I have been researching my family history for almost 20 years. Over the years I have tried a number of different ways to research and track down my ancestors. One of the most effective ways has been through using Ancestry.com and I've been a member of Ancestry since 2007. Ancestry is not perfect - you cannot just take "hints" as being correct facts, and still must research every detail thoroughly - but it is one of the most comprehensive tools for a modern genealogist to use

During this seemingly never-ending pandemic, I've been working long hours at home and by the end of the day, I usually want to do anything but spend more time on the computer. However, I have done some family history research every now and then, and I've managed to piece together another branch of the family tree: the Bush family. US President George Herbert Walker Bush and his son, President George Walker Bush are my 18th and 19th paternal cousins respectively. Distant cous

Although I am directly related to the man who epitomizes the phrase (Kevin Norwood Bacon), I just discovered an interesting link to another historical figure that I find particularly interesting. While researching Jane Seymour Fonda's family connections, I ran across another cousin, Mary Benjamin. Mary was my 27th cousin, twice removed on my paternal side. Mary was a socialite and philanthropist who was the daughter of George Hilliard Benjamin and Jane Miller Seymour (my 26t

Part of the thrill of discovering new ancestors to add to my ever-growing family tree is in the research that I have to do to verify names, dates and places. It can be a lot of work, but it keeps me occupied and helps me focus my attention away from everyday life and gives me a bit of a mental break. I guess you could say that researching my family is a form of therapy for me. When I do discover someone of historical importance in my tree, I then start a separate round of res