http://www.familysearch.org/

This is the Church of Latter Day Saints (or the "mormon" site or LDS site as they are known"

LOTS of records here, and they too believe in "free" research

Thanks for posting this! I just found info on it I hadn't been able to find anywhere else...

This is an absolutely essential site, I think. And the best tip I can give anyone who has access to a local FHL is to go to the website and look up your microfilms ahead of time, then print up the "printable" info page.

I keep a pile of these pages in my genealogy folder and whenever I go to the FHL to view my latest films, I request 3 or 4 more.

By doing this, I look up films from home where I have ALL my genealogy info. I can print the page, make notes on it about what I am specifically seeking. Then I staple the pink film request receipt to the page, as well as attaching any family group sheets or notes that are important.

Most of mine end up covered in post-its as well.

This website has been the most useful for me so far. I found tons of relatives on census records that I would have had to pay for elsewhere.

At the risk of getting shot......I too enjoy the LDS site...but, as with any other info, double check before you take it to the bank
The LDS has been doing this since it's beginning, requiring petitioners for membership to the church to present a tree traced back a certain number of generations....many years ago..it was six. I don't know what the requirements are now. A lot of those people tracing back in the early years did not have access to the info we have now..so some connections were made based on faulty information. Every single thing I found on one of my family members was incorrect. I'm just glad I knew that the minute I looked at it and did not spend years chasing rabbits.
It's a wonderful tool and gives you avenues you never expected....but check and recheck, especially since you don't know when the info may have been filed with them.

Steph

I agree with you Steph. I looked up some family on the LDS site and found my gggg-grandfather, or so I thought. The records I found had the same birth and death dates as my Daniel Kempton and had listed as Rachel Riley as his wife. Not to long ago, I recieved his Civil War Pension records. His wives names were Eliza and Mary Cochran. (the pension records didn't give Eliza's maiden name ) So now I know that either there were two Daniel Kemptons in the Civil War that served as Chaplains with the same dob and dod, or someone is really wrong. I have tried to get in contact with a submitter to Rootsweb with this information with no luck.

Donna

That's one of the biggest problems I have...trying to contact folks who have posted info. And it is doubly hard with the LDS site...so many of those folks submitted their stuff long before computers and their snail mail addresses are no longer valid...you are just swinging in the wind.
And as Shannon explained in the naming patterns post....it is not beyond reason to think there may be two men by the same name with dates close to the same...especially if they were the sons of brothers....but not too likely. The thing is....will you ever know.
It is a particular pet peeve of mine with the internet that people post their family trees and never update them I know of three people I have contacted to let them know their info is not correct....in fact way way off base, but in spite of the notations on their websites to be informed if anything is wrong...the info has stood for at least 10 years now. Makes me crazy.

Sorry that's a bit off topic from LDS.

I did hear recently that they are getting ready to upload a whole bunch of the famiily stuff they have in their archives. That is going to be exciting (even if I have to examine every piece individually) I have so many brick walls I will love anything that might point me in any direction....I feel like I am just spinning myself into the dirt sometimes.

Steph

It's a good caution, Steph! So many people think that this info has been "verified", but it hasn't. I never use the pedigree files or anything like that.

I use the library to order the microfilms, so I can look at the records themselves!

I often use FamilySearch - but with great caution. I've found dates out by as much as 100 years. In the Wiltshire village when my immediate Staley ancestors lived, only about half of the family is shown - and there's no rhyme or reason for the missing members,

Having said that, it is a very useful "port of last resort" when I'm stuck.

I've heard it said that, genealogically, a date should not be accepted unless there's three different sources for it. A good idea, but ...

Sandra.

I Joined a Yahoo group for people doing a Family search in Fayette County PA
and this is the site they have listed, Thought I'd share, Sorry if it's already been posted!

Family Search

(Cerine I merged your post with this one since we already had a thread for it ) but thanks!!!!

Did ya'all know that the FHL is working on getting on their microfilmed records online? Even though I'm not a member of the LDS, I signed up to do volunteer work in transcribing censuses.

Currently, they are working on getting 1900 available to the public - free. Some are completely done. Isn't that great?