Praise for the 1st Edition

"Easy to read yet filled with facts and information, this is a solid reference guide with everything for the beginner and perhaps something for the more experienced too." Family History Monthly

"There is a lot of good advice in this book for those starting out." Ancestors

Navigate your way through your family's past

Interested in family history? Keen to discover who your ancestors really were? Want to find out more from the comfort of your own home? If so, this book is for you. Walking you through the process of researching, organising and presenting your family tree online, this expert guide makes it simple. So what are you waiting for? Get plugged in and start tracking down your ancestors today!

Lay the groundwork take the first steps on your genealogical journey and start searching for evidenceFind out about your ancestors discover who your predecessors were and where they came fromGet to grips with research tools find the best online and offline archives and dig deeper into your family's pastPresent your results effectively compile your findings into a family tree and create a place to host your material online

Open the book and find:

What clues you can get from photos, letters, diaries and your relativesThe best genealogy websites in the UK and around the worldHow to get the most out of archives and documentsTechniques for creating family history charts on your computerThe advantages of coordinating your hunt with other researchersWays to share research onlineTips and tricks for building a family history web page

Learn to:

Get the most out of genealogy websites and resourcesStore and organise information on yourcomputerCreate your family tree and host it online

Dr Nick Barratt is the CEO of Sticks Research Agency (SRA), a research company specialising in family history. Nick was also the genealogical consultant for four series of the BBC'sWho Do You Think You Are?

Sarah-Jane Newbery is a historian at SRA.

Jenny Thomas,Matthew L. Helm andApril Leigh Helm are genealogists.

Introduction 1

Part I: Starting at the Roots 9

Chapter 1: Laying the Groundwork and Planning Ahead 11

Chapter 2: Fine-Tuning Your Organisational and Preservation Skills 31

Part II: Focusing on Your Ancestors 43

Chapter 3: Tracking Down an Ancestor: Whats in a Name? 45

Chapter 4: Locating Your Ancestors (Geographically Speaking) 69

Part III: Rooting Around in the Past 85

Chapter 5: Basic Genealogical Resources in the UK 87

Chapter 6: Digging Deeper into Your Familys Past 125

Chapter 7: Looking Offline: Further Research Sources in the UK 143

Part IV: Share and Share Alike 165

Chapter 8: Storing and Organising Information on Your Computer 167

Chapter 9: Coordinating Your Attack: Getting Help from Other Researchers 183

Chapter 10: Sharing Your Wealth Online 195

Chapter 11: Creating a Place to Call Home 207

Part V: The Part of Tens 221

Chapter 12: Ten (Or So) Handy Databases 223

Chapter 13: Ten Things to Remember When Designing Your Genealogical Website 227

Chapter 14: Ten (Or So) Sites That Offer Help 235

Appendix: A Glossary of Terms 239

Index 253