I started early and was fortunate to have parents who were inte-
 rested. They helped and encouraged me. The Bells were of Ulster-
 Scot descent. My father had a chart. So did my mother, who was 
 a Seibert. This traced the line to Wolfersweiler, Saarland. My 
 ancestor's letter of recommendation had been preserved. My son 
 visited the German village. There were still Seiberts living there. 
      I began interviewing and writing to my relatives. I soon became 
 a "pest". I sought Family Bibles, scrap-books, old letters and pic-
 tures. I looked for family stories. A tradition may contain a 
 grain of truth. 
      Then I discovered libraries with histories and genealogies. I 
 was able to get needed books on Interlibrary Loan. I found it 
 necessary to know local history. I could understand my families 
 better. Of great help were the printed Colonial Records and 
 Pennsylvania Archives. Here are tax, land and Revolutionary War 
 records. They have excellent indexes. 
      I then began going to courthouses looking up deeds, wills, 
 estate records and account papers, orphan's court records, civil 
 suits in the Prothonotary's office. Annul tax records were very 
 helpful. A new name or place found in court records opened doors. 
      Of course, it was necessary to visit cemeteries. Today many 
 have been copied. But I found it best to do my own search. Some 
 of my ancestors could not afford to buy gravestone. 
      The 1798 "Window Tax" (Federal Direct Tax) gave me a description 
 of the houses my ancestors lived in - some good - some not so good. 
 The windows in the better houses were listed. 
      I went to Washington DC and spent many hours looking up census 
 and Revolutionary pension records. Today one does not have to go 
 to Washington. I found much useful information. The federal census 
 is taken every 10 years, beginning in 1790. The pension applications 
 were most helpful. Sometimes I found the page from the family Bible. 
      I then went to Harrisburg to look up land records, applications, 
 warrants, surveys, patents. By comparing the surveys with modern 
 aerial maps, I could locate the old family farms. I spent many 
 hours at the Land Office and State Library. If possible, start your 
 library searches at this library. 
      Church records, especially German ones, gave me many names and 
 dates. I used German Reformed, Lutheran and Moravian sources. The 
 Ulster-Scots were always on the move and records are scarce. 
      I wrote to Germany and was able with help to trace my Seiberts 
 to the 1500s. I got a photocopy of the baptismal record of my an-
 cestor who came to Pennsylvania in 1738. He had to "sign in" when 
 he arrived at Philadelphia. The Ulster-Scots who were just going 
 to a British colony did not have to register. I never located 
 where they lived in the Old Country. 
      I consulted all kinds of maps, county atlases, and Warrant maps. 
 I sometimes found what I needed in unexpected places. Today it is 
 quite different with microfilms, indexes and Internet. But the way 
 I did it was fun. When the genealogical bug hits you, you are done 
 for. My three rules are: 
      Fish with a big net. 
      Never give up. 
      Publish. 
                                     Raymond Martin Bell