Finding Information

[groom]

Exactly, it's the only way. If people don't quote their sources, I'm sure no one would object to you asking how they found something.

[Blue70]

I learned from watching the helpers/searchers on forums. Note the sites used when they refer to them or when they provide links. If they find something others couldn't find check spellings, transcriptions etc and find out how they found it. Bookmark all useful sites for quick access. Try to help others in that way you will improve your own searches.


Blue

[andrewalston]

Sometimes the people know of more specialised sites, having found them useful in the past.

For example someone with Essex roots would know all about SEAX but be unlikely to know about great volunteer projects in Lancashire such as LancashireBMD and Lancashire Online Parish Clerks.

We are truly spoiled in our part of the world, while others have very sparse online resources.

The good news is that there are RootsChatters who are happy to help when you get stuck. Often it is the solving of a puzzle that is rewarding, a bit like a logic problem.

Even those of us who have been around the block a few times get stuck sometimes. A couple of my knotty problems have been untied recently on these boards.