Find your ancestors from Yorkshire

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Find Your Yorkshire Ancestors

I’m often asked to help visitors find out about their ancestors, who may have emigrated from Yorkshire in times gone by. For example:-

"I know that my great grandfather left Todmorden for the 'States sometime before the Great War. Do you know if there is any record of his family before then?"

"One of my ancestors was convicted and transported to Australia sometime in the late 1840s. Her maiden name was Jenkins and I think her family were from Heckmondwyke, near Bradford. Have you any information of what became of them?"

As much as I love to help visitors who have taken the trouble to read my articles on the Yorkshire Visitors Guide, I usually have very little luck in digging out their past. This, more often than not, is just down to lack of time on my part.

However, there are a number of web sites devoted to helping people find their roots. Whenever I get a plea from someone to “help me find my past”, I know I can best help by directing them to my favourite genealogy web site - Find My Past. They have a very useful range of free software that can help build your family tree. Help and advice is freely available. If followed, the results build into a very informative and accurate store of information. Useful and nice to have for now, and it can be passed down to future generations. Vast databases full of data taken from national census returns, registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths and even Parish Registers are held and are continually being added to.

Sometimes searches may uncover some nasty surprises. But most will also introduce family members long since forgotten or not even known about.

If you’ve ever considered building your own family tree but thought it would be too difficult you should visit Find My Past. You’ll discover that it’s really very easy to get started. Of course, Find My Past will not only help you learn about your family roots in Yorkshire, their databases cover the whole of the United Kingdom.

To find out more of what Find My Past have to offer and to take advantage of their 14 day free trial, be sure to click one of the links and get started.

Who knows what you may discover?

Its Start Your Family Tree Week - 26 Dec 2011 – 1 Jan 2012

Boxing Day is one of the most popular times of the year for people to research their family history. With the family gathered around for the festivities, it’s the perfect time to quiz the older generations on what they remember about the family, and get the youngsters inspired too. With nothing but repeats on telly all week, you’ve got time on your hands to get down to some serious record searching. Now is the time to find your ancestors.

With this in mind, findmypast.co.uk and Genes Reunited will be taking part in this year’s Start Your Family Tree Week. From Boxing Day 2011 right through to New Year’s Day there’ll be special offers available every day, including free getting started guides, printable charts, discounts and competitions.