Knowing the approximated year your forefather was born can help you pinpoint vital record collections to explore, and add new details to your family tree. Searching or searching particular databases instead of merely doing a general search on a genealogy site is a terrific method to discover records you might have neglected. Household History Daily uses an in-depth article about how to do that in the short article: This May Be the Most Important Genealogy Research Trick You’ll Ever Learn.

To make the job much easier for you, we have actually assembled a list of must browse U.S. resources arranged by approximated birth year in each half century, beginning with 1900-1949 and going all the way back to 1600-1649. These collections include countless records and many are totally free and searchable online. They are a terrific jumping off point for any date range.

Some resources consist of records for individuals in more than one 50 year period and those databases have NOT been listed two times, only in the half century where they are most valuable. Practically all of these databases are very helpful for other years too, and there is a lot of overlap.

A few of these resources pertain to collections that are specialized by locality and/or might not be available online. For these, such as church and probate, links to informational pages that give you additional details and pointers have actually been offered.
We have likewise included databases specially concentrated on African American and Native American research because, while African American and Native American persons can be discovered more quickly in recent records, these ancestors are frequently much more difficult to track the further we travel back in time. We recommend that you read our Guide to African American Research or FamilySearch’s Quick Guide to African American Collections for extra help finding African American forefathers, and our Short Guide to Native American Research or the National Archives assist page for more assist with Native American research.

The Best Genealogy Resources for Researching Your Ancestors Based on When They Were Born
While we have actually made every attempt to offer links to totally free resources, some terrific collections are readily available online only from paid services. We have actually marked these with a $ but might make a little commission to support our work if you pick to make the most of these records after following the links on our page.

As mentioned, there is a bargain of overlap in between half centuries in regards to handy collections. These suggestions are only meant to offer a starting point for research study and to assist you fill out spaces– there are numerous other collections online for each time period. Read extra articles on Family History Daily for more help discovering them.

Records for Those Born Between 1900 and 1949
United States Social Security Death Index– This database includes records for people who have actually died in between 1937 and 1998. We have linked here to FamilySearch’s free collection but the resource might be accessed on several genealogy websites.
1900-1940 United States Federal Census Records– Records for the years 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 consist of names and ages for people, in addition to other information. These records are also available on many genealogy websites. Please see our Ultimate Quick Reference Guide to the U.S. Census for Genealogy for more on what details can be found in each census individually.
Find a Grave– Includes transcriptions from over 170 million tombstones worldwide. Transcriptions for individuals born in the 20th century are most likely to be more accurate than older gravestones, however care should constantly be taken. This is an excellent resource for all half centuries on this page.
GenealogyBank U.S. Obituaries– Currently consists of obituaries from 1980 through 2014. This database is now searchable totally free of charge through an arrangement between GenealogyBank and Family Search.
Mathematical Identification Files, 1936 to 2007– Numerical indexes of every social security number belonging to individuals with verified deaths and/or people who would have been over the age of 110 as of 31 December 2007.
Indian Census Collection– These rolls contain “census rolls that were typically submitted each year by agents or superintendents in charge of Indian appointments, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, as required by an act of July 4, 1884.” Find out more about them here.
The Second World War Army Enlistment Records from the National Archives, 1938 to 1946– This database contains partial records for guys who got in the army during the World War II era. Birth year is included.
$ WWII Databases on Fold3– Fold3 provides both paid and free collections relating to WWII that use to lots of people born in the early to mid 20th century.
Records for Those Born Between 1850 and 1899
1850-1940 United States Federal Censuses– These censuses many details depending on the year. See the Ultimate Quick Reference Guide to the U.S. Census for Genealogy for exact details on what is consisted of in each census.
United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917 to 1918– Draft registration cards for World War I record the birth date of each male who signed up, along with numerous other details. Discover more about WWI draft cards here.
$ United States World War II 4th Draft Registration Cards, 1942– This draft registered men in between the ages of 45 to 65, with birth dates varying from 28 April 1877 to 16 February 1892. The full database is available on Ancestry.com.
United States GenWeb Obituary Project– Includes user-submitted obituaries by state. Lots of older obituaries can be discovered here. Birth dates or age at death are typically included.
The Statue of Liberty: Ellis Island Foundation– The website for Ellis Island includes a searchable database for the Port of New York Passenger Records from the years 1820 to 1957 and is a great resource for those born between 1850-1899 along with those born in earlier decades.
Dawes Rolls– Includes “Lists of individuals accepted in between 1898 and 1914 by the Dawes Commission as members of these five Indian tribes: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole.”
$ U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1791 to 1992– Available through Ancestry.com, this database includes indexes to naturalization records from various courts in several states. While the date variety is pretty broad, a lot of records that are available are for individuals with birth dates in the 1850 to 1900 era.
$ U.S. Homestead Records, 1863 to 1908– This database, which can be accessed with an Ancestry.com subscription, is a result of an ongoing cooperative effort between the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the National Park Service, FamilySearch, the University of Nebraska, and Fold3. Each record includes about 25 pages of documents that contain valuable information about the specific applicants. Full digitized records are presently available on Ancestry.com for the states of Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, and Wyoming, with more records to be included. This is also an important databases for those born in previous decades also.
$ U.S. Yearbooks Name Index, 1890-1979– This MyHeritage collection of yearbooks can assist you find early pictures of your ancestors, in addition to other realities about their lives.
Records for Those Born Between 1800 and 1849
1850-1940 United States Federal Census Records– Censuses from the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 include the ages of the individuals noted in addition to other details. Later on records supply a lot more information and stand for many date varieties in this guide.
Freedman’s Bureau Records– The Freedman’s Bureau operated till 1872, and the files it produced deal priceless genealogical info that lots of African American family scientists thought about lost or out of reach.
$ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 -This resource on Ancestry.com is among the very best places to discover concealed information about your forefathers. Discover more about utilizing city directory sites in your research here.
Castle Garden Immigration Records– This website offered records of migration through New York before Ellis Island (with some overlap). A terrific resource for this half century in addition to the one after it.
$ American Civil War Research Database– This database was produced by Historical Data Systems and consists of a combination of military records that provide profiles of specific soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The complete database is accessible for a nominal fee. A free trial is also available.
$ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s to 1900s– Containing over 4 million records of ships’ travelers who arrived in U.S. and Canadian ports. Numerous records include each passenger’s age upon arrival to the U.S. Available on Ancestry.com for a charge.
Household Search Probate Records– These are taped by county and state. Discover more about how to use probate records in your research here. This resource is appropriate for nearly all birth years.
Family Search Church Records– The availability of these records depends on the church denomination and location. The link here provides you some instructions on how to look for church records. This resource is appropriate for almost all birth years.
Records for Those Born Between 1750 and 1799
Bureau of Land Management, Land Patents– Most soldiers who combated in the Revolutionary War were paid in land rather than cash, so military warrants were recorded and provided through Land Patents from 1788 to 1855. The person’s age is not recorded on the patent, so knowing the individual’s birth date is helpful.
Unknown No Longer– This collection is from the Virginia Historical Society and is a database of names of enslaved persons sourced from their unpublished collection of over 8 million manuscripts. Details available on individuals in the database could consist of only a name however might likewise include additional information such as household relationships, occupations, and important dates.
The Internet Archive– This website offers a huge collection of public domain works, consisting of family histories and town histories. Key in the place where your forefather resided in the search to find publications that might contain essential records. Discover more about how to utilize this resource for genealogy here.
Complimentary African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware– 2 volumes, 2,700 pages. These books, by Paul Heinegg, trace the descents of complimentary black households who lived in Colonial America. A ground-breaking work. Millions of individuals come down from the families noted here.
$ United States, Early American Families– This detailed collection of family and regional histories focuses on the colonial duration in America. It is searchable and used by FindMyPast with a membership.
American Genealogical-Biographical Index– This resource lists the names of millions of people who are included in printed household histories and other historical publications housed at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Connecticut. Details noted in the index consists of the approximate birth year. This index is browsable on FamilySearch.org and searchable on Ancestry.com.
Records for Those Born Between 1700 and 1749
Servant Biographies: The Atlantic Database Network– This site is “an open gain access to information repository of information on the identities of enslaved people in the Atlantic World. It consists of the names, ethnicities, abilities, professions, and health problems of private slaves.”
$ United States Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775 to 1783– The index to this database is searchable on FamilySearch.org. The complete records are offered on Fold3.com for a cost. Records from the Revolutionary War are also really proper for those born in the later part of the 18th century.
$ United States Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800 to 1900– Large amounts of info about the applicant can be found in this database. The index is searchable on FamilySearch.org. Full records are viewable on Ancestry.com or Fold3.com for a charge.
Children of the American Revolution, Genealogical Research System– The DAR has put together an online database that supplies access to many of the organization’s products. Free and searchable.
$ United States, Early American Families– This thorough collection of household and local histories focuses on the colonial period in America. It is searchable and offered by FindMyPast with a membership.
Records for Those Born Between 1650 and 1699
A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692, on the Basis of Farmer’s Register– This work is available through public domain and is among the primary sources of information on families who immigrated to New England in early colonial times.
Colonial Families of the United States of America, In which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families who Settled in the American Colonies from the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775– Another public domain work, consisting of five volumes, that contains comprehensive details about early colonial inhabitants and their descendants.
The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600 to 1700– Available through public domain.
Virtual Jamestown– This site provides a collection of records referring to colonial Virginia. Numerous records for individuals who concerned North America as indentured servants can be found here.
Ancestral Findings.com– The category Free State Record Lookups consists of lots of colonial records from the 1600s.
Finding Records for 1600 to 1650
Olive Tree Genealogy, Ships Passenger Lists Project– Olive Tree’s ongoing passenger lists job includes numerous early ships’ passenger lists from England and the Netherlands to numerous colonial ports.
Creators of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607 to 1657– This book consists of a list of all male immigrants to North America who were heads of households and had boys to carry on their surnames. Not available online, however a keyword frequency search can be carried out totally free of charge through HathiTrust Digital Library.
A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692, on the Basis of Farmer’s Register (Little, Brown, 1860-62) by James Savage: Often the very first stop when looking for unknown 17th-century New England households.
New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Clarence Almon Torrey: This work covers roughly 38,000 marriages of New Englanders prior to 1700. Together with Savage it is thought about a foundational work of New England genealogy.
$ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (1847-present): This journal presents posts such as assembled genealogies of Colonial New England families, transcriptions of records, and how-to posts.