Finding Ancestors Using the Family History Research Wiki

Transcription

1 Finding Ancestors Using the Family History Research Wiki The Family History Research Wiki is an extremely valuable tool we can use to learn how to find information on our ancestors. It offers information on how to find, use, and analyze records of genealogical value. This guide will show you how to find specific information on an ancestor by using the Wiki to Search by Locations. You will need to know the possible location of an event you are interested in as well as the time period. An easy way to get to the Research Wiki is from familysearch.org. Simply click Search and then Wiki.. Click on any of the labeled areas on the map to get to the next screen.. From the Category page you can scroll down to the subcategory, United States and click it for an extensive listing of categories and pages useful for U.S. research.. In the upper right area of the screen, click. Use the index by clicking on the letter U for United States or scroll down to find the U section and then click on United States. Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page of 6

2 This is the country page for the United States. It includes the following items:. An extensive list of the various topics available. The links will take you to articles (many with links to sources) about the topics listed.. The first entry under Topics, Record Selection Table, is a three column list that shows you where to look for information you need to find on an ancestor. Column lists the information you need or are looking for. Column shows where you should look first. Column then shows where you could search next.. Articles with information on getting started with U.S. research including Principles of Family History Research.. A map of the United States with links to each of the states. Hover your mouse over a state to verify its name and then click it to view the state s page. 5. A list of Research Strategies. 6. A list of available Research Tools. 7. To narrow the search to the state of Kentucky, use the map of the states and click on Kentucky Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page of 6

3 5 The various location pages may be organized slightly different, but the contents are similar. Some states may have more information than others. Be sure to check all the items. Depending on the state and time periods, the records may be kept at the state, county or city level Kentucky has the following items: Key Topics The more frequently viewed.. Other Topics Again, a very diverse listing.. News and Events.. Navigation link Use to return to the United States page. 5. Brief historical information about the state. 6. Online Records for Kentucky This is very useful. See page 6 for a sample listing of the online records for Kentucky. 7. How to find vital Information on your ancestors, (birth, marriage, & death). 8. A list of counties Click to view information on a county level. 9. A map of the state s counties. Hover over a county to verify its name and then click it to view the county s page. 0. Other items not shown but listed lower on the page include such things as: major repositories, migration routes, research tools, genealogical features, featured content, record availability, and many others. Select Fayette County from the list or the map. It is shown on the next page. 0 9 Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page of 6

4 To the left is the Fayette County page.. Navigation link Use the links to return to the Kentucky or United States page.. A table of contents that lists all of the topics and entries contained on its page, including links to records.. Link to Online Kentucky Records.. Map and county facts. 5. A list of the availability of records from a start date. 6. Click the Vital Records link. An extract is shown below indicating the type of information available. 6 Vital Records Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Although Kentucky enacted a statute in requiring registration of births and deaths, many counties did not comply. A second law was written in , and but, again, was not always followed. By 9, the law was more clearly defined and kept by 90. Any existing births and death records can be accessed online. See How to Find Kentucky Birth Records and How to Find Kentucky Death Records for links to indexes and images. Original marriage records are held at the office of the Fayette County, Kentucky Clerk, with divorce records located with the Fayette County, Kentucky Circuit Court. For more information see How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records. For Kentucky divorce records see the wiki page Kentucky 5 Birth Fayette County Birth Index Batch C57 at FamilySearch - free. Marriage Fayette County Marriage Index Batch M57 at FamilySearch - free. Unsorted: The Kentucky Vital Records Project Transcriptions of and Images of KY Death Certificates KY Births & Christenings Kentucky Births and Christenings, Family Search KY Deaths & Burials KY Deaths & Burials KY Marriage Records KY Marriages ~ Family Search Searchable KY Vital Records Searchable databases of KY Births, Deaths & Marriages Kentucky Marriage Records Kentucky Marriage Records KY Divorces Kentucky Divorce Records ~ University of Kentucky Vital Records Databases The Social Security Death Index - Searchable Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page of 6

5 The other countries in the Wiki have a format similar to that of the United States.. For example, select England and scroll down to the map and list of counties. Select Kent to view its county information.. Scroll even farther down to view a list of parishes () in Kent. Click the parish links to view more. Below is the Wiki page for New Zealand. Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page 5 of 6

6 An example (Kentucky) of the available online resources for a state in the United States. Riverton FamilySearch Library - QSG Finding Ancestors Using the FamilySearch Research Wiki Rev. 0/0/ Page 6 of 6