Finding Free Ancestry Records on FamilySearch

How to Find Free Ancestry Records on FamilySearch

This guide will show you how to find free ancestry records on FamilySearch.

Steps to Find Records:

1. Navigate to FamilySearch: Go to the FamilySearch website.
2. Sign In: In the top right corner, click "Sign In" and enter your username and password. If you don't have an account, click "Create Free Account" and follow the instructions.
3. Access the Search Menu: Once you are logged in, click "Search" in the navigation menu.
4. Select Records: From the "Search" dropdown menu, click "Records." This will take you to the main record search page.
5. Enter Search Criteria: Enter the information you know about your ancestor in the provided fields (e.g., name, birth date, location). The more information you provide, the more targeted your search will be.
6. Initiate Search: Click the "Search" button to start your search.
7. Review Search Results: Examine the list of records that match your search criteria. Click on a record to view its details.
8. Filter Search Results: After your initial search, you can refine your results using the filters on the left side of the page. You can filter by record type, location, date, and more.
9. Explore Record Details: Once you find a record of interest, click on it to view more detailed information. This may include transcriptions of the original document, images, and links to related records.
10. Search Within a Specific Collection: On the main "Records" page, scroll down to "Browse by Collection." Here, you can explore specific record collections (e.g., census records, birth records) and search within those collections.

Tips for Effective Searching:

• Use Wildcards: If you are unsure of the exact spelling of a name, use wildcards (e.g., "John*" for John, Jon, etc.). I don't have verified information about using specific wildcard symbols on FamilySearch.
• Check Alternate Spellings: Try searching for variations of names and locations, as spellings may have changed over time.
• Broaden Your Search: If you don't find what you're looking for initially, try broadening your search criteria by removing some of the filters.