Your guide to FamilySearch (Maybe the best FREE genealogy resource)

It's all about FamilySearch. What's available, what might you be missing…Here I'll guide you through Family Search and help you see why it's one of the best FREE family history resources.
FamilySearch Tutorial Playlist:
• FamilySearch Tutorials
Other video's mentioned:
Person page in FamilySearch Family Tree: • See the Latest BIG Cha...
Wiki pages: • FamilySearch Wiki is W...
Deeds: • Deeds - a Top Family S...
Probate records: • How to Find Wills and ...
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Instagram: / ancestryaimee
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0:00 Intro
0:25 What is FamilySearch & who owns it
2:51 Creating an account
3:10 FamilySearch's Family Tree
4:30 Adding someone to the Family Tree
5:39 CAUTIONS about the FamilySearch Family Tree
6:10 Person page in the Family Tree & record searches
10:35 Memories
11:17 Volunteering - "Get Involved" tab
12:42 Fun genealogy activities on "Activities" tab
13:00 Searching FamilySearch on "Search" tab
14:14 Searching images
14:59 Searching FamilySearch Family Tree
15:04 Searching genealogies
16:34 Digital books
16:52 FamilySearch Wiki page
17:49 The FamilySearch Catalog - a MUST
🙋‍♀️ ABOUT ME: Learning about your ancestors is fun! It’s detective work at its best. My professional genealogy business, Ancestry Consulting by Aimee, and my You Tube channel were born out of a desire to help others discover their family history. I have been working on my genealogy since a teenager and have been helping others as a professional genealogist for almost 10 years. Whether breaking through a genealogy brick wall, determining parents through DNA matches, beginning genealogy research, or discovering your family origins, I want to help you build your family tree! Happy hunting!
#familysearch #familyhistory #ancestry #genealogy
Check out these other genealogy KZbinrs: Genealogy TV, Family History Fanatics, Geneavlogger, Ancestry (Barefoot Genealogist), Genealogy with Amy Johnson Crow, and of course, keep watching me, Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints.
Intro music: "Something Elated" by Broke for Free. freemusicarchive.org/music/Br...

[@godisloveireland]

I noticed you added hazel born 1910 as spouse of gilbert born 1935

[@AncestryAimee]

Good catch! I focus so much on filming the video - I added my mom's brother as her father! Gilbert born in 1935 is Hazel's son. All fixed on FamilySearch! Thank you for pointing that out - I'm not in that teaching tree much and that may have sat there for a LONG time!

[@sr2291]

​@@AncestryAimee lol

[@AncestryAimee]

BTW - that mistake messed up the whole tree and made my mom’s parents her grandparents (some noticed that too). It’s all fixed now and the community family tree is as it should be! See we all make mistakes! 🤣🤣 So don’t worry so much about yours!!

[@godisloveireland]

@@AncestryAimee so glad i noticed and told you!!

[@AncestryAimee]

Me too! 🤣

[@kirkstephens806]

I've been using FS a long time and still found this video incredibly helpful and informative. PLEASE do more videos on this topic, and more in-depth on the different tabs and areas. Thanks.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you! Will do! I'll put that on my list!

[@AncestryAimee]

Check out my FamilySearch playlist for a couple of others: kzbin.info/aero/PLCOHvB5d5Xvlil1X_I6uIdyS7A-E10kG7

[@kirkstephens806]

@@AncestryAimee On it ! 🙂

[@daves5445]

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas and information!!

[@AncestryAimee]

You are so welcome! Thank you Dave!

[@LittleQueenie64]

This was very informative. I don’t get to research on a regular basis, but will help me more productive when I get those opportunities. Thank you

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it is helpful! You’re most welcome!

[@wohalicasimier7763]

Thank you for the resource!

[@AncestryAimee]

You’re welcome!

[@lawrente]

Wow! Lots of things I wasn't aware of from Family Search!

[@AncestryAimee]

I'm so glad!

[@loripeterson5403]

I finally got on board with FS and, yes, it is amazing the records that I could find on this site. I then go back to Ancestry and plug in the data or the weblink if necessary. I still can get flustered and frustrated at times but have figured out (the hard way) to clean up my messes. Still unsure if I'm really attaching sources, though.

[@AncestryAimee]

That’s terrific! Glad it’s helping you! Not sure what you mean about whether you’re really attaching sources though.

[@angelauzdilla2362]

I love your videos ... Thank you!

[@AncestryAimee]

You are so welcome!

[@bgrainger3477]

Great information. Thank you for making this video!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you!

[@debnraleigh6062]

Thanks, very helpful.

[@AncestryAimee]

You're welcome!

[@palmcottageguy]

Thank you. I learned a few things about FS that I can use in my future research.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pegpowell2486]

Valuable info, thanks for sharing.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheBlaqPerspective]

Very good, I use it a lot as an ADOS🇺🇸

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it helps

[@jamesanderson9287]

'Grnrslogies' is where they archived the Ancestral File and later the Pedigree Resource File, and you can put your research on it and unlike the Family Tree it is a place to put your research as of that moment. There are also things like community reconstructions of some places, The Guild of One-Name Studies data, and as noted some of this may be old but it will tell you where it all began anyway.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for adding that James

[@sharondipaola5974]

Thank you so much. I have renewed energy to tackle my Mayflower Brick walls. Only 2 generations. Fires at the church and courthouse have stopped me in my tracks.

[@AncestryAimee]

Sure hope this helps you climb that wall!

[@arlindanelson7928]

Thanks for sharing.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for watching!

[@lydiarodriquez5715]

thank you great information I am so excited.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad to hear it!

[@dianecrawford2598]

My uncle did a lot of family history when I was growing up. Now that he is long gone and I am bedridden, I have a lot of spare time and got curious about my family history, too. I discovered Family Search about three years ago. I remember being 12 years old and my uncle telling me that one ancestor came over on the Mayflower. I looked, and there he is....William Bradford! I've discovered a lot since then. Very happy with FS.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad to hear but I’m sorry you are bedridden. I’m glad you’ve found something you enjoy so much!

[@vanillachoclate]

Im Sorry to Say this as an Southeast Asia when i use this website i think is 100% true but it actually didnt cause of My ancestors name is just a little bit similar to my grandmother name and it say that my great great grandfather actually emigrate to Massachusetts in 1907 and i dont think that my great great grandfather emigrated to america because its impossible 😅

[@AncestryAimee]

@vanillachoclate are you talking about the tree?

[@vanillachoclate]

​@@AncestryAimeeYes it is 😅

[@AncestryAimee]

@vanillachoclate yeah. Mistakes in the tree. Mistakes on Ancestry trees too.

[@xo_coco_xo471]

I just discovered FamilySearch recently, and not only did I found out that Matoaka (Pocahontas) was my 11th great grandmother, I am also 12th cousins with princess Diana through shared grandparents 🥰

[@AncestryAimee]

Oh wow!

[@dawncubano6865]

I just found I'm also related to princess diana.. 12th cousin several times removed!! I'd love to chat with you!!

[@marilyn5688]

Great video. Using that site has been frustrating for me though the years. Thank you

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad to help! Hope it’s better for your now.

[@nanfrostsfashionfocusstyle6250]

THis video is something I have to watch a few times. I find Family Search a little confusing because of how the tree works. That said, I've gotten used to Ancestry's workflow so that probably has something to do with it. I love your videos!!! THANKS SO MUCH!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you! Check out some of my other FamilySearch videos to help with the tree! I have a FamilySearch playlist.

[@AncestryAimee]

FamilySearch playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLCOHvB5d5XvkN2p4k2MeD6ZJnlJ9PvDTZ

[@user-dd8gr8bb1x]

I have been VERY FRUSTRATED with Family Search. The windows do not seem intuituve to me. I've been on Ancestry for awhile and I'm totally comfortable there, but I'm mad at them...anyway, I'm here to learn how to use this resource. I loved your video and you are a natural on camera. You are an excellent speaker--not one um, like, literally, or obsessed in the whole video. Two Thumbs Up!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you so much. I was doing some research on FamilySearch just yesterday and I was thinking the same thing! It is a little bit frustrating and not as intuitive as Ancestry. But I do love the price and that there’s something out there for people that can’t afford Ancestry. Some of the clunkiness comes from the fact that it’s a shared tree, and it requires more clicks to do something. Thank you for the kind compliments. Sometimes I feel very self-conscious and I really appreciate the support.

[@VelvetandToads]

Thanks! This is really helpful as I discovered Family Search last week after using Ancestry for a couple of months. I was really excited when I saw the ancestry of one branch of my coal mining Indiana ancestors could be traced back to Rollo the Viking who founded Normandy. But then I saw a whole other branch of Indiana coal mining ancestors who could be traced back to the 8th century! Now I’m suspicious… It seems like people add a lot of ancestors to Family Search without sources. If it’s a collaborative tree, how does one separate the chaff from the wheat?

[@AncestryAimee]

Good question and concern!! I have other videos that talk about the tree and get into that more. Yes... grain of salt!! I'm sure there is a lot of bad info out there, particularly far back. They did build the original tree once they had the technology to do so with information submitted for decades. That information was probably sourced, but the sources didn't transfer to the tree when they originally added them (because they were notes on the papers submitted). There have been some amazing genealogists out there who have done tremendous work, but without sources, I'm going to be proving it agai (even with sources, I'm going to be verifying it).

[@pennyhite7493]

I've been doing genealogy research off and on for 30 years. But I am now learning what new tools are available on Ancestory and Family Search. Your videos have been of great help. Would you please consider doing a presentation more in depth on how to use Family Tree Maker 2019? I saw the video where you mention it is one of your favorites. There are no good videos now on youtube that go into depth on how to use the program. I am particularly interested in printing family group sheets with sources. And since this record will live only on my computer, I'd really like some instruction on sources. Love your videos! Penny

[@AncestryAimee]

I do need to do one. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@sherrybrown4340]

Thanks!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you Sherry!

[@floridalife4]

Fantastic video. Thank you for sharing the wonderful resource of FamilySearch. I’m actually LDS so I’ve been using this resource for many years. Since my account is an LDS account I have additional tabs for church ancestry work. Have you ever gone to Roots Tech? I have not gone in person but hope to one year. I live in Florida so Utah is a trek.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you. I was just at Rootstech. There's a few videos on my channel about it and some of the folks I met with there with more to come. It's fabulous! Hope you can make it work sometime!

[@floridalife4]

@@AncestryAimee Do you live near Utah? I’d love to go one year. We have several friends that live in Salt Lake so I’m hopeful to make it one year. Fingers crossed next year. I hope you had a great time. I’m really enjoying your channel. Thank you for all the work you put into it.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@floridalife4 thank you! I really appreciate it. I’m in CA so not too far away.

[@Elke_KB]

You had a slight error. You made Hazel her own mother! Great tips. I am using FS more, since my memberships ran out on Ancestry & MyHeritage. I like the sources section, how it is listed chronologically, and I've figured out how to add/edit/correct dates & info on those sources. I also like that you can see right away if a record needs to be reviewed/attached to anyone else.

[@AncestryAimee]

🤣 I know! Like I told John I worry so much about filming I wasn’t paying attention! I added my mom’s brother (he was named after his dad)! This messed everything up! 😂 See! We all make mistakes. But that one is FIXED and the community tree is as it should be! Thanks for pointing that out!!

[@brolickscholar3083]

How do I fix a mistake like that. In my tree, I put a great great grand in the wrong place and now I cannot delete it and put him in the right place. It’s very frustrating. I edited it but the vital information, family , stayed the same and somehow his son was linked into another side of the tree automatically. Really crazy. Please help.

[@AncestryAimee]

@brolickscholar3083 you are not alone!! Check out this video for how to fix relationships. Fixing Relationships on FamilySearch Family Tree (STEP by STEP) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4Wtp5WupJWfo8k

[@ldsnurse9268]

I just got serious about genealogy. I’ve been doing it off and on for some time. I just purchased your Timelines spreadsheet and I’m looking forward to using it. Would it be too intrusive of me to ask if you are LDS? I just looked at your website and your were listed under the LDS section. I’m just curious. Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed your videos.

[@AncestryAimee]

I am 😄 Good luck with your research!!

[@ldsnurse9268]

Thank you. I’m going to be watching your videos over the next few days and see if I can learn a few things. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@ldsnurse9268 thank you!!

[@lindawoody8501]

I like FamilySearch but have had less ease of use because I have to hunt and hunt for some files I used to have easy index search results for. The site has changed and some things have been removed or are a lot harder to find. There used to be a box with countries and subjects for the various countries that was quick and easy to access. The main search box is clunkier now. My opinion. I have used FamilySearch for a long time now. I have worked on my genealogy since 1996 and online since about 1999.

[@AncestryAimee]

Things have changed occasionally - true.

[@Redberryfarm888]

Great upload, thank you! I am new to FamilySearch, being more familiar with MyHeritage and Ancestry. (I can go back to the 1500's to the Channel Islands on my maternal side.) But when searching city directories from 1900-1920 to try and locate just when my paternal grandmother appears in the city (no documented ship manifest with date, for example... just the her guestimated dates on every USA documents so far, one saying they arrived in 1917... not true.)... is there a way to search 'boarding houses' in a specific section of the city, or similar categories on a census, even? I know when they got married. September 1914. Documented two sources. But nothing documented on her prior to that anywhere. (Like she got off the train... walked down the street... met someone from 'the old country' and got married within a week or so. LOL... Indeed that could've happened...but my father said my grandmother worked at a cigar company in town before marriage, and at another place before that... so where IS she in the records?!) What 'search' function/ tool/ or card catalog is that under?

[@AncestryAimee]

You’re welcome. That’s a great question. I’m not sure if FamilySearch has many city directories. They would likely be found under the city. I have better success on Ancestry with directories or local repositories. The boarding house is a great question and to be honest I’m not sure. Census records are by address and “boarding houses” wouldn’t be listed separately. You might find them in directories in the business pages and then have an address of local boarding houses but I’m not sure. Maybe someone else out there can add their thoughts!

[@secretgamer743]

Thanks, the tips have been very helpful, but I'm stuck looking for more info on a family member. Is there another free alternative/website where I can search for more records that maybe aren't on FS?

[@AncestryAimee]

Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpPSoX2Kaa-UqqM. There are lots of sites - there are sites specific to certain locations... just keep educating yourself and searching. Try the wiki pages for a location and they can direct you to other great sites too! There's a video on the wiki pages: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PWm2ugoql1q6s

[@secretgamer743]

@@AncestryAimee Alright, thank you. I'll check it out.

[@pennyhite7493]

Love your Video's! Your'e my favorite! How can I easily save a record found on Family Search to my tree on Ancestory? I also use Family Tree Maker. Thanks so much!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you! That made my day! There's no easy way. Sorry. If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you have some shortcuts due to their agreements, but if not... Family Tree Maker doesn't sync with FamilySearch so that ability doesn't really help. A shortcut I use is to save the FS sources as weblinks on Ancestry. FS is pretty good about keeping the links stable - that's bee a big goal of theirs. You can then pull the source information from there if you need to document. Otherwise, you're adding a source by hand with is really time consuming. Sorry I don't have better news for you!

[@pennyhite7493]

Thanks Aimee! @@AncestryAimee I was hoping for an easier way. Since Full Text Searching on Family Search became available, I'm finding records but having trouble getting them to Ancestry. So, thanks, I will use weblinks. You really are one of my favorite KZbinrs!

[@deniseomeara4266]

Our family (living people of course) are just getting started on FS. I don’t understand some basic concepts. 1. Should parents NOT add their living children/grandchildren/sons-in law? Only oneself, correct? 2. My son-in-law added himself. Is there anyway he can add himself as a spouse to my daughter so he can see our family tree, or is that not allowed? (He can’t find her and she can’t find him. ) 3. If my daughter wants to add herself after I added her, can she find herself, or should I delete her? Then if she adds her own record, can she become my child if I’m still alive? Hope this makes sense.

[@AncestryAimee]

It does completely make sense. I am glad you brought that up because it’s confusing to a lot of people. Actually other people can’t share living people in what they see in FamilySearch. What I mean by that is living people aren’t part of the community tree. They are just part of your account, your tree. So if your daughter is working in her family search account, she will create a person for you for instance, that is not the same as the person that you have for yourself in your tree. However, when she taps into somebody that is deceased, that’s when the community tree kicks in. So when I helped my children start their accounts, I made sure that they were using the correct FamilySearch ID number for their deceased grandparents. As far as whether or not, you should add your living children and grandchildren, etc. I don’t think that’s a problem.

[@AncestryAimee]

The reason that your son-in-law can’t find his spouse is because she’s living. He just needs to create her again in his tree and add in her parents (you). Once he gets to those that have been deceased, then he will you connected to the tree. The reason that you may have heard this about not putting in living people is because when somebody passes, then there are multiple duplicates of them. For instance, when my father passed, he was in my tree and my kids trees. So at that point we had to merge the duplicates. But duplicates get put into the tree all the time, and even long deceased people. It’s just part of a community tree. Hope that helps.

[@Bad_Artist_]

I'm going to head over to Family Search Research Wiki out of curiosity. Do you think it's possible to find information there about laborers who worked in the coalmines of Pennsylvania, early 1900s? A grandfather of mine worked in a mine at a very young age, but I don't know which town. Thanks so much, Aimee, for this informative video !

[@AncestryAimee]

Yes! I would search that in the wiki and see what you find.

[@bcoronel01]

Thanks for the video. Question: I’m trying to read my grandparents handwritten marriage certificate. Some of the words I cannot figure out what they say, Is there a tool on Family search that can help read them? Any suggestions? Like OCR?

[@AncestryAimee]

When you index on FamilySearch there are helps on reading. It’s a great way to volunteer and help out the genealogy community and learn to read those documents at the same time. There’s helps at Brigham Young University as well.

[@AncestryAimee]

script.byu.edu/Pages/the-english-documents-pages/the-english-documents

[@lindabright4609]

good video Aimee. How do you close the ribbon at top of page in fs. It takes up so much space with all of the links you can go to. Wouldn't it be nice if it floated away and came back as needed. Maybe you know how to do this or not. thank you

[@AncestryAimee]

I’m not sure what ribbon you’re talking about on FamilySearch. I’m sorry!

[@lindabright4609]

At the top of the page,all of the info that is listed there. On a person page view, if you scroll down on the page, part of the top of the page follows down and usually hides information, so that you have to scroll back up to see if again. Does that help.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@lindabright4609 I did see what you are talking about. I think that may be new - I hadn't noticed it before. I guess it doesn't bug me. Sorry it's bugging you.

[@user-df3jz4ny5f]

Hi, Is it more 'America ' persific, or is FamilySearch excellent for UK records as well ? Thanks

[@AncestryAimee]

FamilySearch has records from many countries. I would definitely check there for UK records. Great question!!

[@BethElliott-rn6nd]

Great video! I have a question that's a little off topic, but I don't know where else to ask. Just in the past few days I have had trouble viewing images on FS. All I get is a blank page with with grayed-out boxes that say Source Box and Attach to Family Tree. Is anyone else having this problem? I had no problem viewing things at the beginning of the week. Thanks!

[@AncestryAimee]

Try restarting your computer or looking at FamilySearch in a different browser. Sometimes there’s issues with Safari so try a Google browser or visa versa or a different browser. Or give it until tomorrow. I’ve had issues with FS or Ancestry or whichever occasionally.

[@BethElliott-rn6nd]

@@AncestryAimee I deleted the FS cookie on Firefox and restarted the computer. All seems to be fine now! I'm thinking maybe the cookie was the problem, as the computer restarted yesterday to install updates and the FS problem had started onn Tuesday. Oh well, we may never know for sure, but it's working!!! Thanks, Aimee! 😍

[@AncestryAimee]

You’re welcome!

[@macpalmer6611]

I use Family Search for searching records,have yet to delve into the wiki. As for the family trees. I put in info on one part of my family. Someone came along and changed the info. I have the sources and facts about the family. I could not change and add correct info. Contacted Family Search for help and they sent an email that was about the size of a disortation instead of simple answer so I quit using it. Anestry only so far.

[@AncestryAimee]

You gotta get into the wiki! It’ll change your genealogy world!

[@barbaragrandon6387]

great video. I've tried to save search documents to Ancestry but have not been successful. Can you tell me how to do that?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question. A lot of times I’ll use the website save feature on Ancestry. It’s under the other sources in the middle. FamilySearch is trying to not change their addresses but you can’t always count on that. I link to the original document and then I also put a copy of the image in the gallery on Ancestry with detailed source information in the image information. That way if someone copies the photo it can be located again but I have the quick link to the webpage when I want it.

[@barbaragrandon6387]

@@AncestryAimee Thank you!

[@AncestryAimee]

@@barbaragrandon6387 you’re welcome. 😀

[@kellyhenderson1026]

Needing advice. I have a lot of documents like obituaries, copies of census records, etc. once I copy them and add them to memories in family search. Is it safe there and I can get rid of them? I’m trying to down size a bit.

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question. Census records (U.S) are everywhere. I wouldn’t bother scanning them, just be sure they are linked in the tree. The actual record will be a better image anyway and sometimes it’s nice to flip nearby pages. As far as the other stuff, I would put them in another additional place too. Maybe an Ancestry.com tree that’s public so you can share your wealth. I keep original documents that are more unique. Obituary that I can’t find elsewhere. Original viral records. And for sure photographs (the special ones). Anyway, that’s what I’d do. Maybe you’ll get some other responses with other thoughts!

[@kellyhenderson1026]

Thank you so much! Another question that I was just noticing was in tasks. It is a census record for my grandmother but her last name is spelled wrong on the census. Everything else looks ok. Do I say yes that it is the same person as in my tree even through the last name is spelled Motz, it should be Matz.

[@AncestryAimee]

Census records are notorious for that. The enumerator may have heard incorrectly, been sounding it out to the best of his/her ability or they were given the name that way by whomever they spoke to. Be sure to check the other details of the census like other family members, ages and location to verify it’s the right person.

[@kellyhenderson1026]

@@AncestryAimee everything looks accurate except the spelling. Is it ok to accept it with the wrong spelling? I am trying to clear it off of my task list. Lol. Or should I say wrong person?

[@AncestryAimee]

Yes

[@ralphwalton6736]

hi aimee.....i didnt know what i was doing when i started my family tree ...the people in it are not my family.....how do i edit it and start over ....in [family search]

[@AncestryAimee]

Check out this video which will tell you has to fix relationships. You need to remove yourself from family that isn’t correct. Good luck! Fixing Relationships on FamilySearch Family Tree (STEP by STEP) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4Wtp5WupJWfo8k

[@yzuoooror4042]

Hello ma'am Aimee, Im trying to use the family search to search for an ancestor. Im a Japanese descendants and we've been trying to find our great grandpas birth place from japan,his lastname is Mori, the thing is we dont know his japanese first name, we only know the name that was given to him by his adoptive parent in the Philippines, his story is that he went to the Philippines as a child together with the Japanese soldier to retrieve their weapons in Illocos Sur but he got left behind by the ship and got adopted and raised by a Filipino couple, he never had a chance to go back to japan, he died here in the Philippines. And that is all we know bout him, nothing else, is it possible to trace his origin with just these information

[@AncestryAimee]

Honestly I’m not sure. I haven’t researched much in Japan. DNA might help but it depends on how far back we are talking. I would do a YDNA test on a male descendant of him. And an autosomal DNA test on the eldest descendant of him while you can.

[@pennyl5600]

Aimee just started on Family Tree but have worked on family history for a long time. How can change info someone else done or can you?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question. You can. I just did a video on this topic. Check it out. Fix Family Search Mistakes Easily: Merging & Deleting Guide kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4rakJ-KlJ2Frc0

[@gwine9087]

One of my issues is spelling. I know that the spelling of my surname has changed over the centuries but I keep finding the same person with various spellings. So, which is the correct one? Also, there is way too much wrong information. I proved that by looking up people like my own grandparents and seeing how many wrong entries there are.

[@AncestryAimee]

True about errors! I usually use the spelling in a document I feel is most likely done by the individual. A marriage record could have been written by the county clerk but a draft card was likely filled out by the individual.

[@CottageCupcake]

I started on FS added my sister then she opened an account on FS now she has two ID numbers. Can we delete one? And how to do it? Thank you

[@AncestryAimee]

That’s a great question. You can’t merge people when they are living. But you also can’t use the same ID for someone living either. For instance, my dad was in my tree and each of my kids trees. When they built their trees I could give them the ID number of people who had passed but not those who where living. After he died we then had multiple IDs for him. After adding a death date we could then merge all the duplicates. It’s a pain but there isn’t a way around it. But there is a reason for it. It is necessary to protect the privacy of those alive.

[@CottageCupcake]

Thank you Aimee for the explanation.

[@joycebruhn1346]

Hello I had a relative work really hard on my moms family tree so tracing her lineage back to 1700 1600 but her father was born and had two siblings but adopted so dead end and my fathers mom and dad it goes back some but missing links so how to I research to get a full tree and no one’s cooperative at all … weird I can’t even get a picture from my relatives lol my kids father also a problem his biological dad a mystery granny had an affair and my auntie gave her only kid up for adoption I hope to find her my tree is a big mystery where to begin it’s scarey

[@AncestryAimee]

Yes. It can be a scary and overwhelming and when you have that stuff mixed in it’s tougher. Thanks goodness various DNA tests can help sometimes! Good luck!

[@HelenBeulah]

I've been hesitant to use Family Search as it's free, usually that means that you are the product not the customer... I've heard the reason they are so into family history is that they like to baptise their ancestors so they can all be in their heaven together. That's fine but would they want to convert my ancestors? Haha might sound like a weird concern but I'm not so sure my highly religious ancestors would be too impressed 😅. So I guess my question is do they just want to baptise their own ancestors or every person?

[@AncestryAimee]

Haha! Not a weird concern or question. My thoughts, not their official position... They believe everyone should be able to accept Christ, just because you were born in China doesn't mean you're damned for eternity because you never accepted the Savior. They do do baptisms for their own ancestors with the goal that all can eventually have the ordinance of baptism. But unlike what a lot of people think, it's not a forced thing or "adding to their numbers." It's someone's choice - kind of like if I offered you a gift, you could take it or not. It's your choice, not forced. I understand the product, not customer thing you mention. While that may be kind of true, their help desk is good and they want to help you, it's a way to serve others, many of the people involved are giving their time, not paid. They will treat you kindly. I don't think anything you would put there would be earth shattering because if you have a public tree on another site, like Ancestry, it's out there anyway. Hope that helps!

[@SuperpanFilms]

I admit what bothers me about the baptism of the dead is that the church has discouraged or forbidden posthumous baptisms of high profile people like Holocaust victims or the British Royal family because they know it’s disrespectful to their memory. If that’s the case, I hope that they’ve heightened the requirement so that requesting members really have to prove their relationship to the names they’re requesting. For instance, I wouldn’t mind if cousins of mine converted to the faith and then baptized our mutual ancestors. But as someone with no family members who are LDS or adjacent going back at least 5 generations, I’m growing uneasy that someone will scoop up my great-grandfather on FamilySearch and seal him to their family when they have no relation. Hopefully, there’s church safeguards against this.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@SuperpanFilms I'm honestly not sure. I know you cannot baptize someone born in the last 110 years without permission of their closest living relative. The intent is to do it for your family, not sure if you can select someone random.

[@SuperpanFilms]

@@AncestryAimee that’s good to know! I remembered reading about the time limit which is good though that means all but two of my great-grandparents would be eligible despite having no church connections. I’ll trust that the church is doing their due diligence on making sure unrelated people don’t claim them. FamilySearch is my favorite genealogical site and is what got me into the hobby, so I just hope that the accuracy is being stressed in such situations as I do love to use it and research on it.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@SuperpanFilms so glad you are getting good use of the site and it's helping you in your family history adventure!

[@kellyhenderson1026]

I have a great uncle that I added to family search. At the time he was living. He passed away in 2018. How do I add his death. I can’t seem to get to the right location. It tells me that it’s confidential

[@AncestryAimee]

Good question. In your tree, he's probably marked as "living." Click the pencil by death where it says "Living" and then marked him "Deceased" and then you should be able to add his death date and place. If you're still having issues, reach out to FamilySearch help.

[@kellyhenderson1026]

@@AncestryAimee thank you! You have been a great help

[@bowallin7200]

Are church records scanned online in America if so who provide the service?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question. Church records in the U.S. are all over the place. FamilySearch has some (check the county and town, sometimes state). It depends on the denomination. Sometimes a "higher" authority collected them (true often with Catholic records). It also depends on the church. Sometimes if a church closed, another church took their records. I ought to do a video on this one, there's no easy answer.

[@lucforand8527]

I still use the Personal Ancestry File program, version 5. It works great and does all I need to do. Presently my PAF file contains more than 100,000 names!

[@AncestryAimee]

I didn’t even know that was still working. Thanks for sharing that.

[@lucforand8527]

@@AncestryAimee I'm not sure where you can find the software as FamilySearch no longer distributes it. Regardless, I've been using Version 5 on various Window platforms for at least 20 years.

[@chrisdominguez24]

What if you dont know where they were born, when they were born, and their name. How would I find them

[@AncestryAimee]

You need something. If you’re looking for parents you can search a surname in the first know place of the known child.

[@ffmedic1638]

My biggest frustration when using the search feature, and specifically stating filters, the search results still come back with thousands of "hits".

[@ffmedic1638]

But, I have to say FS is not alone here! I have an account on MyHeritage and things work pretty much the same way.

[@AncestryAimee]

Yes!! Use the filters on the left side to narrow things down to a particular record group or specify a place. That's a terrific point!

[@user-cm2fz7xr1i]

Seven springs white mountain 1900 ,I have a deed from my parents grams that owners 😀

[@dennisdalton817]

I don’t do ancestry DNA test I know my biological mother, but I do not know my biological father I’m trying to find him is there anyway you can help me she will not tell me, but the person who signed my birth certificate is not my real father

[@AncestryAimee]

I would recommend doing the dna test at ancestry. They will be on sale this week for Rootstech. Then you can try to figure it out.

[@stevelaursen1691]

if someone pops up in a tree. how do I find out the connection to me. it stops with that person. thanks

[@AncestryAimee]

I’m not sure what you mean by pops up

[@stevelaursen1691]

@@AncestryAimee I have had people appear on the tree they go back further but stop going to me. if i drill down a bit. i can figure it out but seems there should be a better way to follow the route to me.

[@AncestryAimee]

@stevelaursen1691 on FS you can click see your relationship. Maybe that would help?

[@williamfindspeople4341]

This is s great video, but this is the computer version. The app version is much easier to use. But the app is a much smaller font. I use the app when I'm not armchair researching.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for sharing that. You’re right. I use the computer most when I teach. Thanks for adding in the differences though!

[@nadiazahroon6573]

If family search is accurate than I am related to Lincoln and Fredrick Washington 😊😊😊

[@AncestryAimee]

😂

[@xenoman4788]

how to add dads brother

[@AncestryAimee]

You can add him under that parents.

[@veronicapiena3863]

How should my grandchildren start their own family search site so there will be no duplicates?

[@AncestryAimee]

That’s a great question! Unfortunately, there will be duplicates on all the living people. Be sure that they have the family search ID numbers of that first deceased relative on each line. Good news is I was in a test group where families could share information and not have that happen, but it’s still in the works.

[@markatkinson167]

How do you find the address of a living relative you've found?

[@AncestryAimee]

I often use white pages.

[@johnblackbird7523]

Is this an app

[@AncestryAimee]

What is an app?

[@markstambaugh3273]

I find the FamilySearch tool somewhat kludgy. Why would you show an option to add children when in fact it doesn't work. Adding photos and adding the living is frustrating to say the least.

[@AncestryAimee]

I’ve never had issues adding children. Not sure what problems you’re facing.

[@markstambaugh3273]

I had failed to add my sex. The PC version was not telling me the error but the phone app did. @@AncestryAimee

[@hollyprincipato3287]

I don't know. I will try this. I do not want to join the religion, I just want to find my ancestors

[@AncestryAimee]

Hahaha! 😂 Good luck finding them!

[@ralphcampbell2524]

Yeah, I just had the same problem. My tree has disappeared an😅 even my dad’s name is wrong

[@AncestryAimee]

That stinks. Someone merged. Hope you found it and fixed your dad’s name!!

[@TheBlaqPerspective]

Africa is a Continent not country.

[@AncestryAimee]

Yeah... if you look through my videos you'll find additional times I misspoke. The camera comes on and well... FYI FamilySearch is gathering oral histories in South Africa as well as other locations throughout the continent of Africa. Thanks for the correction.

[@TheBlaqPerspective]

I wasn't trying to be a smsrt-butt, lol I am a blackman, not an African American, who's a member of ADOS. Unfortunately, many people refer to Africa as if it's a country, and that's the reason I mentioned it. This i a very good resource. I did share your site with others

[@AncestryAimee]

No worries! You were right. I don’t mind. Please don’t give it a second thought. Thank you for sharing!

[@AncestryAimee]

Putting yourself out there and making these videos is hard, I’ll be honest. When I’m editing and I see the okays or ums (some edited out, some not), let alone the mistakes like that…. But I’m determined to continue despite myself because I know it’s helping people find their family and that’s the most important thing to me. I’m real. I’m imperfect. It’s ok. I don’t want to be something that I’m not. And I really do appreciate the support of so many people like you! Please don’t hesitate to point out something that is misleading. 😀

[@AncestryAimee]

BTW for those that don’t know: ADOS is American Descendants of Slavery right James?

[@rotagbhd]

The Family Tree tree is terrible and full of mistakes. Most people adding info to it are adding bogus information. I get sick of trying to correct it. Far too many idiots to compete with. Use at your own risk.

[@AncestryAimee]

There’s good info there and incorrect info too. You do have t be careful.

[@5homegirl]

Thanks!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank YOU so much for the super thanks.