If there are any relatives in your family that you know little or nothing about, begin by researching them before anyone else. Again, vital records offer much information if you can locate any of them.

When you begin your genealogical search always use the information that you have already obtained before you start looking for any information that you don’t yet have. Federal population census records can provide additional information and can be found at the National Archives and records administration at http://www.archives.gov, as well as other sources such as public libraries.

You can stop by or call or write -- to the courthouse in the city or town where your ascendant resided once you have obtained this information. Other possible records to research include property deeds and legal wills. Libraries can also be wells of information. They often house various types of archives, which contain records of family histories and the surrounding area, Bible Records, and family name files as well as other sources of historical information. 

Developing a research plan

The objective when creating a research plan is to help you to determine what it is you want to learn and to help you to come up with the right questions to get the responses you are looking for. Your research plan should consist of:

• The information you are seeking about a certain relative i.e. date of birth, marriage, death etc

• Information you have already obtained such as names, locations and periods of time that support the information you have i.e. marriage, birth and baptism certificates etc. Create a list of the sources where you can locate this information such as the library or vital record office.

• Determine which reference sources you will need to ask for information from first. You may need specific records in order to be able to research other sources.

• Keep a list with the business hours, addresses and telephone numbers of the places you will be seeking information from like the library, archives, courthouse and the like.

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