Being a technologist, I have a passion to look at all things techies! My experience includes guiding major corporations in evaluation of technologies to make decisions, helping them grow their business. People always ask me about software, or hardware for their use. My wife is interested in Genealogy. Tracing both our family’s history.
Watching and talking with her and others. Seems there is a lot regarding researching and documenting family history. People explain they use this app, or that system. They talk about the pros and cons of the applications used.
In this article I decided to use my technical skills to look at some of the major players in the field. What they provide. Their limitations, and costs. What happens to the data if you decide to stop.
The growth of the Internet for Genealogy
When I was growing up, I learned about my family history orally, through word-of-mouth. I knew my 1st cousins, who passed down orally my family history through the generations. I learned about my father’s parents and somewhat about my great-grandparents. As we talked, going back farther than great-great grandparents, things started to get sketchy.
Additional problem was, we lived in California and my closest relatives lived in Texas. Makes it hard to discuss family. Especially in the days where you were charged by the minute for phone calls (remember those days?).
Traveling back in the 60’s and early 70’s was not as frequent as we travel today. My dad was a blue-collar worker, so funds were tight. This meant we travelled to Texas only every few years. Visits were for a couple of weeks. Not much time to dig into my family’s past.
How technology helps Genealogy
I watch, learn and joined the internet revolution in the early 1990’s. At that time Genealogy was still in its infancy for the average person. My Aunt hired a professional genealogist, who took the time and effort to trace our family lineage. He captured everything into a single database. This database was word text with no ability to post pictures or supporting documents. Yes, it was expensive too.
Since then, Genealogy has grown to a multi-billion-dollar business. There are still active genealogist’s and self-managing genealogist sites. One site everyone hears about is Ancestry.com. Marketed as the “Worlds’ largest Ancestry site.
Blackstone bought Ancestry in 2020 for 4.7 billion dollars. This shows ancestry business is a multi-billion-dollar business. This means they want to entice you and keep you as a customer. By keeping you as a customer with a recurring monthly charge is “Big business”.
What does that mean to the individual?
You have several choices. Go with one of the premiere sites or look at using software on your personal computer.
We have multiple choices in our search for what tools to use in researching and capturing the vital statistics about our past. We all hear of ancestry.com, the world’s largest site. But what about other sites?
MyHeritage.com, FamilySearch.com, Findingmypast.com sites. Each offers comparable records, family trees and DNA testing. Each has different levels they charge their customers.
Note: I am not against using a paid service but want people to understand there are costs.
Ancestry.com being the biggest has advantages. Over 30 billion records. Roughly 13 billion tree profiles and other user-submitted content. This site has country-level subscriptions for the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Sweden and UK. Has the biggest collection of US censuses data.
Membership for Ancestry.com starts at $24.99 and go higher depending on features.
Findmypast.com advertises over 3.6 billion names. Their core area of information relates to England, Scotland, Ireland and Whales. If researching these areas, it seems Findmypast.com is a go to site.
Membership starts at $10.75 per month.
Myheritage.com has a search catalog nearing 17 billion records, with about 10 billion tree profiles and other user-submitted content. Myheritage.com encompasses the British Isles, and European records.
Membership for Myheritage.com costs $129 annually for premium and $209 for premium plus.
The biggest sites boost a global presence. One question to ask – with billions of records. Knowing in the 1800’s most people could not read or write. The spelling of names changed depending on how speech was interpreted. How accurate is the information I am seeing?
My name is a perfect example. Through the years my name changed from the original Scottish spelling and pronunciation to what it is today.
What are the Pros and Cons of using a Genealogy site?
Pros:
- All sites have a free membership, with limited search capabilities
- Variety of resource, from thousands of millions of records, DNA testing
- Multi-level Membership and “Price Points”
- Create multi-trees
- Unlimited space, with uploading documents
- Storing related information
- Hints of possible information for your family tree
Cons:
- All necessary resources to conduct extensive research
- Over time pricey, usually with monthly or yearly renewal fees
- Possibility of documents disappearance occurring with changes in technology used
- Confirmation data is accurate. Ensuring data found is accurate for your individual family.
- This last one is important. Since most of these databases are a compilation of data from sources which have not been verified.
- Most sites use search engines, like how Google provides searches.
Free Genealogy websites
There are also free Genealogy sites, if you are willing to take the time, effort and desire to do your own detailed research.
The National Genealogical Society lists multiple sites you can visit and research. Here are a couple, to name a few.
https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/free-resources/websites/
https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy.html
If you are thinking of searching and housing the data not using one of the paid services. What type of equipment will you need?
Computer equipment
Of course – a computer with internet search capabilities
I would recommend an external storage device. As your database grows, so will the need to store the data. Using your computer’s internal device is fine to start. As time goes on, using an external device will allow you to move your data from one computer to another easily as you change machines.
Software programs
Most people are not computer savvy enough to create your own Genealogy software. Searching Amazon.com, I found several software packages available. Each of these packages has benefits. Do your research, but I think you can find the right software package to meet your needs.
RootsMagic 7 Family Tree Genealogy Software
Individual Family Heritage Platinum 9
Family Tree Heritage Gold 16
Genealogy SCAMS
Like anything on the Internet, if people are looking for something. Someone else is looking to take your money or identity. You need to be extra careful when providing information, which someone can use to falsely access your accounts.
What type of SCAMS are out there?
Phony inheritance Scams
This scam tricks the would-be heirs by appealing to their interest in family history. A letter or email is used advising you have unclaimed inheritance connected with your family name. They lure you with the dream of receiving an inheritance. Buyer-beware, these scams work off your emotions.
They use fees or requests for you to provide personal information in order to steal your money or personal ID. The Baker Hoax is one such genealogy inheritance scam.
Family History Scams
We have all received letters and emails from “creditable” genealogists claiming to have done extensive research on our family name. They claim to have produced a family book based on extensive research and are willing to sell the book to you for a reasonable price.
There is the catch. With so many names out there, and branches of a tree. How could they possibly have focused on your branch of the family? The amount of time it would take, could cost $1,000’ and are willing to release the book to you for $29.99.
At best, this is just a common name search and nothing more. There is most likely no linkage in this book from you to some great acclaimed ancestor.
Genealogists with Falsified Credentials
With all the software out there. It is easy for anyone to set up shop and say they are a genealogist expert. All they are using is the same software, or hosted service you can buy into. If you are interested in obtaining the services of a true certified genealogist. May I suggest you contact https://www.ngsgenealogy.org and let them direct you to a certified professional.
Misleading software and Services
I talked about several software packages earlier, so I will only go on to say. Do your homework. Read the reviews. Check with your local genealogy club and get some advice. This could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Coat of Arms Confusion
This one always fascinates me. Being of Scottish descent and visiting the heritage festivals. There is always someone who has set up shop, wanting to research and sell you a copy of a Coat of Arms, as a wall plate, mug, tee shirt. It is fun to have something like that, but remember the purpose is to get your money. Unless you have done your own research. Take it for what it is worth, a novelty item.
Conclusion
Genealogy is fascinating as you investigate the past to understand where you came from. Whichever way you choose to go. Do your research, understand what the tradeoffs are. Can One site link to another site? Is the cost to host your own family site worth it, or better letting someone else handle the techie stuff.
I hope this article was informative and helps you as you venture down the Genealogy path.
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