Norma Nielson's "other" Home Page

Finding Genealogical Information

• USGenWeb is organized state-by-state and county-by-county to provide access to resources all across the U.S.  These links sometimes can take you directly to the information you need if you have good information about the place where an event occurred.  This site also provides a link to World GenWeb which works the same way to help locate information in most other countries.

• Check the main Rootsweb Search engine, which includes all the various USGenWeb Archives Digital Library, typically includepublic information such as census records, land sales, marriage records, and death records.  Still, selection by state varies widely.
• Census on-line links to on-line census resources as does the USGenWeb Census Project.  In many instances these links point to the same files, but it is worth checking both because they are not simultaneously updated. In addition, graphic images of census are available.
• RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project contains millions of names that can be searched.
• Miami Valley Ohio Genealogical Index
• Ancestry.com claims it adds one new searchable CD-ROM database per day.  While their site is designed to encourage subscriptions, the newest databases are free for the first 10 days after posting.  I find it very helpful to check back every few days.
• Genealogy Exchange and Surname Registry
• Lineages offers a small selection of databases for free searching, but some are not available anywhere else.
• Immigrant Ship Transcribers Guild has more than 300 passenger lists posted with new ones added weekly.  If you don't find your ancestor here, also check obituary index sponsored by Rootsweb adds a lot of new contemporary information daily.  It is of particular value to those who contribute.

• Surname Helper allows a single search to locate all the queries and surname registrations around the country and around the world that pertain to your subject.   Not all counties and states of USGenWeb are currently included in these searches, but they are rapidly being converted.
• Family Finder Index indexes information published of Family Tree Maker software.  However, much of that information is not available unless you buy their data.  However, if you find something of interest these links can help you get to the additional details you want:
• This page lists submitters of trees listed on the World Family Tree CDs. When the tree you need is listed, it is the fastest way to get to the source.  However, many trees are not yet listed and you will need to take the next step.
• This page lists different people who own CDs and volunteer to do lookups. This site offers limited lookups on a wide range of CD's.  Though not 100% reliable, these lookups ease the frustration of using Family Finder Index and being linked to nothing more that the ads!
• Online Genealogical Database Index is a site that "contains links to all known genealogical databases searchable through the Web."   It organizes the databases in a way that clearly identifies the major surnames in the file and the contributor.  This index does not add much functionality for those files also listed on GENDEX, but it provides one central place to look for researchers with similar interests who might post their data using techniques other than GED2HTML.

Links of greatest interest to "Cousins"

• Our own family:
• Norma's (actually Eric's) family tree in the RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project
• Norma's Book with stories and family trees on the Family Tree Maker web site. Requires Java for full access
• Photo album
• ARCHER Family Genealogy
• Indexed BUCKNER information at Judy Buckner's site
• A page devoted entirely to genealoty of the EDWARDS family.  I also have started a page to organize info from people with information that ties into my own family's legend about its ownership interest in the infamous claim of the EDWARDS estate on parts of Manhattan island.  An article describing this as a "scam" common during the early 1900s makes interesting -- if disappointing -- reading.
• The PARROTT/PARRIOTT Tree.  In addition, the National Huguenot Society provides much information about the history of this branch of my family tree.
• SELBY home page.  I have not yet found very many links with other SELBYs, but if I ever do it will be because the people who correspond through this page and its related mailing list helped make it happen!
• Two resources for STANLEY researchers:  one The Stanley Families of America site and the other by Ian Stanley
• Indexed ZANER/ZEHNER information at Jerry Collins' site