I tell you -- it's the most fun ---right up there with quilting!!! I tried researching family over 30 yrs ago and had NO luck! It was miserable ordering microfische and waiting for it to come, then putting my eyes out at the library looking and looking and looking. So I quit. My brother and I got to talking last fall about our father's family. All we knew was his name, his father's and his mother's names. By knowing dad's birth year, we guessed at his mother's birth year. Sitting around one day last fall - 3 nights before a 4 month winter vacation -- I googled her name with quotes & the year -- "Sarah Belle Martin", 1880... I found a site in genealogy.com that had BOTH my grandparent's family line -- clear back to about 1400!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!! And the person that put in the info was dad's cousin! Unfortunately, he's apparently died since the input. Then last week I started again....Now I've found even MORE...clear back to Conn Cetchathach -- the King of Ireland....in about 175-195!!! Yes...NOT a type-o -- 175-195!!!!!! The internet is AMAZING!!! I'll be doing more research.....and double-checking, but this looks pretty darn good. It isn't just names put in by a jerk....this one has references, etc. To think -- my dad's ancestors were barons, lords, and kings!!! And all this time, we thought he was just a hillbilly!!!! ROL!!! :D
Anyone else have an amazing experience finding ancestors?