Family History for Beginners Your guide to genealogy resources at Lake Macquarie Library Intro & housekeeping Read THE  ELUSIVE  ANCESTOR by Merrell Kenworthy

Be Prepared Begin with who you know (i.e. You!) work back one generation at a time, verify each step with reference to a vital record. Vital records are official testaments to life events as administered by a civic body, examples include Birth, Death & Marriage certificates.

Getting started Write or type what you know to be true, starting with you! Record the stories of your relatives Refer to what has already been done Set up a system for recording and organising your research and consider duplicates Which branch do you want to investigate, maternal or paternal?

Start with yourself Documentation is an important part of a family history. Gather the documents you have on your own life (birth, marriage, diplomas, etc.) Make copies for your records and store the originals in a safe place. Write down the significant milestones in your life, include dates and places Some genealogists get so caught up in chasing ancestors that they forget to document their own lives. Genealogy is more than names on a family tree. Documentation is an important part of a family history. So, start by gathering the documents you have on your own life (birth, marriage, diplomas, etc.) Make copies for your records and store the originals in a safe place. Write down the significant watermarks in your life, include dates and places. A good way to keep a perspective on your life is to imagine a descendent reading you genealogy a hundred years from now. What they would like to know about your life is the same as what you would like to know about your ancestors lives?

Gather what you have Vital records information from a family bible, newspaper clippings (obituaries, birth, and wedding announcements, and other family events), funeral cards cards sent to you announcing births, weddings, and graduations, old pictures of your family, and letters. You may have at hand information to add to your family tree. Beyond the obvious of birth, marriage and death certificates, look for information from a family bible, newspaper clippings (such as obituaries, birth, and wedding announcements, and other events in your family's life), funeral cards, cards sent to you announcing births, weddings, and graduations, old pictures of your family, and letters.

Gather what you have Write down what you remember from family stories. Many of these stories might be right on target, others may be inaccurate. All are important for the clues they will give you. Do not ignore family legends - but also take them with a grain of salt write down what you remember from family stories. Many of these stories might be right on target, others may be inaccurate. All are important for the clues they will give you. Do not ignore family legends - but also do not take them as certain to be literally true. Rather, use them as yet another source of guidance for your efforts at finding out the truth about the past. Give some examples.

Talk to your relatives talk to your oldest relatives while they are still alive visit nearby relatives call, write and email more distant relatives. copy their documents family stories some of them may have already researched some your family tree It is always important to talk to your oldest relatives while they are still alive. Visit nearby relatives; call, write and email more distant relatives. Have conversations. What you are looking for are records they may have that they will copy for you, additions to the family stories, and the work some of then may have already done on your family tree.

Talk to your relatives Ask where your ancestor: went to school met his/her spouse got married Be sure you write down (record) what others tell you. Copy what you can, record what you can’t. Take photographs, make digital copies, write it down Remember that not everyone will be happy about your new interest in genealogy. Particularly, older relatives may think you will unearth family skeletons. In truth, genealogists love those tidbits as they add colour to the family history. Remember location is important for more research

Has it already been done? There are a few places to search: Internet Pioneer registers Published genealogies via Trove The next step is to find out if there is someone out there researching your family as part of their own genealogical investigations. There are a few ways you can go about this. Internet – Google search, ancestry.com has family trees – word of caution Pioneer Registers Published genealogies

Which branch? Choose one line to avoid confusion and getting lost Start with a surname that seems most promising an easier line will enable you to gain valuable experience success will spur you on Switch to another branch when you hit a brick wall The mistake that many beginning genealogists make is to try to research too many family branches at the same time. It doesn't take long before you will be confused and lost with that method. Start with the surname that seems most promising. A little bit of success will be helpful at the start, and an easier line will enable you to gain experience before you tackle more difficult research. When you run into what genealogists call 'the brick wall', you can set aside that branch and start work on another

Record and organise your research Use whatever works for you. Flash drives are cheap and easily sourced. Most cultural institutions also have free WiFi enabled so don’t forget your laptop or tablet device! Consider paper files genealogy computer programmes online programmes There is nothing wrong with keeping paper files if this is what you are most comfortable with. The key is ORGANISATION.

Online Family Tree Web Builders Online programmes are a great way to organise, just be wary of the ones that publish immediately on the web. If you have an iPad or tablet, there are apps out there. Like much of the software, there are free and paid ones. Ancestry publishes - Legacy and Tribal pages give you the option. These are example.

Family Group Sheet Enables you to compile and correct family names, as well as connect families.

Ancestral Chart Allows you to record the ancestors from whom you directly descend.

Get to know the resources Visit your local library’s genealogy department You will have access to microfiche and microfilm readers Multi Functional Devices (i.e. photocopiers) print resources computers and online subscriptions to genealogical websites expert assistance Visit your local library. Most library services have a genealogical section. Familiarise yourself with what resources they have available and ask about any handouts and resource lists they may have. The genealogy section is not the only part of the library you will be using. After you get into your research, you will be needing historical, language and geographical information. Learn how to use the microfiche and microfilm readers and the photocopiers. Tuesday/Friday sessions. Free to visit the department during opening hours. Located at Speers Point Library. Staff are there to help if needed

Get to know the resources Visit and join your local genealogical society. Individuals within these groups are happy to share their expertise, often suggesting valuable lines of enquiry. Their libraries of hard copy resources, including much self-published material, are usually comprehensive. Visit and join your local genealogical society. Even if your present residence is not where you will be researching, they have sources other than local. They can provide help on research techniques, including the Internet. Their library of genealogical books is often extensive. Details later of local Family History Groups

Available Resources online physical Genealogical websites Vital records newspapers Cemetery indexes shipping records physical microfilm/microfiche pioneer registers local cemetery records “how to” books Both are equally efficient and work together

Online Resources Lake Mac Libraries subscribe to and recommend a number of highly respected online resources.

NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Search Page The main tools to use for growing your family tree are Birth, Death and Marriage indexes. Birth death and marriage indexes are just that. They give basic details of events – just enough to let you verify you have the correct person. You are then expected to purchase the full certificate to get the extra detail required for family history. When purchasing a certificate from a registry, you receive an official document which can be used for legal purposes. If you are doing family history, you really don’t require an official certificate. In NSW, The Registry has accredited Transcription Agents who are able to provide genealogists with full transcriptions, partial transcriptions or verification of certain fields of a birth, death or marriage record. They charge roughly half the cost of an official certificate. Some BDM’s offer online purchases – Qld already, NSW are moving in that direction. Vic asks for payment of search. Some states do not have online search facility - Tas

NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Entries with V registration numbers are church records made before civil registration began in 1856. Community History holds these records on microfilm. When ordering certificates, it is advisable to refer to the registration number

Birth Records Church Record Civil Record

Marriage Records Church Record Civil Record

Death Records Church Record Civil Record

Consider joining a Family History Group Lake Macquarie Family History Group www.lmfhg.org.au PO Box 3046 Teralba, New South Wales 2284. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month at the Marmong Point Community Hall. (December an exception) Newcastle Family History Society www.nfhs.org.au Ph 4957 8296 (during library hours) Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday each month at the Library & Meeting Room, Mechanics Institute, 68 Elder St,  Lambton NSW. (January an exception) Worthwhile joining a FHG where your ancestor lived for a long period of time. Eg. Sussex, England FHG; Broken Hill FHG ADVANTAGES: Perhaps they offer some free research Local newsletters Access to local databases Local knowledge

Review Start with what you know Find what resources are available and learn how to use them Research one branch at a time Record your findings Collate your findings in a logical system Visit your library’s genealogy department Visit or join a local Family History Group

Contact Us Community History Lake Mac Libraries 139 Main Road, Speers Point Phone: (02) 4921 0446 Email: history@lakemac.nsw.gov.au http://history.lakemac.com.au