as a non-mormon who may be related to joseph smith, how do i investigate my genealogy?

I just re-routed that question to a high school friend of mine from Kauai, who now lives in AZ. I believe he is a devout Mormon. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear from him.

Check your gmail!

Here's also an article on Joseph Smith, Jr.:

Posting Joseph's lineage is spinning your wheels.. ya gotta know YOUR ancestors, then compare to see if you have someone in common.

Genealogy is not free. It is a hobby, same as any other, and there will be some cost.. even if it means gas to go to a library. Or ordering a death certificate (sorry, them office people need to pay bills too, so they get a salary).

Do you HAVE to use a fee based site? No. Surprise.. people traced ancestors before there was an internet (or even computers). They drove to courthouses, libraries, cemeteries, etc. You can now get a lot of that online. Not all of it. Ancestry.com has census records and such online now, it's a valid business. You can get the records other ways.

http://www.cyndislist.com/

my favorite place for starting out. Don't overlook the section on myths and hoaxes about genealogy.

A Family History Center at a Mormon Church is one of the best genealogy sources available, for Mormons and non Mormons alike. I bet my bottom dollor they have genealogy information on Joseph Smith's ancestors and descendants.

People who have used their resources can all tell you they won't try to convert you or send their missionaries by to ring your doorbell.

Joseph Smith, Jr.'s family tree can be found and searched free at:

http://www.familysearch.org/

The following should get you started:

*Joseph Smith, Jr. was born on Dec 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vt to Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack

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*Joseph Smith Sr. was born on 12 Jul 1771 in Topsfield, Essex, Mass to Asael Smith and Mary Duty

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*Asael Smith was born on 7 Mar 1744 in Topsfield, Essex, Mass to Samuel Smith and Priscilla Gould

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*Samuel Smith was born 26 Jan 1714 Topsfield, Essex, Mass to Samuel Smith & Rebecca Curtis

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*Samuel Smith was born 26 Jan 1666 Boxford, Essex, Mass to Robert Smith & Rachel French

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*Robert Smith was born 1626 Kirton, Lincolnshire, England to Robert Smith...mother's name unknown

..........

Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack had 11 children

1. An unnamed daughter b/d 1797 Tunbridge,Orange,Vermont

2. Alvin Smith b: 1798 Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont

3. Hyrum Smith b: 1800 Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont

4. Sophronia Smith b: 1803 Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont

5. Joseph Smith Jr. b: 1805 Sharon, Windsor, Vermont

6. Samuel Harrison Smith b: 1808 Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont

7. Ephraim Smith b: 1810 Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont

8. William Smith b: 1811 Royalton, Windsor, Vermont

9. Catherine Smith b: 1813 Lebanon, Grafton, New Hampshire

10. Don Carlos Smith b: 1816 Norwich, Windsor, Vermont

11. Lucy Smith b: 1821 in Manchester, Ontario, New York

you can begin by asking your parents and track down as far back as they can get. That is the easiest way to find out. But if you are interested in that part of history, Mormons practice polygomy. and in the time of joseph smith, more then one husband was the norm as well as more then one wife.

FamilySearch.org has a very good, free database. It also has a handy genealogy program you can download for free and use to organize all the information in your family tree. Ancestry.com has more features, but it costs a fair bit and doesn't have too many more records.

Have fun. I love genealogy.

Contact a member( or a missionary ) of a Mormon Ward. They should have a site where they have a computer hook up to their geneaology computer system. You do not have to be a Mormon to use it ( they like other people to use it, it is often a source of finding new members ). They will show you how to search and help you if you want.

It is totally free, whether or not you are related to Joseph Smith, or any other member of the LDS (Mormon) Church. The following link has all the resources you will ever need, at no cost whatsoever: http://www.familysearch.org/

Good luck on your research!