Sunday, January 8, 2012

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 2

Paid Genealogy Tools: Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?


I will have to say that although it is a love-hate relationship, Ancestry is the most valuable paid site in my opinion.  Yes, more and more records can be found without paying but so many can be accessed via Ancestry.  The features I use the most are the censuses and the books, with newspapers not far behind.  Some of these cannot be found elsewhere.  And, although there is much wrong with so many of the family trees - I have found extremely useful information that enabled me to go forward with my own research.  I believe the variety of options for research may be the most valuable asset.  I think it would be difficult for anyone to NOT find something helpful somewhere on Ancestry.com it's a bit like shopping at WalMart.   On the other hand ....I really, really prefer Old Search and sometimes wish I could make the Shaking Leaf understand that it's found the wrong person!