So how do you start retracing your ancestors' journey? Before tackling British records, it helps to know an ancestor's approximate date of immigration and his hometown — which you could find in several places. First check home sources, such as family papers, family Bibles, letters, pictures, obituaries and naturalization papers, for clues. Then ask family members to do the same. Have they heard stories about your ancestor? Did he immigrate with other relatives? Searching for your ancestor's siblings, cousins or neighbors might reveal his place of origin.