of using the forum?
That is a good start, will tell you all I have discovered re that!! LOL. <(That is abbreviation of 'Laugh out loud')
A way to giggle in type!
You have left a new message at 'top' of the forum, that way the forum does 'not' contact me by email to tell me I have a reply.
I looked in by chance to see if there was anything new and saw your latest post.
If you want to reply to an existing message (as I have toboth of yours).
Initially, click on the persons message, after reading it, go to bottom (or top) of that page and click on the blue box that says 'Post followup'.
That takes you to the page which is 'set up' for your reply.
Type your message and click on the bottom left caption that has 'post message'.
(MEMO)-The middle box that has 'preview message' is useful for seeing how your message is set out prior to posting, if you click on that (as often as you need) you can alter your message, until you are satisfied, prior to committing your post by clicking the 'Post message' box.
I used to be an avid user of that facility when I discovered it later on!)
After clicking 'post message' wait until the 'blue bar' at the bottom of page has completed, then come off of the forum when the message tells you and enter again the usual way to view your message (which will be under the original message you replied to).
That method will generate an email message notification from the forum to the person you replied to, then they know there is a reply to them (as my message to you must have done. Have known the alert to be a day or more late, on few occasions when the forums have been sick!
Have you tried clicking on the posters name, at top of their post/page?
That will give you a page with their email (or state a withheld email message) and their 'Posting history' if you click on that you access all of the 'posts' they have ever written, to all forums.
You know about 'Search this forum' (top left of initial forum page) I mentioned previously, how to find any word in any persons old posts/messages.
There is also the 'Forum Jump' box which goes to any forum name you enter, extreme top of forum/right hand side.
Last is the, 'Find a message by its number facility' (all messages are numbered on each page when written).
Then to find a particular number you may have noted from a post you had read or that had been recommended by a poster (as I have earlier, number 16) go to the top/right of forum page, just under the number of posts (356 on here) enter the number (try my 16) and click to access that post.
Hope this makes sense Megan? Sounds confusing, trying to describe the procedure is!!
If you need any tips on using your computer, you can 'try' me, have acquired a certain amount of knowledge, enough to survive so far!
What programme do you run? I have Windows Millennium.
I will enclose some live links for online research (just click on them).
Then click on the little heart over each page in the site you are visiting, top, right hand side (sometimes needs a second click if rusty!) this will 'Save it' to your 'Favourites' (I see you are with AOL, me too, which has this facility).
When you want your favourites, click on the heart icon in the AOL bar (extreme top, right of AOL page) this brings up a box to left side of AOL page with 'live links' to sites you have been and saved, click on any to access.
Apologies if you are aware of these Megan?
1881 Census/On the Latter Day Saints Site/known also as 'Family Search'
You need names and some family info to use the above site Meg.
Have a look round, this is one of the most useful aids.
The IGI (International Genealogical Index) is there also.
Click on any of the 'left hand side' facilities.
1901 Census
This is the latest Census site (next one due in approx 7 years) the 1911.
The data protection act prevents disclosure of it earlier, needs to be 100 years privacy!
Click 'Advance Person Research' to left, under 'Research' again you need a name and details to use this (or any) genealogy facility.
Public Record Office | DocumentsOnline |
Enter name and press the date tab (to choose which date option you prefer). An ongoing project, Wills are being continually added.
FreeBMD
Click search (down page slightly, left hand side).
Then fill in the form or just a surname, the marriages are the most useful item, click find. Then click blue end number (extreme right side of data on that line, when the result list comes up).
Takes you into a page that may have several (or no other) persons names, does not tell you who married who but who got married at that reg office, at that time. Gives you possibilities to select/confirm from.
FreeCEN - 1891( etc)
This is still being added to I think, not an official project?
It may contain names you will be trying to research?
Streetmap.co.
Here is a toy to play with, it will show you a map of any street in UK.
Multimap.com
And another map finder (not sure if both from same site)?
Will stop now Megan, you may have these? They may not be of any use to you yet, until you get on track, then they may be useful, essential?
Sorry I cannot get you started, that needs a name and more, often. I can give 'general' tips and 'try' to answer any other questions you have Megan, sadly that is no help with ancestor researching. Good luck.
Bye for now, Linda.