Welcome (or welcome back) to Mountain Roots.
Today I am going to write about my favorite vital records site. Anyone care to guess what it is?
It is a vital (excuse the pun) resource for anyone looking up family history information in West Virginia. And the best thing about it is it's free!
I am talking about the West Virginia Vital Records Search Page maintained by West Virginia Archives and History. I am almost always using it. I am amazed at what I can find there and am equally amazed that the fine folks in our State government provide it to everyone.
The site is basically a database of births, marriages, and deaths in West Virginia. Each record in the database is linked to an image. For births, the image is usually a whole page from the county's birth record book. Death record's images are usually from the county's death record book. Frequently there is an image of the actual death certificate as well. In a lot of cases, the older marriage records in some counties are the "old timey" full or half page marriage record.
If you have as many West Virginia ancestors as I do it is virtually one-stop shopping. (Did I mention the site is free?)
Once you have found the record you are looking for, you can save the image to your computer. Don't forget to document the search terms you used and the URL of the image, so you can look them up later. I have a folder on my computer that is full of ancestor's records I have not added to my tree or documented fully yet.
There are a couple of issues with this site. I don't consider them major issues, but I think you should know what they are anyway.
Almost all of the images are formatted in such a way that when you try to print them out, the image is squished and distorted. I have not found this a big issue because I am more interested with the information contained in the images and transcribing the information. The images on your screen will be large and detailed.
The other issue is that the database is not always accurate. But you will find this issue in just about any genealogical database. The issue comes down to trying to decipher the old and sometimes faded handwritten records into names, dates, and places. But if you are really into genealogy, this is the kind of thing you love. Trying to puzzle out who, where, and when is a lot of fun.
Remember, this site does not list all births, marriages, and deaths in West Virginia. For privacy reasons, they have limited the years in their database. The cut-off years are different for births, marriages, and deaths. There is also some difference in what years each county covers. See the site for a listing of what records are available for what counties in what years.
For the records it does contain, it sure beats a trip to multiple county courthouses. If you need help with this site or some tips, please let me know, I would be happy to help.
Let me know what you think of the site!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
First Things First
OK, so you want to start finding out where and how people fit on your family tree. You don't need to find a book at the library, you don't need to log on to the internet, and you don't have to pay money to one of those "Book about your Surname" books you see advertised. Amazingly enough all you need is paper and a pencil or pen.
Your family tree search begins where it should begin, with you and your family. Yes, you are your first resource. Just sit down and write out the facts you know. When and where you were born. What are the names of your parents? Do you have siblings? Write them down, too. Did your family move while your were growing up? List the places you lived and the approximate time you lived there. Remember, if you don't have all the answers now, that is OK. Just mark them for researching later.
Now, list, if you know, where and when your siblings were born. List when and where your parents were born. Then start on your grandparents. You probably know more than your think. Continue listing parent's siblings and grandparent's siblings if you know them. Do you know any of your great-grandparent? Write them down, too.
Have you amazed yourself at how much you remember? Look over what you have written down. Do you see anything you don't know? Are there any gaps? Make a list of the things you don't know. Things like: What was my father's mother's maiden name? What is the name of my mother's oldest brother?
Congratulations, you now have the beginnings of your family tree. And you even have your first list of things to research. Over weeks and months to come, I will be sharing what to do with what you have written and where you can go to find the answers you are looking for.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment for me or send me an email.
Your family tree search begins where it should begin, with you and your family. Yes, you are your first resource. Just sit down and write out the facts you know. When and where you were born. What are the names of your parents? Do you have siblings? Write them down, too. Did your family move while your were growing up? List the places you lived and the approximate time you lived there. Remember, if you don't have all the answers now, that is OK. Just mark them for researching later.
Now, list, if you know, where and when your siblings were born. List when and where your parents were born. Then start on your grandparents. You probably know more than your think. Continue listing parent's siblings and grandparent's siblings if you know them. Do you know any of your great-grandparent? Write them down, too.
Have you amazed yourself at how much you remember? Look over what you have written down. Do you see anything you don't know? Are there any gaps? Make a list of the things you don't know. Things like: What was my father's mother's maiden name? What is the name of my mother's oldest brother?
Congratulations, you now have the beginnings of your family tree. And you even have your first list of things to research. Over weeks and months to come, I will be sharing what to do with what you have written and where you can go to find the answers you are looking for.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment for me or send me an email.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Surname Listing is Up
I put my list of Surnames up. There is a link near the top of the left hand column. So far I have sixty-eight different surnames listed. I will be updating as I find more to add. If one of them is yours, I wouldn't mind hearing from you.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Welcome to Mountain Roots
Hi, my name is Leigh Ervine. I have been interested in genealogy for most of my life. I think I first got the "bug" when I was about 10 years old and have been pursuing it on and (mostly) off ever since.
Through the years I have made some progress in extending my family tree back a few generations. Along the way I picked up a few tricks and tips I will be passing on to you.
I expect to update this blog at least once a week, but probably more frequently.
If you are just beginning your search or if you have spent the past 50 years stuck at a "brick wall", maybe something you see here will give you a spark.
This blog will not get very far without readers and collaborators. I have some ideas on where I think this blog should go. But I welcome and encourage your ideas too. You are very much urged to ask questions, make suggestions, tell a story, and collaborate. We are all working towards the same goal.
If you are coming here to find quick answers to your genealogical questions, you have probably come to the wrong place. Genealogy takes some time, even when aided by software and the Internet. You will not find my family tree here online. I like my privacy. I will share my family tree with those who are researching the same family or if we have a possible common ancestor.
You will find a list of Surname and Locations I either have already researched or am currently researching listed on the Surnames Page found in the left hand column. (Currently working on it. It will be up shortly. It is up now.)
You will find helpful links to genealogical sites in the right hand column. They will be put up as I talk about them here on the blog. If you have a favorite let me know.
You will find genealogical blogs and a short list of my other blogs listed in the left hand column. These blogs will be listed as I talk about them. These blogs will either be about genealogy in general or genealogy in West Virginia.
If you don't see your favorite genealogy site or genealogy blog listed, send me a comment or email.
EXPLORE, QUESTION, SUGGEST! I look forward to hearing from you.
Through the years I have made some progress in extending my family tree back a few generations. Along the way I picked up a few tricks and tips I will be passing on to you.
I expect to update this blog at least once a week, but probably more frequently.
If you are just beginning your search or if you have spent the past 50 years stuck at a "brick wall", maybe something you see here will give you a spark.
This blog will not get very far without readers and collaborators. I have some ideas on where I think this blog should go. But I welcome and encourage your ideas too. You are very much urged to ask questions, make suggestions, tell a story, and collaborate. We are all working towards the same goal.
If you are coming here to find quick answers to your genealogical questions, you have probably come to the wrong place. Genealogy takes some time, even when aided by software and the Internet. You will not find my family tree here online. I like my privacy. I will share my family tree with those who are researching the same family or if we have a possible common ancestor.
You will find a list of Surname and Locations I either have already researched or am currently researching listed on the Surnames Page found in the left hand column. (
You will find helpful links to genealogical sites in the right hand column. They will be put up as I talk about them here on the blog. If you have a favorite let me know.
You will find genealogical blogs and a short list of my other blogs listed in the left hand column. These blogs will be listed as I talk about them. These blogs will either be about genealogy in general or genealogy in West Virginia.
If you don't see your favorite genealogy site or genealogy blog listed, send me a comment or email.
EXPLORE, QUESTION, SUGGEST! I look forward to hearing from you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)