How do I reserch
Hi, I'm new to this, and I am wondering how to actually do Genealogical research. I have recently been researching this ancestor (Green A Wilson ID: PH4R-R1G), and have not really found much. What is a good way to research so I can find more results?
Best Answers
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Tons of great videos from a variety of platforms.
Here's a good one to start from the New York Public Library - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMrJHWNhleg&list=PLL6gs3aZKBaqcvxaXboNlvrvma-PSpJdF&index=2&t=2703s
Ancestry, Family Search, and other platforms have additional videos. I would simply search Youtube and watch videos from reputable sources with many views. Additionally, there's tons of great articles on the mentioned platforms as well.1 -
@Benjamin48508 If you are based in the USA, there are Family Search Centers nationwide that often hold classes, both in-person and Zoom that will give you hands-on experience
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@Benjamin48508 I like to use RootsTech for learning about research topics. This series will help you navigate how to use FamilySearch and attach sources https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/series/familysearch-101
and this link takes you to the Beginner Genealogy Track with dozens of topics https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/topics/beginners-track
You can also book a free virtual consultation with someone at the main FamilySearch Library https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/genealogy-help
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Welcome to your genealogical journey on FamilySearch. As you begin, remember that research comes with both exciting discoveries and long stretches where progress may feel slow. This is completely normal. Please don’t get discouraged—persistence is one of the most valuable skills a genealogist develops.
We encourage you to explore additional learning resources such as RootsTech, where you’ll find classes, tutorials, and expert guidance to help strengthen your research skills. The more tools and knowledge you gather, the more confident and successful your research will become over time.
Stay patient, stay curious, and keep going. Every record you review—whether it leads to a breakthrough or not—builds your expertise and moves your family story forward.
Other helpful online resources include:
- FamilySearch Wiki — locality guides, record availability, historical context
- Genealogy blogs and YouTube channels — especially those focused on Eastern Europe, immigration, or record interpretation
- Archive portals — national archives, regional archives, and digitized parish collections
- Community groups — moderated spaces like the FamilySearch Community (which you already help lead) are invaluable for troubleshooting and sharing expertise
Understand that breakthroughs and plateaus are normal parts of the research process. Record unsuccessful searches to avoid duplication and to identify new strategies later. Recognize that even small findings—such as a corrected date or a new locality detail—contribute to your overall progress.
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@Benjamin48508 We users all need help from time to time, please come back often and ask as many questions as you like —- Happy Hunting down your ancestors — Mary
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Answers
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@Benjamin48508
It's not a good idea to make separate threads when researching the same people. The next person has to start over, unaware that serious research has already been conducted.
Your thread where I worked on Green Wilson just 3 days ago:
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/189933/research-help-for-ethyl-m-wilson-1895-1975Green Wilson's profile has 13 sources attached:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/PH4R-R1G3 -
While you may not have been able to "find much" as you stated, others have. When posting such a question to the community, it is generally a best practice to include ALL that you know.
For example, your previous post asking for help about Ethyl Wilson [GBDL-WYT] opened this research topic for several others, especially @Áine.ní.Donnghaile
The amount of work done on Ethyl, her husband and her descendents is considerable, and required substantial time and analysis.
It is somewhat misleading to then state that you don't know anything about her father, Green A Wilson [PH4R-R1G] as if no work has been done on him. That is not the case, and we never want other potential helpers to waste time redoing research that has already been accomplished, at great expense of time and effort. Multiple spouses and same named individuals made this research rather challenging.
I recommend you spend some time carefully reviewing the profiles of both Ethyl and Green, look at the details and review all of the attached sources for both of them. This will give you a good idea of what other experienced genealogists have achieved and what they did to bring those profiles into their current state. Following well documented examples will guide you on how to do similar research on your own.
Best of luck!
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@SantaNinfa @Áine.ní.Donnghaile I apologize for stating that I did not find much I am very new and was referring to that I had not found new sources or information on my own and was wondering how to do that, I greatly appreciate all of the help I had gotten on that person and. I apologize if it came off as ungrateful of rude to make a separate question or say I had not found anything (I won't do it again). I was not trying to be that way. Thank you all for responding. It means a lot to me.
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