Family History Daily
  • Find & Use Free Resources
  • Genealogy Tutorials & Guides
No Result
View All Result
  • Research Help by Topic
  • Beginner Guides
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Free Genealogy Sites
  • Online Courses
 
This site uses cookies to implement some features. By continuing, you agree to their use and our privacy & cookie policy.
Family History Daily
  • Research Help by Topic
  • Beginner Guides
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Free Genealogy Sites
  • Online Courses
No Result
View All Result
Family History Daily
No Result
View All Result

Break Through Your Brick Walls Today Using Facebook: Here’s How

Celebration at Bull Run: 2 Confederate veterans shaking hands
  • 2,602shares

Thank you to Amie Tennant of My Kith N Kin for this helpful article.

I continue to be amazed how social media can quickly give you the answers you need to break through your family history brick walls. In just the last 2 weeks, I have turned to Facebook for help and was not disappointed. Here’s how I did it!

Make Instant Discoveries in Your Family Tree Now
Imagine adding your family tree to a simple website and getting hundreds of new family history discoveries instantly.

MyHeritage is offering 2 free weeks of access to their extensive collection of 9 billion historical records, as well as their matching technology that instantly connects you with new information about your ancestors. Sign up using the link below to find out what you can uncover about your family.
Discover New Genealogy Records Instantly

FamilySearch.org has created new Facebook groups. I joined them all.

In the U.S., there are 4 FamilySearch groups:

U.S. Northeast Genealogy Research Community

Advertisement

U.S. South Genealogy Research Community

U.S. Midwest Genealogy Research Community

and U.S. West Genealogy Research Community

Other places in the world are not left out. “Europe Genealogy Research Community” and “Northern Europe Genealogy Research Community” are just the tip of the iceberg.

These Facebook pages, or groups, are being viewed by people like yourself. People who love genealogy and family history and are ready to help if they can.

My first experience was with the “U.S. Northeast Genealogy Research Community.” After joining, I put a little message that read:

“Hello! I am a professional genealogist, speaker, and writer of a family history blog at www.mykithnkin.blogspot.com. One of my biggest brick walls is locating where in New York my Louis Lockwood and Sabrina Robinson came from! Can’t wait to ask some questions here!”

9 Billion Genealogy Records Are Free for 2 Weeks
Get two full weeks of free access to more than 9 billion genealogy records right now. You’ll also gain access to the MyHeritage discoveries tool that locates information about your ancestors automatically when you upload or create a tree. What will you discover about your family’s past?

Claim My 2 Week Free Access

FHDpic1

That’s it. That is all I wrote. In less than 24 hours, I had the answer (and more!) that had eluded me for more than 10 years.

Patricia Morrow, the town historian for Windham, New York, saw my post and quickly found Lewis [yes, there was a spelling change] Lockwood and Sabrina in the 1855 New York State census. Then, she uploaded biographical sketches of Lewis, documentation of Lewis’ previous wives and tombstone pictures. I was shaking my head in amazement. That was a genealogy miracle if I ever heard one! [Note: typically, you will want to put more information in your request for help than I did.]

In the weeks to follow, I have been able to find Lewis’ parents and the parents of his wives which have been added to my family tree. Help from Patricia gave me the answer to break through that brick wall and I was able to then continue my own further research.

Get 30 Days of Genealogy Tips Free

What might you learn with 30 days of expert genealogy research tips delivered straight to your inbox?

Subscribe below and you'll receive one helpful genealogy tip every day for thirty days. Easily discover new research techniques, record collections and resources. You'll also receive our free weekly newsletter so that you can stay up-to-date on our newest articles.

This is a FREE offering from Family History Daily to help you with your research. Unsubscribe at any time.

You're almost ready to start receiving tips! Simply confirm your email address to complete your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Yesterday, I had another wonderful experience, this time with “Europe Genealogy Research Community.” While researching some Scottish records, I found a birth record that included the marriage date and location for the child’s parents. Unfortunately, I could not make out the name of the town they were married in. I could read that the village was located in Ireland, but I am not familiar with that country’s towns. I searched all village and town names in Ireland trying to find one that “looked similar,” but to no avail.

I knew I needed help. Facebook to the rescue! I posted the image of the birth record to “Europe Genealogy Research Community” and Becky Pate took a look. “Banagher,” she said. Yes! I could see it now. And wouldn’t you know it was in County Offaly right next to County Tipperary where the couple’s older children were born.

How to Create an Account and Use the FamilySearch Facebook Groups

If you are not Facebook savvy you will need some instructions. First, go to www.facebook.com and create your account. You will need an email address. They will also ask you for your birth date. Don’t worry, your birth date will not show on your page if you don’t want it to. You can easily change privacy settings at any time. Learn more about that here.

After you create a Facebook account, you will need to confirm it. An email will be sent to you and you will click “Confirm Account.”

FHDpic2

You will be directed back to your Facebook page. You may skip the steps of adding friends and adding a profile picture if you wish. This would be a good time to set up your privacy options if you haven’t already. Doing so will make sure only those you give permission to can see your profile information and posts.

Now, you will search for the FamilySearch groups I mentioned above, or simply click on the links provided. above. If you do not see the search field I have indicated in the picture below, just refresh your page.

FHDpic3

When you have clicked on the group you are interested in, you will be directed to their page where you will need to click “Join Group.”

FHDpic4

These FamilySearch Facebook groups are being monitored and managed, so you will need to wait until you are “approved.” I was approved within a few hours. Once you are approved, when you return to this page, you will see that you can “write something” on their page. Others will see your post and hopefully you will get the answers you are looking for.

FHDpic5

Remember, anyone else who is in the group can see what you have written here, so only share what you feel comfortable making semi-public.

We’d love to hear your success stories about breaking down family history brick walls using Facebook!

Editor’s Note: In addition to the FamilySearch groups on Facebook there are many other genealogy research groups available. Use the Facebook search to locate the best options for you.

Image: “Celebration at Bull Run: 2 Confederate veterans shaking hands,” c1911, Library of Congress

  • 2,602shares

Get Our Articles By Email Each Week

Stay up-to-date with Family History Daily's newest genealogy articles by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter.

Thank you. To begin receiving the free weekly newsletter please take a moment to check your email and confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
Previous Post

Do You Have a Graveyard Kit? Here are the 13 Things I Keep in Mine

Next Post

The Grumpy Genealogist: 4 Things That Really Bug Me About Family History Research

Related Posts

What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You How to Avoid Missed Details About Your Ancestors
Help and How-To

This Straightforward Technique Will Help You Uncover Missed Facts About Your Ancestors

5 Genealogy Questions That Took Me 30 Years to Answer
Help and How-To

5 Genealogy Questions That Took Me 30 Years to Answer

Help and How-To

Ancestry.com’s “Location Traps” Are Causing Researchers to Miss Important Records

Are You Making the Direct-Line Mistake in Your Family Tree?
Help and How-To

Are You Making the Direct-Line Mistake in Your Family Tree?

15 Ways to Solve Your Family History Mystery Once and for All
Help and How-To

15 Ways to Solve Your Family History Mystery Once and for All

Why You Should Reexamine Every Single Genealogy Record You Have
Help and How-To

Why You Should Stop Your Research and Reexamine Every Single Genealogy Record You Have

Load More

Comments 9

  1. Diane J Seipert says:
    3 years ago

    Thank you so much Amie for brining to light the Facebook Genealogy Research Communities. Though there are the 4 U.S. Communities, we also have Canada Genealogy Research Community, as well as the following: British Isles Genealogy Research Community Northern Europe Genealogy Research Community Central Europe Genealogy Research Community Eastern Europe Genealogy Research Community and Southern Europe Genealogy Research Community We are also working on Mexico/Central America Genealogy Research Community and South America Genealogy Research Community, though they are not yet available to the public, they are being working on and we hope will roll out in a few months. We look forward to new members, their posts, questions and knowledge they bring to our Communities. Come Join us!!

    Reply
    • Danny says:
      3 years ago

      Diane. I have a stake indexing director question. Could you please drop me a line?

      Reply
      • Danny says:
        3 years ago

        corrected email

        Reply
  2. Betseylee Browning says:
    3 years ago

    There are some changes in the Facebook groups. You can obtain their url’s through this link: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Genealogy_Help_on_Facebook

    Reply
  3. Howard says:
    3 years ago

    Please assist me to be in touch . What is required of me ?
    Thank you
    Warmly
    Howard

    Reply
    • Patricia Morrow, Windham Town Historian says:
      3 years ago

      Howard, if you have a Facebook account there are many genealogy groups you can join for free. This article mentions four:
      U.S. Northeast Genealogy Research Community
      U.S. South Genealogy Research Community
      U.S. Midwest Genealogy Research Community
      U.S. West Genealogy Research Community
      Choose one or more that pertain to where your ancestors lived and post a question. There are many people who will do what they can to help you find out more about your family.

      Reply
  4. Jeanne says:
    4 years ago

    Looking for family of Chauncey Hinman, 1848-1910. I do not know the name of Chauncey’s parents or other family members. In the 1860 US Federal Census, New York, Monroe, Penfield, Mary Jane Hinman, 18 years old and Chancey Hinman, 14 years old, living with Alpheus S. Clark, 40 years old and Mindwell Clark, 40 years old. When Chauncey Hinman was 21 he moved to Michigan, where he married Celestia Emira Everitt in Northville, Wayne, Michigan, and also where he died.

    Reply
  5. Sue K. Gurk says:
    4 years ago

    There are 3 results for Phillip Martz in Detroit, MI in findagrave.com. I did not find any results for Carolyn.

    Reply
  6. Jeannette Castaneda says:
    4 years ago

    Looking for Carolyn Bradley Foster born in 1896 and died in Detroit, Michigan in 1924. Married Phillip Earl Martz.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Finding Incorrect Records on Ancestry.com? Here's How to Fix Them
Help and How-To

Finding Incorrect Records on Ancestry.com? Here’s How to Fix Them

Why You Should Quit Attaching Records To Your Family Tree, and What to Do Instead
Help and How-To

Why You Need to Quit Attaching Records to Your Family Tree, and What to Do Instead

Why Searching for Your Ancestor's Full Name May Be the Worst Way to Find Them
Help and How-To

Why Searching for Your Ancestors by Full Name Can Sometimes Be the Worst Way to Find Them

6 Uncommon Places to Find a Missing Birth Date for Your Ancestor
Help and How-To

6 Uncommon Places to Find a Missing Birth Date for Your Ancestor

The 15 Minute Plan for Achieving Your Genealogy Goals in 2019
Help and How-To

The 15 Minute Plan for Achieving Your Genealogy Goals in 2019

Need to Know Before Visiting a Cemetery to Find Your Ancestor's Gravesite
Help and How-To

5 Things You NEED to Know Before You Visit a Cemetery this Summer

A Getting Started Guide for Researching Your Mexican Ancestry
Help and How-To

A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Mexican Ancestry

Who Counts as Family in a Family Tree Who to Add and Who to Leave Out
Help and How-To

Who Counts as Family in a Family Tree? Who to Add and Who to Leave Out

  • About Family History Daily
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2013-2019 Family History Daily

No Result
View All Result
  • Newest Articles
  • Lists of Free Genealogy Sites
  • Help Using Free Records
  • How-To Articles & Guides
  • Research Help by Topic
  • Beginner Guides
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Online Courses

© 2013-2019 Family History Daily

*/

Send this to a friend