Family Tree Programs

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OLHope

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So I need to put together a family tree. There are too many computer programs out there. I need to know, for those of you who have gone through the whole work up with this, what programs were nice, easy, and articulate for you?

I am thinking Mac Family Tree. I have access to PC’s as well.

Has anyone had experience running their own geneology with computers?
Is there a better one to use straight from a good, credible website instead?

I am starting off on paper, collecting everything possible.
-Birth/Death date/place
-Cause of Death
-Profession
-marriage, maiden names, etc…

Thanks for your time and advice!
 
My family made an online family tree. It’s Geni.com. I didn’t help create it though so I am not sure how to get started. Maybe check that out. On the site, you can receive reminders on whose bday is coming up and can leave messages for family members.
Hope that helps.
 
i always used family tree maker. for the database aspect, i liked it. it could of been better, but it did most of what i needed. only problem with the last version i bought (about 5-6 years ago), broderbund puts way to much background software in their product. i had to get spyware to clean it up and leave my computer alone.
 
Thanks for the tips, I will look into those! Bummer about the hidden spyware, though. Online does seem tempting so that everyone can add in and communicate together.
Offline might be more organized and consistent. I may have to do more research on details if I allow all other family to just add what they want.

I suppose I could do both if I am feeling up for it.

THANKS!
 
I have taken it in another direction. My family lived in south Georgia/north Florida in the late 1800s. There are no records to be found.

As a last resort, I had a DNA test done through the National Geographic Genome Project and have ordered a few more tests over time. It has connected me with relatives I had no idea existed. The testing is done through Family Tree DNA.

There was a family legend about an ancestor’s brother who moved away to parts then unknown. I found a member of that family in another state.

DNA results are limited in that you only find people who have been tested. That leaves quite a few people out there who will never get into your chart, no matter the software.
 
Georgia said:
I have taken it in another direction. My family lived in south Georgia/north Florida in the late 1800s. There are no records to be found.

As a last resort, I had a DNA test done through the National Geographic Genome Project and have ordered a few more tests over time. It has connected me with relatives I had no idea existed. The testing is done through Family Tree DNA.

There was a family legend about an ancestor’s brother who moved away to parts then unknown. I found a member of that family in another state.

DNA results are limited in that you only find people who have been tested. That leaves quite a few people out there who will never get into your chart, no matter the software.
Click to expand...
That’s amazing, how many generations(about) past were able to go back with this method?

I am only able to go back three generations before my mother for now. Ellis Island website is a great help, but it looks like they began record keeping at or about 1900.
 
OLHope said:
That’s amazing, how many generations(about) past were able to go back with this method?

I am only able to go back three generations before my mother for now. Ellis Island website is a great help, but it looks like they began record keeping at or about 1900.
Click to expand...
right, ellis island is maybe back to 1890. but there are other ship records available, you just have to look hard for them. there is also ancestry.com. i subscribed to them for quite a few years. it was good while i was deep into my family tree efforts. it will probably be better for those of you that have more family born in the states in the 1800’s and further back. most of my family came over via ellis island so i had to look into the LDS church records for my family info.
 
OLHope said:
That’s amazing, how many generations(about) past were able to go back with this method?

I am only able to go back three generations before my mother for now. Ellis Island website is a great help, but it looks like they began record keeping at or about 1900.
Click to expand...
I am no expert on these matters, but for what it is worth, here is the best I can do. The DNA hits show the genetic distance from one person to another. I am getting hits that link me conclusively to a number of people in Texas whose lineage is yet unknown to me. The person I found who was from another branch of my family with the same surname has, I think, about a three marker separation from my DNA. There is a variable gap in how far those relations stretch in a marker number. I found one person, same surname, with whom I have a perfect 25 marker match. He didn’t know how we were related either, though I and he now have starting points. Assuming one doesn’t come from a population that is related too closely, variations get in there with marriages outside the immediate group. A far, far better explanation is at the Family Tree DNA website, familytreedna.com.

The downside for me is that I am a Western Atlantic Modal Haplogroup member, the most common of the European types. Having a rare marker would help winnow the results, but I have to deal with my chemistry.

Y-DNA seems to produce the most results and that requires samples from a male. I am a guy, so now my sons want my father-in-law tested. Testing is done by using what looks like a toothbrush with no bristles. The cheek skin in one side of the mouth is brushed for a certain amount of time and then the head of the instrument is placed into a small test tube with a liquid. Later in the day, the same thing is done to the other side of the mouth. The kit is mailed to a lab for testing.

My mother’s side of the family has been very well documented, but I have found some errors in a major family tree that was done by a distant relative. DNA should correct some errors and may light paths that were erased over time.
 
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