Ancestry/Genealogy

Some states, such as North and South Carolina, have their historic deed records online. Sometimes you're lucky and they are available online but by county - and you have to research which county the land was in then and now as county lines changed over the years.

If your ancestors might have gotten land grants, either for their military service or by purchasing them, BLM has those online.

All of those sources are free unless you want to have them print copies for you. Usually you can save the digital versions for free.

FamilySearch.org has resources that can help you find where to locate sources for different locations.

My early education in researching family records started with my Mom looking up her family. She was very, very lucky in that all her ancestors moved to Perry County, Alabama between 1819 and 1834 and her parents still lived there. Until her mother died, we'd go spend part of the summer with my grandparents while Mom would drive to the courthouse and look up the old deeds. When it came time to look for burials we'd all go to the various cemeteries and take pictures of the tombstones.

I'd volunteer to do it for you for free - I find it relaxing to look up other people's trees since most of my ancestors on both sides are well researched over the last 150 years - but I am getting all sorts of medical tests in prep for a surgery and my concentration sucks right now.