We all have our favorite genealogy sites on the Web, but how do you find out what’s out there? It’s certainly not as simple as going into a library and browsing the stacks – an activity I highly recommend.

Many researchers visit Cyndi’s List, which has offered a compilation of Web sites for a decade. Don’t be daunted by the fact that the site contains 257,300 links. Well, be daunted, but visit www.cyndislist.com anyway.

Even the list of categories runs six pages – print it out and keep it at hand to remind yourself what’s available.

It’s true that some of the links go to subscription databases you have to pay for, but there are a huge number of free resources at hand.

Click on the “Handwriting & Script” category to find links that will help you decipher old handwriting. There are also sites that give lists of abbreviations, reminding us that “ar. co.” is artillery company, that TAG is the periodical The American Genealogist, and that d.s.p. refers to the Latin term for died without issue (children).

Under United States, the “U.S.-Census” category can help you find indexes or even portions of census records transcribed online.

For instance, I found that the town of Freetown, Mass., had been indexed online for 1850. I looked for the surname Macomber and found heads of household named Alden, Daniel, John H. and Rounseville, with page numbers. That’s handy for someone who wants to order census microfilm through the LDS Church Family History Centers and then find the names quickly.

For Taunton, Mass., I found the 1800 census. Of course, prior to 1850, only the head of household is listed by name. In Taunton, I found Joshua Williams with three males under 10, one male 16-25, one male 26-44, two females under 10, one female 16-25, and one female 26-44.

Speaking of the LDS Church, you may know that all of the U.S. Census for 1880 has been transcribed, and you can look up anyone in the household at www.familysearch.org.

Categories on Cyndi’s List range from various countries to organizing your research, clothing and costumes, primary sources, royalty and nobility, famous people, Loyalists, surnames and family associations, and even medieval.

Some Web sites will prove useful and easy to figure out, while others do not. You decide. Happy hunting!

The Ripley Historical Society has been busy since its organization in 2002, including opening its museum last year in the 1858 Town Hall. Some 185 people from 35 towns and three states visited the museum.

Items came in from the Sevey, Sinclair, Wakefield, Woodcock and Hemenway families, and the Skilling homestead. Members have helped clean up the Downing Cemetery, not to mention the numerous hours doing repairs and cleaning at the museum.

There’s a nice picture of the building on the front of the first issue of the Ripley Historical Society Newsletter, compiled this spring by Sandy Wintle Blaney and Sharon Harris Hopkins.

You can receive the newsletter by joining the society for $6 a year, sent to Ripley Historical Society, c/o Dorothy Hutchins, 258 Lane Road, Ripley, ME 04930.

3362. BUMFORD-WILLEY. Seeking ancestors of Elizabeth Bumford of Londonderry, Ulster, North Ireland, born Sept. 19, 1744; married Ichabod Willey Sr., born May 30, 1738, Dover, Mass. Elizabeth Willey, who died Feb. 19, 1834, in Cherryfield, was daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Bumford. Ichabod and Elizabeth had 11 children. Charles L. Willey, 31 School St., Limestone, ME 04750-1106, telephone 325-9164.

3363. LOW-GOOCH-WILLEY. Seeking information on Jonathan Low, born about 1755, lived in Sanford and Columbia, died about 1820. Also his wife, Susanna Gooch. Their daughter, Hannah Low, married my Samuel Davis Willey. Suzanne Gray Black, 13 Harborview Court, Apt. 2B, Blue Hill, ME 04617.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send e-mail, familyti@bangordailynews.net.