This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Georgia1910 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.bay/1384.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am not related. Are you just starting searching your family tree? If so, join a local genealogy society even if you are in a different state or a different Michigan city. People will help you to learn how to find what you need to prove that you have the right people. You might want to buy (or borrow) a genealogy book. One that was recommended to me was Val Greenwood's A Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy. Also, there are different FREE tutorials for genealogy. I would look at the Mormon Church's website www.familysearch.org Also, genealogy.com http://www.genealogy.com/uni-begin.html Or just do a google search to find beginning genealogy guides. Whatever you do, document your sources (put down where you got the information such as a book or online or an obituary, death record, etc.) so you can evaluate it if you have conflicting dates, etc. Have you checked a local library to see if they have access to Ancestry? The library edition doesn't have all the same "stuff" that the home subscription does or so I have been told but it would be a start. Sometimes Ancestry has free subscriptions for a couple of weeks-you just have to make sure that you stop it as soon as the free period is up. Your tree looks okay but what proof are you using-marriage records, obits? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.