There are some slaves who used their last owner s name when they were declared free but then most of them didn t. Further research is still needed. Step four is about the slavery and owner s research. Once you found your ancestor s slave owner, you need to track their records to know what they did about their properties. One s family history could be stressful. Being considerate of the feelings your relatives may have is important as they may not similarly be as interested as you are in recalling memories of the past. Show pictures Bringing photographs may also be helpful as these could help jog their memories. You could also ask your relatives if they could recommend another family member to be interviewed. The United States as well as other developed countries has put this database online for family members to see. Obituaries are not able to tell much about a former relative. Looking in a site called USGenWeb can provide a description about the character especially if that person was quite popular. This is one step forward from the traditional way of going into the library and reading old periodicals or viewing microfilm Those who are able to get certain information from one website can access another to find out more. Very soon, you are to find out that online search engines are powerful tools for family history works. These search engines have so many indexes that could be very useful for one s search of family names or surnames, one would just need to know how to narrow down the many search results. These are just know-hows on starting your search for that unique last name and, eventually, your family history. Family trees are easy to build and submit and you can also make use of their Advanced Search option. Familysearch.org This site not only includes detailed tips on how to begin recording your family history, it also includes a good database of research documents categorized by state for easy browsing. One needs to understand the Old English language before he can conclude what his ancestor s occupation really is. A common example is the words ostler and hostler. Ostlers tend to horses while a hostler is keeper of an inn. Another example is a shoemaker who can also be called a cordwainer . Occupational documents include directories, census records, and again, civil registration.