geneology web site

[laila2]

Sorry off subject, but I did not know where to post. Does anyone know of a good free geneoloy web site, where you can do searches for relatives, that has good search engines?

[velochic]

Check with your local library. Even the smallest libraries usually have at least Ancestry.com on subscription. For many, you have to be in the library to use the subscriptions, but IIRC, some will let you log in from home with your library card and once you're behind their firewall, you can access them or the library may provide a password for you. In the library where I work, you have to be in the library to use the service. Good luck!

[staceychev]

Funny. I'll go through genealogy research stints, and it's been a couple of years. It looks like RootsWeb is still free, but now it seems like it's owned by ancestry.com, which may or may not cause some access or restriction problems. But, you can give it a shot:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

The Mormon church keeps records too, so you can search there. Here's the site for that:
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp

You can try USGenWeb: http://usgenweb.org/

Also, many states have stuff online. There are a lot of good guides, too, like Cyndi's List. http://www.cyndislist.com/

I've also been known to use ancestry.com's free trial and being very aware of the cancellation date!

[womenswisdom]

There is the national GenWeb project, for which each state has its own website. Just google *whateverstate* GenWeb and you'll find tons of stuff. Also, the familysearch website is a very good resource, I've found (and I'm not Mormon nor do I have ancestors who are Mormon). There is so much amazing information on that site!

[Turquesa]

Bar-none the best genealogy website is Ancestry.com, and there's a way to access it for free without any "free trials."

Different stakes (regional divisions of the Latter Day Saints, or LDS, church) have family history centers. You can find one near you here.

I used to go all the time until DH started getting me an Ancestry subscription and renewing it every year on my birthday.

I'm not LDS, but they let anybody use their libraries. The volunteers are really helpful. They usually have microfilm readers and a book library, as well. You just have to sign in when you go, but nobody from there has ever contacted me for any reason.

Enjoy your research. And be forewarned that it can be dangerously addictive!

ETA: I second the idea of your local library, although ours doesn't have Ancestry. The other idea is to check out your state historical society if you live near one. Ours has another good program called Heritage Quest.