How to Use New Horizons Genealogy to Uncover Your Hidden Ancestors

Finding the hidden history of your ancestors is easy when you use New Horizons Genealogy. It is a massive, totally free website. Unlike paid search sites, it organizes thousands of transcribed historical documents by specific counties and record types.

What is New Horizons Genealogy?

New Horizons Genealogy is a popular website for finding early American family history. It is famous for its large collection of records from New York and New England.

The site is 100% free. This means you can view all of your family history records without paying for a subscription.

The Secret to Searching

Many major genealogy websites rely on a single search bar. You type in a name, and the computer guesses what you want.

New Horizons Genealogy works differently. Think of it like walking into an old library. Instead of a digital search bar, you browse through virtual folders. You can click on a specific state, pick a county, and then choose a record type.

This layout is perfect for finding "off-the-grid" records that big search engines miss.

Records You Can Find

The site specializes in a few key areas that are great for family historians. You can easily find:

Military Records: This includes large collections for the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
Vital Records: You can find early birth, marriage, and death records.
Census Records: The site hosts early colonial and state census records.
Church and Cemetery Records: These help you find where your ancestors went to church and where they are buried.

Why Use Transcribed Records?

A transcribed record is simply an old, handwritten document that has been typed out so it is easy to read.

Imagine trying to read a letter written by your great-great-grandfather. It might be messy, faded, or in cursive. A transcribed document gives you the exact text without the headache. It is like having a helpful guide translate old handwriting for you.

Tips for Success

Here are three quick tips for using the site:

Search: New Horizons Genealogy does have a Search Engine page that you can use to search for your ancestors. Type in the name you're looking for & the website will lead you where you need to be.
or Start with your location: Since the site is organized by geography, know the town and county your ancestor lived in before you start clicking.
Read the whole list: Take your time to scroll through the transcribed lists. You might spot other family members or neighbors buried near your ancestor!
Double-check the facts: Transcriptions are helpful, but they can have typos. Always try to find the original document later on to confirm the details.

Other Websites owned by New Horizons Genealogy

American Wars: A Complete History of the wars fought on United States soil.
Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions: Charles R. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions contains vital information from headstone inscriptions in over 2,000 Connecticut cemeteries that were recorded in a W.P.A. project directed by Charles R. Hale ca. 1932-5.
Mortality Schedules: Death Records extracted from Federal and State Census Record Mortality Schedules.
My Free Census Records: Find your ancestors in the U.S. census with these free online census records, census images, census indexes and census databases in their easy to use census directory.
New Horizons Genealogy Blog: An update hub and announcement feed for their main website, New Horizons Genealogy