First Post: Ancestry Tree Update

Here is how my tree on ancestry reflects my research today. I am currently a free member on ancestry.com my moniker is Onion_gal.

I started my tree mid-2010. I briefly had paid access, but for the majority of my research I do by hand, searching databases, newspaper archives etc.

I am really proud of my progress for some of the lines I have traced back from their genesis to present day generations.

There is something satisfying about finding all the connections in one line, it makes the story all the more interesting.

Some of my cousins are researching too, but more true to direct lines. My feeling is that you need to research as much as possible, this helps down the road when you come across a record that wouldn't fit unless you know more detailed info. Especially with Italian connections, relatives are more apt to have pictures or stories of your relative in relation to their direct relatives.

Even though there is restricted access for me as a free member, ancestry.com's newest changes make being a free member so much more interesting.

If you are a free member, certain records are free - like naturalization records, 1880 censuses, pictures or stories. In the past you had to go scrolling through multiple pages and click on each individual link in a tree, for those who had hints - not knowing if they had hints you could even attach that are free.

NO MORE! They now publish Hint Lists in your tree's recent activity page (Hint: find and bookmark this page for your tree and use it as your "command central") , mine is located here: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/17570021/recent, this is great! Now you can just click the "Picture List" hint link and add them to your tree at will. It makes researching that much easier!

So hopefully I can keep the momentum going on this blog as well as my research.