GETTING STARTED:
Start asking questions of your elders NOW!  People go by nick names some of the time; do you know what their real names are?

•     Where were they born?
•     Was this their one and only marriage or possibly a second or third?
•     Where were they married?
•     How many children were born?
•     What were their names?
•     Who did they marry?
•     Did they serve in the military?

The more information you get now, the better your chances are for finding the rest. When you ask these questions, be prepared. Have a voice recorder available and a pedigree chart ready.

DOCUMENTATION
The keys to proving your blood line are documents, documents, and more documents. Start collecting. Keep all originals in a very safe place.

WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTS ARE ACCEPTED?
Birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, wills, and any legal document that can prove that a generational connection, death certificates, divorce records, deeds, tax records, census records, Bible records, and military discharge papers are excellent. The list goes on.

A STICKY POINT IN TIME
During the Civil War, many government buildings were burned, hence the loss of documents. Don’t give up. Think out of the box. Look for city directories, physicians’ diaries, tax books, and general store records. There could be other documents that were created before or after the war that survived time. It just takes a lot of digging.

WHERE CAN I LOOK FOR DOCUMENTS?
Some states have websites that show births, deaths, and marriages. Most are transcribed documentation. If that is the case, they should state which county holds the information and you can mail off for a copy. Copies vary in prices. You will have to check with each Clerk’s office. If you get lucky, there are a few states that have scanned information of this type, and have it available on the website. Find your nearest library that has a Genealogy Department. There should be a variety of microfilm, microfiche, and computers.  The library may also have subscriptions to online collections that normally have a subscription cost or fee for use.

I HAVE SOME INFORMATION, NOW WHAT?
Organize your information; decide how far back you wish to go. If you are interested in finding out if you have a Revolutionary War patriot, please contact us, we will be glad to assist in the research.

EXCELLENT RESOURCES
Free Online Genealogy Tutorial
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Florida Society Daughters of the American Revolution
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
National Society Children of the American Revolution
Rootsweb’s WorldConnect
Ordering Vital Records
DeathIndexes
Free Vital & Probate Records
Family Search