I have been a member of ancestry. com from the beginning, since around 1996. I have watched them evolve into the leading platform for genealogy info. They are an invaluable tool for research. However, they are expensive. My fees have only increased through the years, although, I have been pleased with what they offer for the money. There are still loads of free resources on the web; findagrave.com and genealogy.com take the lead on free sites. But, don't forget about libraries and courthouses in at the local level which can be amazing resources. Nothing beats sitting at an old microfilm machine looking up records. It takes both types of research to be successful.
Happy Hunting,
~beth
Happy Hunting,
~beth