This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Carver putnam Elsner Barnett Barton
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FAI.2ACIB/1016.1
Message Board Post:
Rebecca: The Carvers have been extensively researched, and you don't want to
duplicate the work. So I have these suggestions:
1) Talk to your family and track back as far as you can. You might be surprised how far
back you can go!
2) Go to the library and look up any Carver books. There was one on the web that had
extensive references, but it seems to have disappeared. It was the "Genealogy of the
Rev. Eleazer Carver Family..." If you can find this one, either in hard copy or
electronic format, you will be well on your way. (And if anyone else has a copy, would
you email it to me? Thanks!)
3) There are several Carver sites on the web, and some detail the four main lines of the
family.
4) Begin with where you live, and track back; there are (
genweb.com or
webgen.com, I
never can remember which) sites in almost every county. I found one set of relatives when
I followed some photos back to MO. I found the cities where the photos were from, and
then discovered they were in a county with the same name of my ancestors. I posted
inquiries on those message boards, and so far have had two cousins from our
"lost" branch of the family get hold of me.
5) Again, library or book store or web; there are lots of how-to resources to help you
get started. And
about.com is wonderful for how-tos on almost anything!
Good luck, and have fun. You are about to begin the most addictive activity of your
life!!!!!