Besides quilting, I have recently gotten interested in genealogy and creating a family tree on the computer. However there are soooooooooo many options that I am somewhat overwhelmed: there are free sites where you can build one online, subscription sites for online trees and programs you can buy and load on your own computer. If you have used any of these I would sure appreciate hearing your opinions as to their pros and cons. Thanks!

WOW!!! I didn't know these were available!!! I was confused as how to document this... Thank you for posting this and I will be watching for answers, too :D:D:D

sounds cool, please post the links for us, thanks

I use Family Tree Maker - have for years
I also used Generations by Sierra - don't know if it's even still around...
This program is free and worth every penny:
http://www.myheritage.com/family-tre...FYd-5QodWzsfog

I use Family Tree Maker that I bought. I uploaded all that information to Ancestry.com. It is fun. I recently made contact with a woman that our grandmothers were 1/2 sisters.
What a thrill. Happy family looking.

http://www.findagrave.com website is free and very helpful.
if that link does not get you there google "find a grave".

Thanks for posting all these links. I am looking forward to using them.

Family Tree Maker for me, too...as well as Ancestry.com ( a paid site, which makes me crazy... but then, I think about all the sites I am on, like here, that are free, and figure that that one subscription kind of evens it all out, lol)

Also, Tribalpages is a free one you can use. Go to my blog at wordpress, below, and look on the sidebar for it to try out...

Genealogy is almost as addicting as quilting...watch out!

Family Tree Maker...and My Brother's Keeper is a good one too.

I sub to Ancestry.com, and have several trees there, I also find lots of good info on Footnote.com. FamilySearch.org is the LDS site, and while you can find tons of trees there, don't trust them, verify everything you find on any of the websites. If it's proven through documents, then it "ain't necessarily so".

Don't forget our old friend Google! I've gotten lots of information just by googling an ancestor's name.

I like Family Tree Maker. Very user friendly.

I have a good friend that has been doing genealogy for about 34 years. She is very good at it. She just met a lady and her husband from Ca. that flew in today. They met in Frankfort, KY. The lady wanted her help in finding her family from here. She had gotten my friends' name from the local library. She teaches a genealogy class for them sometimes.
She has helped me find my fathers' family, he deserted my mother before she even knew about me in 1954. All I really had was his name and some information from the marriage license. But now I know alot more about them because of her.
She is the best that I have heard of, if you need help on anyone just let me know and she can contact you if you want her to.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone and the websites too!
For those of you who use Family Tree Maker and subscribe to Ancestry.com, is there a reason not to just use the tree available on the website? Why did you purchase the program too? And if you upload your tree to ancestry.com must you then subscribe for the rest of your life to have access to it? I have looked at several sites and they all seem to want you to just start using it, whereas I would like to understand how it actually works first in order to decide which one to use.

Thanks G_Maw. I have plenty of info to start with for now, just need to make a decision on how to record it! If I do get stuck though I will let you know. How nice that your friend was able to help you learn more about your dad!

I personally like Family Tree Maker. I had another one and don't remember which one it was. Family Tree Maker is user Friendly. If you find info. on the computer you can put it right in without a lot of Keying just insert. Now I haven't used it in several yrs. But I built my family tree and put Family Tree Maker has all my information. It is a fun software, I love genealogy. I am a member of the Timen Stidem society, My Grndfather is a Stidham. Same family diff. spelling. Timen was a G,G,several Grandfather on my Moms side. Bolling family on my Moms,MOM's side. Tried and tried on my Fathers side they just never kept records or something. Timen was a swede and I also could join the international swedish society. It is extremely interesting. Good luck and have lots of fun. Just one thing I was told. If you are worried about what you find then don't start digging.. :lol: :lol: :lol:
BillsBonBon

Wow! I have been scratching my head wondering what program to use and then this topic showed up on the board. :-)

I will probably purchase the Family Tree Maker software. Before I retired, I was known as the document queen because my work history involved jobs where we always had to document the files and conversations.

Hubby just got a new laptop with Windows 7. Finally, I have usage of a laptop (older model with Vista installed) --
happy dance! It would appear that I can use the program on his computer to "tag", caption, name our digitalized photo and document collection.

Question, how do you track what you've looked up, when it was done, and the results. I'm Stumped about setting up some type of system for this :-(

Thanks, in advance, for any input.

In the family tree software, the program takes care of all you put in it and saves it for you,builds your tree as you go. even pictures. you would have to set it up and you would see..I am sure it has improved since I used it. I haven't had time to do anymore seaching for my Fathers side. sources are put in,what,where and when a lot of times you don't have to type just insert. keeps track and saves what you want it to.
BillsBonBon

I have been using OneGreatFamily.com. It will send you notices if anyone else posts names that correlate to your tree. I connected with other family members that way and was able to correct their tree where they had wrong info.

You do need to verify that you are getting correct info. My aunt had wrong dates on hers and my cousin corrected it for me. It was the cousin's and her brother's birthdates that were wrong!! LOL

Thanks for answering my questions. I just ordered the Family Tree Maker 2010 which covers Windows 7, Vista and XP.
I don't need a subscription to Ancestry.com at this time as I can input the information that I have now. Wintertime would be a better time to be surfing on the computer :-)

It's so beautiful outside right now that we will sit on our deck, eat dinner in the shade, and watch people in their boats on the lake :-)

I have used Family Tree Maker for many years. It has worked well for me and has found so much information including entire trees back to the 1500's. They have regular updates at very reasonable prices, like $20 -30. If you get stuck let me know as I have Ancestry.com.