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= Find the Parents and Siblings of Your Ancestor in the United States, 1850-1940 =

Census indexes can help you locate your ancestors. People were listed in national, state and territorial census records. The national census was done every ten years. Other censuses were often done five years after the national census. Most census records are available online.

Step 1. Search for your ancestor in the first census after their birth
Search the census at:


 * 1) FamilySearch.org (indexes are free; some census images are not available)
 * 2) Ancestry.com (free at many libraries and all FamilySearch Centers)

Step 2. Verify the census information with a vital record
Vital records provide evidence to clarify what was learned from other records. Try the following options:


 * 1) FamilySearch.org
 * 2) Ancestry.com
 * 3) Family History Library: search the catalog by "Place-names" to see if there are indexes and certificates online or on microfilm.