Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

Discovering Your Family History Through Digitized Records

Researching your family tree has never been easier. Thanks to modern technology, millions of historical records—once stored in dusty archives—are now available in digital format. These digitized documents can help you uncover fascinating details about your ancestors and their lives.

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Common types of genealogical records include:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Wills and probate records

• Military service records

• Immigration and travel documents

• Census records

Depending on the country, many of these archives are freely available through government databases, libraries, church organizations, and historical societies.

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Accessing Records Easily with Ancestry.com

Websites like Ancestry.com make genealogy research even simpler. With one convenient search, you can explore millions of records from around the world. When a small green leaf appears beside a name on your Ancestry family tree, it’s known as a “hint.” These hints often link directly to digitized historical documents that can be reviewed and attached to your ancestor’s profile with a single click.

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Census Records: A Treasure Trove of Family Information

Census records are among the most valuable resources in genealogy research. They capture everyone living at a specific address when the census was taken and can reveal:

• Family members, children, or visiting relatives

• Occupations and household staff

• Property ownership or rental status

• Residential addresses

However, census data isn’t always perfect. Many birth years were rounded or estimated, making it difficult to confirm exact dates. To verify birth details, it’s best to cross-reference church baptismal records or official birth certificates. Also, most census records are translated to digital format by volunteers, so make sure that you READ the handwritten document to ensure that the translated information is correct. I can't tell you how many times I have found significant errors in the digitized information! This will save you countless hours of having to correct information in your family tree.

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A Real-Life Example: Discovering Wealthy Ancestors in London

While researching my family’s UK census records, I noticed several addresses that looked more like house names than street numbers. One discovery stood out—my distant relatives, Hamer Alfred Bass and Louisa Bass, lived at 145 Piccadilly, London.

In the 1891 census, they had 11 live-in servants. By 1901, that number had grown to 15. Curious about the property, I searched “145 Piccadilly” online and learned it was once a grand manor house destroyed during World War II bombings. The InterContinental Hotel now stands on the site. Even more astonishing, the property was later home to the Duke and Duchess of York, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother).

Stories like these bring history to life and make genealogy more than just names and dates—it becomes a journey into your family’s past.

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Military Service Records: Tracing Your Family’s Military Heritage

If your family has a history of military service, records from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom can reveal incredible details. Military archives may include:

• Physical descriptions (eye and hair color, height)

• Home address at enlistment

• Division or regiment served

• Battle locations and military campaigns

Keep in mind that some soldiers altered their ages to enlist early, so birth years might not always be accurate.

Through these records, I’ve traced ancestors who served as far back as the Napoleonic Wars, discovering connections to historical figures like General Wolfe, Winston Churchill, and General Haig. Reading about the battles they fought in adds depth and emotion to their stories.

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Church Records: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths

Churches have long been the cornerstone of record-keeping. Church records often include details about:

• Baptisms or christenings

• Marriages

• Burials and deaths

Before the late 19th century, most families remained in one area, meaning their local church often holds a complete record of several generations. While I’ve had mixed results obtaining information directly from churches, Ancestry.com and similar databases now host extensive church record collections that are invaluable for genealogy research.

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Travel and Immigration Records: Following Your Ancestors Across the Globe

Immigration and travel documents can shed light on your ancestors’ journeys and adventures abroad. Most countries keep detailed records of arrivals, departures, and border crossings.

For families who emigrated before the advent of air travel, you can often find:

• The ship name and passenger list

• Immigration date and travel class

• Accompanying family members

These records can reveal surprising stories. I once believed I was the first in my family to travel to South Africa, Japan, and China—until I discovered that several ancestors had visited those places centuries earlier!

Even modern records can tell stories of movement. I’ve crossed the U.S.–Canada border hundreds of times, and I can only imagine what future genealogists will think when they see that activity in my record trail.

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Final Thoughts: Bringing Your Ancestors’ Stories to Life

Digitized historical records make it easier than ever to connect with your heritage. Whether you’re exploring census forms, military files, or immigration documents, each record adds another piece to your family’s story.

Genealogy isn’t just about names and dates—it’s about discovering the people behind them and understanding the paths that led to you.