Armed with only a paternal grandfather's name (James Jewel), date of birth (1910) and first name of his spouse (Evelyn), the search began like so many do - with very little information. Right here is the biggest mistake made by beginners. Your search for family history should begin at home with your relatives. They may claim to know little, but they probably know more than even they realize if you take the time to draw out their stories. In the case of the Jewel family, the author did eventually go back to her father-in-law for more details, but not after spending many fruitless hours online trying to sort out her James Jewel from the hundreds of others.
Wasted time aside, the most important reason to start your search with family members is that they may have information that is not recorded anywhere else. Your relatives' memories will be lost to declining memory or die with them unless you take the time to seek them out and write them down.
More: 50 Questions to Ask Your Relatives | Tips for Your Family History Interview
