I am kind of just getting started with my family tree. I am back through my great grandfather (born 1880) probably not a big deal for most of you. My problem is, it now goes to Italy. Specifically, a lot of small towns in Calabria. Specifically...Pedace, Mangone and Marsi. Does anyone have any advice on how to get started with this aspect of it? Sites or individuals you know of who could assist? Places here to check? Thanks so much!!! It has only been a couple of weeks before I got the big and boy it is easy to get hooked!

Do you know who comes from which town? if so you can write to the municipo in the commune, requesting the birth, marriage or death records of the individuals, you just have to go one generation at a time, each leads to the other, the records (B,M,D) have the parents listed, and often where they are from. and you then go there, it is a long process but it pays if you are not in a hurry, if you ask for abstracts, then they just send the information that they have taken from the document.. Keep in mind that the ages listed may vary from one docment to aother, because back then they didn't keep track of such things lke we do today, also the person giving the information may not know. For example on a death certificate, the person providing the information may not know the deceased exact age so the age could be off. The same with ages of parents when listed on their children's birth records. One thing very nice about the Italian records, a woman keeps her maiden name for all of her life on all legal documents... a geanalogist dream... Joni Josaun@webtv.net http://www.picks.tv/texandy/charter.html