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Shouldn’t these so-called “facts” be checked? Isn’t the Internet increasing the amount of bad data floating around? Isn’t it a bad thing to allow false information to be posted online where others will find it?

I picked on FamilySearch.org simply because it is a free site and the claims are easily verified. However, if we look at most any other online database containing “records” submitted by the general public, we will see thousands of similar, obvious errors.

You can go to almost any of today’s online genealogy sites and find information that appears to be false. I’ll pick on FamilySearch.org as it is a free and open database, making it a good example that everyone can see. However, similar examples exist on most of the commercial genealogy databases as well.

Step 1: Verify the data.

Step 4: Mine county histories.

Step 8: Seek death details.

"The first assumption anyone new to genealogy should make is that every tree is created by someone who knows as little as you do."

The point is paper and pencil genealogy is far from dead. Microfilm is still one of the best sources for finding source documents from all over the world.

There are still a huge number of documents mustily residing in court houses, church record rooms, and storerooms all over the world. Using only the Internet to do genealogy is like trying to build a house with a power saw. Its a great tool, but only if you have a whole tool room full of other tools to help.

Go to the library. Go to all the libraries. Check out the records in the courthouses, Contact local newspapers for old copies. Look in graveyards. Talk to cemetery sextons. Take to morticians. Check out the local genealogical society's records. Go to the nearest Family History Center and look at their books for a change. Go to a genealogical library. Take a trip to the National Archives. Do you get the idea?