Genealogy Databases on Georgia Pioneers can Help to Save You Money, and Time Searching for the Ancestors
Genealogy Tips
A “damnified” sinking passenger vessel. All passenger lists were not saved. Recent discoveries of sunken vessels reveal a tumultuous sea world of vessels like this one.
Searching into the past for relatives is a real adventure. It is so much fun, that for most people, the thrill of finding ancestors is an exciting past time. Through this effort, we learn how historical events played a critical role in the lives of our brave, hardworking, and relentless kinfolks, and set the clock for future industry and accomplishment.
Few things are free. Being successful at any chore usually involves concentration and hard work. Back in the 1960’s genealogical researchers claimed that the cost to personally research one’s family tree was at least $10,000! That was a hefty sum back then. The cost involved traveling to State Archives, libraries, cemeteries, and other field trips. It was difficult to order photocopies of records due to either lack of policy, or staff. The cost of most documents was about twenty-five cents per page. Bulk copies required scanning at an archives or library, and frequently ran into large sums.
Another issue from those days was some of the German records had not been translated, and little or no access to records from Ireland and Scotland because of the wars. Indexes in biographies and census records were practically non-existent.
DAR and SAR collective records were plentiful, yet they contained many misleading errors. Later on, the rules changed and patrons were required to produce more proofs. Nevertheless, these societies provided data from old bible records and other data. And, importantly, all census records have been indexed to make it easier to find relatives.
Since tracing families can be tedious and confusing, and while the Internet provides some data, the successful family historian must search for more avenues of possibilities. Individuals continue to take their family history from State Archives and Regional Libraries to be microfilmed. Ask librarians for their microfilm collections. I have donated most of my published books and microfilm collections to Cobb Regional Library (Georgian Room) in Marietta, Georgia. The Georgian Room is a growing collection of genealogy, and I want the data preserved. Don’t you?
Meanwhile, Georgia Pioneers.com possesses “all” of my collections online for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and some miscellaneous Northern States, as well as some miscellaneous Irish and Scottish records. Members also enjoy the genealogy book collection for almost all fifty States! These old books contain some surprising information, such as cemetery records, marriages, biographies, etc.
I cannot tell you how much I spent each year tracing ancestors, however, it took some sixty years! Like you, I save everything that might help to discover a lost relative. Hopefully, my vast genealogy collections will save you some trips, as well as money.
The earliest emigrants from Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, England, and Ireland did not remain in one particular colony. They were constantly on the move, crossing the mountains and plains, in search of a home. That is why we must consider searching the pioneer trails through Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The data from these States are available via a membership with Georgia Pioneers. The genealogist cannot assume that his ancestor remained in place. He did not.