Who Has Your Family Members In Their Family Tree?

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Researching your family history is a lot like searching for lost treasure. It's easier if you have a treasure map. If you're like me, you probably have a go-to site for researching. For me, it's Ancestry.com. But I'm also keenly aware many other sites have information I may be interested in finding (hence why I have so many subscriptions). Some of those details might be very important to me. 

There are many different sites to search, and it's impossible to keep up with all of them. Utilizing family trees of others has the potential to point the way to information we may not know. I readily admit, not all family trees are well sourced and they should always be viewed as a tool, not a source in and of themselves. I choose not to discount other user trees as a whole. I look at them carefully to see if they're sourced and whether they might point me toward new details. Many (if not most) aren't of any use, but sometimes, I find a gem with enough detail to send me scurrying off to look at hints I wasn't aware existed. In the last few weeks, I've identified 3 previously unknown children, born between census enumerations, this way (with headstone images on FindAGrave showing son or daughter of and listing the parents). So other family trees are not lock, stock and barrel of no use whatsoever. You simply have to comb through them to find the diamond in the rough. 

If, like me, you do look at other trees, I'd like to introduce you to a site I haven't seen much about - a site making searching across multiple family tree sites super simple - FamilyTreeSearcher.com. In the vast sea of genealogy research sites, finding a really useful reference point can be daunting. This innovative platform streamlines the search process by allowing users to input ancestor information once and then "almost" automatically searches through multiple genealogy websites. Please keep in mind, this site is searching for other family trees, not displaying a list of actual hints/records. The plus side is you typically don't have to have subscriptions to see user trees at most sites. The drawback is you still have to review the trees to see if any new useful information is available. But, as genealogists, we're always assessing and reassessing information we find, so this isn't really a huge drawback in my mind. If a tree does contain new sources, you may very well need a subscription to see the actual records. Following are the sites used in the "almost" automatic searching (notably FindMyPast is unfortunately NOT one of them):

• Ancestry.com
• Computerized Ancestor
• FamilySearch
• FamilyTreeNow
• GeneaNet
• Geni Search
• MyHeritage
• MyTrees.com
• WikiTree
• WorldConnnect (currently offline as it's migrated to Ancestry)

Each ancestor added is saved in an active search section. To start a search, simply input the basic information about your ancestor and then click the search button next to each site. This is why it's "almost" automatic. I wish there was a single button to search all, but currently, it does require a few quick clicks of the mouse. Each search result opens in a new window for convenience Each search also includes links to other additional resources you may want to search manually including:

• DNA sites such as AncestryDNA®, MyHeritage DNA, FamilyTreeDNA and23andMe
• Research options such as: FindMyPast and Google
• And more

The benefit of FamilyTreeSearcher.com is its simplicity and efficiency. By quickly searching across multiple family tree databases, the site saves invaluable time and effort. Whether you’re taking your first steps into family history or you're a seasoned genealogist, this tool offers a straightforward way to navigate through many of the family tree sites available to us online. By offering the quick searches as well as options for those who prefer a hands-on approach, using more detailed search hints and suggestions provided, it empowers users to easily explore each family tree website it covers. Many of the searches have customizable check boxes, but I find using the default options works quite well.

In testing the site, I added the information for my father, who is deceased. Some results provided accurate information and some sites didn't return anything useful. But it was absolutely quick and easy to use. Overall, I found it was a very pleasant search experience and I have no doubt it will be extremely useful for those times I really want to get a wider view of others who have my family members in their trees. I really like how it saves my previous searches so I can go back and check them again at any time without the need to reinput details. With more people testing their DNA and the popularity of genealogy as a hobby, invariably more people will add my family members in their trees at some point. Being able to quickly "re"search to see if anyone else has added someone I'm monitoring is extremely handy.

Rooted in the journey of its creator, Douglas K Barry, FamilyTreeSearcher adds a personal touch, a layer of authenticity to the site, demonstrating the creator's commitment to helping others in their own quest for the treasure of their ancestors. Over its two decades of operation, FamilyTreeSearcher.com has established itself as a reliable and secure platform. Searches are saved via a cookie on your computer and are not uploaded and saved on a server, so you can feel comfortable when using the site.

For those embarking on their journey of uncovering their family's past, FamilyTreeSearcher stands out as a somewhat unique resource. By merging convenience with comprehensive tools to search other family trees, it paves the way for discoveries to bridge the past to the present. Please remember to verify, verify and verify! Just because someone puts information in their tree doesn't make it true. It's on each of us to decide for ourselves if new information is useful, not useful, or requires more research. Give the site a try and see if it leads you to any treasures you may not yet have discovered through more traditional hinting. Let me know if you discover a great find!