Have you ever wondered who when your ancestors were born or maybe where they lived? HeritageQuest Online might be the answer. HeritageQuest is a database holding family history for 25,000 families. You can find information from census data, obituaries, directories, and U.S. Freedman’s Back records, and more. Census records from 1790 to 1940 are available.
When you begin searching, it is helpful to know some information about your ancestor besides their name, such as a spouse’s or child’s name, birthplace, or birth year. This helps narrow your search results. The census records were originally handwritten and then that data was added to computer records, so the spelling of a person’s name or other information may be slightly different. You can use the census records to find additional relatives. HeritageQuest even offers helpful search tips and strategies to make your research more productive. These tips are found on the Research Aids page.
Another interesting feature of HeritageQuest is the Maps page. On this page you can see how county and state boundaries have changed over the years starting in 1790. It is important to remember that not all states have maps available starting in 1790. When you choose a state, you will see a current county boundary map overlaid with a different census year such as 1820. There is also an option to see how the whole United States has changed since 1790. This feature may be helpful for personal family research or a history research paper.
Get started exploring your family history by visiting HeritageQuest Online. The link for HeritageQuest Online is found on our Databases, E-books, and Media quick link. Use the letter filters to find HeritageQuest Online.
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