Free Genealogical Web Sites: Focusing on Texas

Genealogical Web Sites

for Texas Researchers 

Evelyn Smith, 4th generation Native Texan

M.S. in Library Science, University of North Texas (2012)

Revised November 14, 2014

     McGregor Cotton Belt Station Master Walstein Smith & Mayme Dickerson Smith

Getting Started 

This Web page will help Central Texans and other Americans  trace their family history by featuring genealogical Web sites from the state of Texas as well as Web sites that are most likely to apply to Texas residents with deep Texas roots.  However, genealogists elsewhere should also learn something from this post.  

Perhaps this Webpage and its accompanying pictures will inspire viewers to keep up their genealogy research.  When I started researching my family tree in the late 1970s, paternal family records verified my ancestors back to either my great, great grandparents or just back  in the case of my Smith line back to my  great grandfather.  I had no idea, however, that I could document my paternal ancestry back to the Mayflower, although two uncles had already taken much of my maternal ancestry back to the American Revolutionary War period. Taking up genealogy as a hobby certainly personalizes the study of history.

For additional help, users can also go to "Answers to Often Asked Genealogy Questions" on this Website: http://evelynelainesmith.blogspot.com/2013/10/martha-degman-mcquerry-normal-0-false.html

Oral History: Interviewing Family

Family History starts with individual stories back up by documentation. 

Family history sample outline and questions. (2014). UCLA Library. Center for Oral History Research. UC Regents. Retrieved from http://oralhistory.library.ucla.edu/familyHistory.html

Oral history & interviews >> general resources. (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/oral/general/

A Warning about Genealogical Research

Garbage in results in garbage out.

The validity of whatever a user puts into a search engine depends upon the reliability of the original sources available.  Thus, the researcher should be aware that just because secondary information appears either on a family Webpage online or from a subscription database that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily true.  This means users should compare different sources against each other and make the best educated guess, always starting with the documented sources like U.S. Census records, state-issued birth and death certificates, and marriage licenses.  For example, since young American men who registered for the draft during World War I filled in the draft cards themselves, most probably their birth dates and places of birth are accurate (unless, of course, they wanted to join up before they reached the age of 18).  Similarly, when choosing between the information on the Social Security Death Index and a death certificate, the researcher should choose the information about place of death on the death certificate since the Social Security Death Index only gives the place of residency--or rather where the agency mailed the death benefit.

Free Genealogy Websites

A quick romp through these genealogical databases will establish that FamilySearch.org and My Heritage are the easiest sites to use if the user doesn’t register with the database. The Ancestry.com owned free Web sites—Genealogy.com and Rootsweb.com—don’t pull up some of the sources that Ancestry.com provides, even though they promise the user that these are available.  Thus, it might prove worth the researcher’s effort to obtain a public library card, which will most probably allows patrons to use either the Heritage Quest  or the library edition of Ancestry.com database Online without making a trip to the library.  Most large libraries allow their patrons to access subscription databases Online, although small-town libraries may—or may not—do so.  Additionally, Latter-Day-Saint-sponsered Family History Centers provide a wealth of local and Online genealogical sources that both Mormons and non-Mormons are free to access: http://ancquest.com/fhc.htm

FamilySearch.org. (2013).  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.  Retrieved from https://familysearch.org

Not for Mormons only, FamilySearch.org, in addition to providing United States Census and other primary records, such as the Texas Death Index, furnishes guides on getting started in genealogical research, offers online research courses for amateur genealogists, and a discussion forum.  FamilySearch.org is the first Web-based search engine genealogists should turn to if they do not wish to use subscription  or library-edition databases. 

Find a Grave. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.findagrave.com/

The Find a Grave site, which is now owned by Ancestry.com, allows access to records compiled by members for grave sites; however, a member of the Web site must have already submitted the record.  Of course, visitors who join the Find a Grave Website can also submit entries for family members.

Findagrave.com entries might give the researcher a picture of actually what his or her great, great grandfather’s tombstone looks like without traveling to another part of the U.S. However, be warned that other than the information available on the tombstone pictured, this Website is user generated.

Genealogy.com. (2013). Retrieved from http://genealogy.com

This Ancestry.com sponsored site gives free access to U.S. Census and international and passenger collections and offers a quick start guide tutorial; however, the user must register before he or she can see any records. 

My Heritage.  (2013). Retrieved from http://www.myheritage.com/genealogy

The My Heritage database lets users create family pages, furnishing a Family Tree Builder for the creation of a family pedigree—the family tree chart that starts with the researcher and extends back two parents at a time generation by generation. 

Rootsweb. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.rootsweb.com

Although the user doesn’t have to register to use the Rootsweb site, if another user hasn’t previously entered a name into the Ancestry.com database, it’s sometimes difficult to access all the promised records. The user, however, needs to more or less know the name of the particular ancestor he or she is looking for and control for the spelling of the census taker, which more or less negates the purpose of accessing most genealogical sources.

General Guidelines & Source

Indexes

 
Genealogy relies on primary documentation—birth, death, and marriage records as well as wills and deeds—to lay a paper trail.  Although oral history and family tradition have their place in genealogical research, only official documents, like censuses, birth certificates, marriage licenses, death records, military records, wills, and deeds, establish the existence of each particular ancestor.  That means family trees submitted to genealogical Web sites or information found on line does not establish ancestry.  Furthermore, a wise researcher double-checks sources by comparing them to each other.  For example, while a Census may give great granddad’s birth date as 1893, an actual reproduced copy of a Selective Service record entered in his own hand may give a different birth date.  Sources like the Social Security Index and  the Texas Death Index may also differ.

Altman, L. (2013). How to get started in genealogy online.  eHow.  Retrieved from

http://www.ehow.com/how_7672229_started-genealogy-online.html

Altman’s easy to follow step-by-step guide takes the researcher through the first steps of starting a family tree: 1) Mine the personal records of still living relatives for documents such as birth certificates and marriage licenses. 2) Concentrate on finding information on one’s most recently deceased relatives, determining dates and places for birth, marriage, and death. 3) Search U.S. Census records for 1790-1940. The researcher may need to consult a library database to consult other census records from 1790 to 1940 unless he or she wants to take out an individual subscription to Ancestry.com.  Please also note that the Library edition of Ancestry.com is different from the individual version. 4) Check the Social Security Index  against other primary sources [such as the Texas Death Index for Texas ancestors].

Cyndi’s List of genealogy resources on the Internet. (2013). Cyndi’s List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com

Cyndi’s List provides invaluable information for all kinds of genealogical Web sites that the user can easily access.  If no other Website has information for a particular ethnic group, Cyndi’s probably does!

Getting started. (2013). Genealogy.com. Retrieved from http://www.genealogy.com/getting_started.html

Don’t figuratively leave home without consulting this Web address which takes the neophyte researcher step-by-step through the process of beginning genealogical research.  Genealogy.com counsels the researcher to first look for documentation establishing his or her own identity as well as documentation for parents and grandparents that is easily available records like marriage licenses, birth certificates, and family Bibles.  Researching family traditions, but knowing when to disregard family myths, the genealogist will also find the joy that comes from collaborating with newly found distant cousins while first setting about finding existing research.

See also:

Top 100 genealogy Websites of 2015. (2015, January).  Genealogy InTime Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.genealogyintime.com/articles/top-100-genealogy-websites-of-2015-page02.html

American History

A researcher who can trace ancestry back to watershed events in American history might want to get in touch with the following organizations. All Americans will likewise benefit from some of the resources they offer:

DAR Genealogical research system. (2013). Daughters of the American Revolution.  Retrieved from http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=0

DAR online resources provide access to Revolutionary Pension Extract Guide, DAR Analytical Index cards, and Forgotten Patriots Research Guide.  Should the Central Texas researcher discover ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War, she can contact the Waco chapter of the DAR: http://www/texasdar.org/chapts/HenryDowns.

Thomas Smith served in the Revolutionary War.

Anyone, however, who discovers patriot ancestors who fought in the War for Independence, will forever find a uniquely new and more personal meaning for the Fourth of July.

 Searching the New York (Castle Garden) Passenger Lists in One Step. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.stevemorse.org/ellis/cg.html  

This “Immigrants R Us” Web site means that searching the port of entry records from 1830 to 1912 gives the user a more personal claim on immigrant ancestors who entered the US through the Port of New York. 

The Society of the Mayflower Descendants in the State of Texas. (2008). Retrieved from http://texasmayflower.com/txsomdgenealogy.html

The Texas Mayflower society provides  the descendant of passengers on the Mayflower as well as anyone interested in the settlement of New England with helpful research websites, bookstores and organizations.  Mayflower societies for each state in the Union as well as the Mother of all Society of Mayflower Descendants Web site each furnish a similar service.

Yes, ancestors of the Smith family were on the boat!  Mary Allerton, an 8th-great grandmother, was aboard the Mayflower while 7th Great Granddad Thomas Cushman was a Plymouth minister.  Great Granddaddy, Hamilton County Judge D. C. Smith, came to Texas after serving in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

SVC web site provides links to a Confederate research guide, a guide to the Federal Census, National Archives, a Civil War document search, and a National Park Service database.  Many of these sources apply equally to both Confederate and Union veterans. Additionally, users might benefit from bookmarking a link that allows site visitors to access some Ancestry.com links. 

Sons of Confederate Veterans. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.scv.org/genealogy.php

United Daughters of the Confederacy. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.hqudc.org

Although the UDC has received a good deal of criticism during the last half-century as a politically-incorrect organization, its Web site offers a glimpse at the pride that once accompanied the knowledge that a great granddad fought for Dixie.

Gone to Texas Genealogy

The Texas genealogist can turn to numerous Websites that specialize in “empire-wide and glorious” Lone Star State genealogy. Texas history teachers might also want to bookmark some of these Web sites:

Daughters of the Republic of Texas. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.drt.info.org

DRT Website provides a calendar of upcoming events that spotlight the Texas struggle for independence as well as information about membership.  An education page includes information about art contests for all grade levels as well as senior adults (age 55 or over), history essay contests for fourth- and seventh-graders, as well as camps sponsored by the organization. 

Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.drtl.org/Research/Genealogy/Links.asp

While remembering the Alamo, don’t forget this DRT website that includes a wide variety of genealogical and history links, including limited access to Ancestry.com

Texas Genealogy and Historical Societies. (2013). Retrieved from  http://texasgenealogy.org/societies.htm

Website provides links to county genealogical and historical societies as well as state-wide historical societies. 

Texas Genealogy and History. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.texasgenealogy.org

Searching this Texas specific Web site means that  the reader will soon unearth where all his or her Texas ancestors’ bodies are buried since it lists Texas obituaries by county, Texas cemeteries by county as well as Texas military records and selected county web sites and Texas vital records; the vital records Web site requires a fee to obtain primary documents like birth and death certificates, and marriage licenses.

TXGenWeb Project. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.genweb.org

Since volunteers furnish all records for this site, coverage in most cases is spotty; for example, at this point, US census records from just three Texas counties  are included, the researcher may also happen upon invaluable material.  Users can also access Gen Web research from other states.

Ethnic Groups

A "Heinz 57" Texan, whose family has lived in Central Texas since the time of the Texas Republic, compiled this ever-growing list. While this Website highlights the most prominent groups to settle in Central Texas, Texans come from all over the world!

African-American Genealogy

African American genealogy. (2012). AfroGeneas: Retrieved from http://www.afigeneneas/

AfroGeneas encourages African-Americans to discover their roots by maintaining a slave database and a surname database.

Records on the Internet. (2013). African American Genealogy. Retrieved from http://www.genealogybranches.com/africanamerican.html

While this Web site gives users another source to verify certain records, that doesn’t mean that the user shouldn't forego looking up these same individuals on Heritage Quest at the local public library.

Texas African American cemeteries.  (2013). Access Genealogy. Retrieved from

http://www/African/texas/texas_african_american_cemeteries.html

Site provides links to African-American cemeteries listed by county, although McLennan County doesn’t make the list since no visitor to the site whose ancestors are buried in McLennan County has posted records on it.

Texas African American genealogy. (2013). Access Genealogy.  Retrieved from http://www.accessgeneaolgy.com

Although unfortunately Web sites that focus on African–American genealogy have fewer go-to sources than most other sites have, this site provides access both to the National Archives, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission as well as information on African-American troops in World Wars I and II and the American Civil War.  Researchers also often forget to access Freedman's Bank Records when looking for information about their ancestors just after the American Civil War.

Most African-Americans should start looking for reliable

 genealogical records starting with the 1870 census--the first 

censusafter the Emancipation Proclamation.

Canadian Genealogy

Canadian like their American counterparts, of course, come from many different ethnic groups.

Canada. (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/canada/

Cyndi's List supplies perhaps the most comprehensive list of free Canadian Web sites.

Canadian ancestry. (2013). Free Canadian Ancestry. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/freecanadianancestry/

This list of free Canadian Web pages includes census links from 1881 to 1911 as well as Upper ad Lower Canada marriage bonds.

Canadian genealogy. (1996). The Olive Tree Genealogy.  Rootsweb. Retrieved from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ote/canada/

Users can search for Canadian ancestors by province as well and look up Canadian orphans.

Canadian genealogy databases. (2002). Free Access to Canadian Databases. My Family.com, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.searchgenealogy.net/Canada.html

Users can access the Canadian 1901 census free-of-charge.

Canadian genealogy records online. (n. d.). Genealogy Search. Retrieved from http://www.genealogysearch.org/canada/

Website claims to provide access to over 1000 databases and research links.

Canada GenWeb. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.canadagenweb.org/

Canada GenWeb provides links to all the Canadian provinces along with some research tips.

Powell, Kimberly. (2013). Top databases and web sites for Canadian genealogy. About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/canada/tp/top_databases.--l1.htm

Powell puts her own spin on what she dubs the "top" Canadian genealogy databases.

Czechs settled in  Central Texas in towns like West and Ennis.

Czech Genealogy 


Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center. (2011). Genealogy News.  Retrieved from http://czechmuseum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=5

In Temple, Texas, the researcher will find the possible expertise he or she needs.  The Center has an onsite genealogical library as well as a computer bank for Internet research—not to mention translation services.  Also don’t forget to check out their current events page Online: http://czechmuseum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=4

Czech Mail list of RootsWeb. (2013). Czech Genealogy.  Retrieved from

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~elainetmaddox/czgenealogy.htm

This Rootsweb-sponsored all-inclusive site includes tips for Official Czech Republic policy, basic genealogy links useful for Central European queries, Czech and Slovak genealogical research as well as online research tools, terminology, names, and reference sites, genealogical societies, and related mailings.

Dutch Genealogy

Dutch genealogy. (2014). Archives. Retrieved from http://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-dutch.html

Since Dutch records are very thorough and freely available Online from the 17th-century onwards, its relatively easy to trace Dutch ancestry.

Free Dutch genealogy searches. (2014) Ancestor Search. Searchforancestors.com Retrieved from http://www.searchforancestors.com/locality/netherlands.html

Researchers can search Online for birth, marriage and death records in Delft, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam church registers (from 1575 to 1812) and registry offices (from 1812 to 1952 or 1953).

Netherlands / Dutch genealogy. (2014). About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/netherlands/

About Parenting provides 17 different Online links to help the user trace Dutch and Belgian ancestry.

Netherlands Genealogy. (2014, July 25). FamilySearch. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Netherlands_Genealogy

FamilySearch provides Online researchers looking for their Dutch ancestors access to its International Genealogical Index, ancestral files, family group records collection, and family history collection.

Netherlands / Nederland. (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/netherlands/

Cyndi's List as usual provides a wealth of links for users searching for Dutch ancestors.

English Genealogy


In Texas, everyone who isn't noticeably African- Mexican- or Mexican- or Hispanic-American, Middle Eastern, or Asian-American is an "Anglo" unless specified otherwise. Thus, "Anglo" could  easily mean anyone of Northern European origin. 

Austen, Malcolm. (2014, August 10). England. GenUKI. Retrieved from http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/

GenUKI contains links connecting the user to all aspects of English life, so “Keep calm and carry on” researching family history.

British-Genealogy.com. (2014). vBulletin Solutions, Inc. Retrieved from

http://www.british-genealogy.com/search.php?s=708c43abc788486ebc460f80af72a3fb&searchid=3775445

British citizens are the primary users of this British genealogy forum.

English Genealogy—Tracing your English ancestors. (2013). About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/england/England_genealogy_Tracing_Your_English_Ancestors.htm

The Webpage furnishes links to free genealogical Web sites, mailing lists, and tutorials.  Check library subscription databases or other Websites listed on this Web page for English and Welsh Census records and the Birth Marriage and Death (BMD) Index. 

England. (n. d.). UK Genealogy Archives.  Retrieved from http://ukga.org/england/index.html

England provides links to English census records from 1841 to 1911 as well as birth records from 1837 to 1915, marriage licenses from 1837 to 1915, and death records from 1837 to 1915 (BTW, all BMD records are also free-of-charge on Ancestry.com.uk).

English family genealogy forum. (2014). GenForum. Genealogy Forum. Retrieved from http://genforum.genealogy.com/english/

Americans of English origin are the primary audience for this Anglo-American genealogy forum.

Powell, Kimberly. (2014). 10 top databases for British genealogy. About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from
 http://genealogy.about.com/od/uk_databases/tp/top_databases.htm

While most of these Websites are subscription based, they also offer some free searches.. The Latter Day Saints International Genealogical Index and FamilySearch sites, however, do offer lots of valuable free data.

French Genealogy

Cajun and Creole genealogy. (2013). Archives.com. Retrieved from

http://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-cajun-creole.html

This Louisiana focused Web site provides specific directions for tracing Cajun and Creole ancestry as well as a short list of family history links

France. (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://cyndislist.com/france

Both all-encompassing and easy-to-use, Cyndi's List provides lots of helpful links for users researching French genealogy.

France. (2014, November 12). FamilySearch. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/France

This easy-to-follow Website should be one of the first Website beginning genealogists should consult when researching their French ancestors.

France Genealogy. (2014).  Southern Sun Digital Media.  Retrieved from http://www.genealogylinks.net/europe/france/

Southern Sun provides every link the Franco-American user could possibly need for accessing French vital records, including information about French settlers in Quebec before 1825.

Genealogy in France.  A Beginners guide to researching your French ancestry. (2013). About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/france/a/french_ancestry_5.htm

Genealogy in France provides directions for tracing ancestry in France both before and after the French Revolution as well as a list of online French genealogical records.

Huguenot Website. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://huguento.ws/

Website serves as a portal for associated French Huguenot Web sites.

National Huguenot Society. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.huguenot.netnation.com/general/

The National Huguenot Society provides websites related to French Protestant history as well as to Huguenot specific URL addresses. 

German Genealogy

The Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio was settled by Germans.

Crane, D. (n. d.). German Texan www.pages. Retrieved from http://davecrane.info.txgenweb/index.html

German Texan  www. pages provides links to tools archives and genealogical databases of interest to researchers whose ancestors came from Germany or who lived in the German-speaking part of Russia.  It also furnishes a link to a German to English translation service and cross-indexing of records from different sources.

Additionally, users will find links to Texas counties predominantly settled by Germans, Texas-bound passenger lists, and German Texas family reunion Web sites; this Web page also provides a great list of Texas Genealogy Web sites.

Germany/Deutschland.  (2013). Cyndi’s List. Retrieved from http://cyndislist.com/Germany

Cyndi’s List provides hyperlinks to 38 different Web addresses that will connect  the German-American researcher to all kinds of information, including societies and groups and wills and probate archives. The User should take particular note of a link to a web page providing help with deciphering fraktur and old German handwriting.

German-Texas Heritage Society. (2013). Retrieved from http://germantexans.org/

“Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” Then consider signing up for adult German language classes available in Austin, Brenham, Bryan, and Roundrock or else sign the kinder up for Samstagschule.  Meanwhile the GTHS genealogy editor can be contracted for help for particularly thorny genealogical questions. A quarterly journal, Schulhaus Reporter, is available online.

Gordeeva, T. (2012). German genealogy. German Culture. Retrieved from

http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/links/genealogy.html

The German Culture Website helps German-Americans trace their roots.

Irish dancing Texas style

Irish & Scots-Irish Genealogy

In the United Kingdom, use the term Ulster genealogy for Protestants living in Northern Ireland.

Ireland Genealogy. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.ireland.genealogy.com/

Irish Genealogy allows the user to search by county; however, only a limited number of Roman Catholic parishes within a county are represented if this researcher can judge by a review of a test ancestor using the Donegal County link.  Geared to American audiences, the site also provides passenger lists from 1848 to 1858—the era of the Irish Potato Famine as well as an index of wills from 1684-1858.  However, again, the test case for this site proved fruitless, even though the user knew the very town from which her Irish ancestors immigrated to Ontario, Canada.

Irish Genealogy. (2012). Retrieved from http://irishgenealogy.ie

The Republic of Ireland provides limited access to Roman Catholic Church records since only baptismal, marriage, and death records from the dioceses of Kerry, Cork, and Dublin are available Online.  Additionally, the site gives the user access to the Irish Republic’s National Archives, the 1901 and 1911 Irish Censuses Online, the National Library of Ireland, the General Register Office, and the Irish Land Registry and Evaluation Office.  The lack of vital records leaves most people of Irish ancestry shaking their heads and wondering why no one has entered them into a database.  Welcome to the bog of Irish genealogical research.

United Kingdom & Ireland. Ireland & Northern Ireland.  (2013). Cyndi’s List Ireland. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/uk/irl/

The best hope and greatest list of links available to Americans searching for their Scots-Irish (Scottish Protestants living in Ulster), Anglo-Irish, or Roman Catholic  Irish ancestors is Cyndi’s List Ireland, although a majority of the free links are through FamilySearch.com.

Italian-American Genealogy

Italian Genealogy.  (n. d.). Retrieved from http://lialiangenealogy.com

This Website features a users' forum and a review of Italian record extraction; translation is always a problem a few generations removed from Italy.

Italian Genealogy Online. (2012).  Retrieved from http://www/angelfire.coma/ok3/pearlsofwisdom

Web site gives translation help, passenger arrival records, surname queries, and record boards.

Mexican-American Genealogy

Mexican-Americans make up the single largest ethnic group in Texas.

Mexico. (2014, November 8). FamilySearch. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Mexico

Users can search for vital records by region. Some church records date back to the 16^th century.

Mexico genealogy forum. (2014). GenForum. Genealogy.com. Retrieved from http://genforum.genealogy.com/mexico/

Users question and answer forum allows visitors to ask questions about their Mexican ancestors.

Mexican. (2013). Genealogy.com.  Retrieved from http://www.genealogy.com/00000379.html

Genealogy.com provides some tips and links for Mexican-American genealogists who want to trace their family history back in Mexico.

.Powell, Kimberly. (2013). Mexican genealogy 101: Tracing your family tree in Mexico.  About.com. Genealogy.  Retrieved from http://geneaology.com/od/mexico/a/records.htm

Powell provides several leads for American researchers who wish to trace their family tree back to Mexico.

Schmid, J. P. (2004). The Hispanic experience. Cultural Heritage. Houston Institute of Texas. Retrieved from http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/research.html

The Houston Institute of Texas gives the Mexican-Texan genealogist some advice on tracing their Tejas ancestry.

Native American Genealogy

American Indian Genealogy. (2014, September 13). FamilySearch. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/American_Indian_Genealogy

Finding documentation of Native American ancestry requires a thorough understanding of a particular tribes history and culture rather than just a romp through public records or a family tradition of Native American descent.  Moreover, although American Indians did have war and peace chiefs (who handled domestic matters), and positions wasn't hereditary; therefore, Indian princesses didn't exist.  Thus, many Americans upon researching their family tree may have to omit this faulty history from their background or at least acknowledge that they haven't been able to document their Native American ancestry through tribal records. Even so, perhaps because of Texas' proximity to Oklahoma, many Texans can document Native American ancestry.

Archives. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-native-american.html

Archives offers some excellent advice for researchers hoping to trace Native American ancestry.

Native American. (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/native-american

If researchers can't document Native American ancestry using Cyndi's List, then it just can't be done.

Clifton, Texas was settled by Norwegians.

Norwegian Genealogy

Arkivverket. Digital Arkivet. (2011). Retrieved from http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/WebFront.exe?slag=vis&tekst=meldingar&spraak=e

Norway's official digital archives include census records for 1801, 1865, 1875, 1900, and 1910 along with digitized parish registers, probate, real estate, and court records.

Norway genealogy-Norsk genealogi. (2014). About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/norway/

Comprehensive Website includes census, immigration, and farm and parish records.

What could be more Texan than the gathering of a Scottish clan at the Alamo.

Scottish Genealogy

Central Texas Area Museum: Home of the Annual Salado Scottish Clan Gathering and Highland Games. (2013). Retrieved from http://saladoscottishgames.com/newsletter/

This Salado, Texas, museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 5.  The museum’s Web page offers genealogical workshops,  and it also keeps an updated schedule of Scottish-themed events across Texas as well as a quarterly newsletter.  Each American of Highland Scottish descent should consider attending a local Highland Games event since the Scottish clan is a vehicle for family genealogical research on the Web. Most clans, for example, have a “clan genealogist”, so it’s often possible to run across a long-lost cousin in a user’s forum.  Each Scottish-American should take note, however, that Lowland Scots didn’t have clans.

Scotland genealogy—tracing your Scottish ancestors. (2014). About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/scotland/

Again, About.com researchers have compiled a comprehensive collection of family history links.

Scotland genealogy forum. (2014). GenForum. Genealogy.com. Retrieved from http://genforum.genealogy.com/scotland/

One look at this Q. & A. format shows that Scots are very interested in family history!

Scotland. (2014). GenUKI. Retrieved from http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/

One could only wish that everyone is interested in family history as Scots are. Search by region or topic. Some links also furnish tutorials.

Search the records. (n. d.). Scotlands People.  Retrieved from http://www.scotlandspeople.gen.uk/welcome.aspx

Site provides access to vital records and Scottish Census data from the National Records of Scotland; users must register to access the site.

Swedes settled in Williamson County, Texas, north of Austin.

Swedish Genealogy

Sweden. (2014). Family Search. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Sweden

This detailed, Latter-Day-Saints-sponsored Website includes Online tutorials on Scandinavian research.

Swedish genealogy forum. (2014). GenForum. Genealogy.com. Retrieved from http://genforum.genealogy.com/sweden/

Message board allows readers provides and question and answer format for users interested in Swedish family history.

Sweden / Sverige (2014). Cyndi's List. Retrieved from http://www.cyndislist.com/sweden/

As always, Cyndi's List provides a large selection of family history resources.

Swedish genealogy. (2014). Genealogy Links. Southern Sun Digital Medial. Retrieved from http://www.genealogylinks.net/europe/sweden/

Welsh Genealogy

After 1538 when Prime Minister Thomas Cromwell ordered all parishes in England and Wales to keep a parish register of all christening, marriage, and death records, keeping up with the Jones family has been a complicated, but not necessarily an insurmountable task since the boundaries of the church parish were the same as the civil parish while since the rise of Methodism, the majority of the Welsh went to a Methodist chapel instead of the Anglican-sponsored Church in Wales. Moreover, since there are comparably few Welsh surnames, it might be hard to determine which David Jones or Bob Davis is which. Moreover, whether a researcher with a Welsh surname living in the United States can trace his or her ancestry back to Wales depends upon the family's  economic status during the colonial era to about  1850, for during this period of time, wills and deeds were often the most accurate way to trace descent.

Welsh family genealogy forum. (2014). GenForum. Genealogy.com. Retrieved from http://genforum.genealogy.com/welsh/

This question and answer forum helps users exchange information about their Welsh ancestors.

Welsh genealogy. (2014). Archives. Retrieved from http://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-welsh.html

Researchers may have trouble documenting Welsh ancestry since the odds are that their Welsh ancestors were Non-conformists That might mean their christenings, marriages, and deaths might not be recorded in parish records. Also, since many Welsh share the same last name that might cause problems.

Welsh genealogy. (2014). The Jones Genealogist. Blogspot.com. Retrieved from http://welshgenealogy.blogspot.com

Various blog entries provide tips for genealogists tracing Welsh ancestry both in Wales and in the United States.

Welsh genealogy-tracing your Welsh ancestors. (2014). About Parenting. About.com. Retrieved from http://genealogy.about.com/od/wales/

About Parenting provides links to 19 different links that will help trace Welsh ancestry.

Wales genealogy. (2014, July 18). FamilySearch. Retrieved from http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Wales_Genealogy

FamilySearch gives tips on how to use the International Genealogical Index when looking for Welsh ancestors living in Wales, using the surname index for births and baptisms occurring after 1813 and for all marriages.

Wales Gen UKI. (2-14, November 2). Retrieved from http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/index.html#Land

The Wales Gen UKI Website provides links to archives and libraries, cemeteries, censuses, Non-conformist and National Church of Wales records, civic registers and court records, immigration, newspapers, and military documents.

http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/ig/genealogy_charts/family_tree.htm



Birth, Death, & Marriage Records

Researchers seeking birth, death, and marriage certificates can go to either state-wide or county-level sources.  However, should the Texas user prefer not to deal with local authorities, he or she can access birth and death records through the Texas Department of State Health Services. This agency provides verification letters that a marriage has taken place, but the researcher will need to obtain marriage licenses through the local county clerk’s office.   

Finally, Ancestry.com’s Library edition and Heritage Quest provides evidence of Texas births from 1903 to 1997 and Texas deaths from 1903 to 2000. Supposedly, Ancestry.com also provides marriage records from 1814 to 1909 and 1966 to 2011.  Patrons seeking copies of original birth, death, and marriage certificates are available through VitalChek.

Texas Health Department & Texas.gov

State-wide, births and death certificates from 1903 to present are additionally available from the Texas Department of State Health Services via Texas.gov.  This department verifies that a marriage has taken place, but copies of the marriage certificate are only available through the county clerk.

Ancestry.com & VitalChek

Ancestry.com also provides originally images of the Texas birth index from 1903 to 1997, Texas Death Index Certificates from 1903 to 2000, and Texas marriage licenses from 1814 to 1909 and from 1966 to 2011.   The Ancestry.com user can order these original documents through VitalChek.  


Family History Centers  

Researchers may look up births, deaths, and marriage certificates at their local Family History Centers free-of-charge.  For more information call 254-771-4860 or go to https://familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator    

Researchers do not need to be Latter Day Saints to use a Family History Center, nor will their visiting one signal that they are interested in joining the LDS Church.

http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/ig/genealogy_charts/pedigree_chart.htm

1940 U. S. Census Available Online

On April 2, 2012, the National Archives and Records Administration released to the general public the 1940 United States Census.  These records are now available in a digital format:
http://1940census.archives.gov/

Free Genealogical Databases 

Texas Library patrons who hold a library card can also access TexServe databases by entering their library card number and password on their library's Website where they can use the Heritage Quest databases.  Some libraries also make the Ancestry.com Library edition available to their patrons. FamilySearch.org and Find A Grave, Rootsweb.com, and Genealogy.com are also available Online free-of-charge.  

Users can also try entering an ancestor's name by placing it in quotation marks and then adding the word genealogy (Carman, 2015, April 16, para. 3-5); for example, "Mary Allerton Cushman" genealogy, or the can broaden their  search by adding another qualifier (Carman, 2015, April 16, para. 6-8) that most libraries would recommend separating by the Boolean qualifier AND (typed in capital letters); for instance, "Mary Allerton" AND "Thomas Cushman".  For more hints on this type pf searching head to Cindy Carman's My Trees.com blog:

Carman, Cindy. (2015, April 16). Shortcuts to Googling: Success in Genealogy How To. MyTrees.com. Retrieved from http://www.mytrees.com/newsletters/nlcenter/20150416/howto.html

Carman limits her search tips to Google, but some of the tips can be applied to other search engines as well, although Google (and Google Scholar) have probably index more of the Web than other regularly-used search engines (Carman, 2015, April 16, para.1-2).

     Online Genealogical Tutorials

Genealogy U. (2013). Rootsweb-Ancestry.com.  Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lifespan2/Genealogy-U/entrance.html 

Rootsweb and Ancestry have started a tutorial Website for amateur genealogists. 

  Conclusion

This list is by no means inclusive, but rather it presents genealogical Web sites that the author thought that users would find helpful.  Nevertheless, since opinions differ, please feel free to add additional genealogical Web addresses to the comment section below.  A conversation with two members of the Westerfield family now living in Arlington, Texas, whose ancestors once lived in the McGregor and Moody area inspired this Web page.

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Additional References

Archives. (2013). McLennan County, Texas. Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce Records.  Retrieved from http://www.archives.com/genealogy/vital-records-mclennan-county-tx.html 

City of Waco.  Birth & Death Records/Vital Statistics. (2013). Retrieved from       http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-healthdepartment/page.aspx?id=6

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2013, January 2).  Retrieved from    http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/default.shtm

Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.  (2013). Ancestry.com