How do ancestry websites work? Is it even possible to link back generations like that?

[Maxi]

Many ancestry websites, have databases of records that have been transcribed, collected/harvested data from what people collect or they harvest from what people add to their websites, these are all used so when you put your information you are looking or it is matched to what they have in their database and those are the 'results' you get....................a database doesn't know your ancestry and may of the 'results' are not cited......so 'results' are jut options that you need to verify, the reality is NO they can't link generations together although that is exactly what people using those websites do and end up with a collection of unrelated names by working like that, not checking back to real record, not verifying what 'results' they get and think they have their ancestors.
Some websites have spreadsheets, pdf, word documents of transcribed records, such as lists of baptisms, marriages or burials ( PRs) and you can search these to find your ancestors
Some have scan copies of records, which you can view and print off for your records, these are copies of REAL records.

The internet is just a tool that can be used,although many use it as if it is the only tool in the tool box............in family research the only way to ensure you get YOUR ancestors and the correct information is to get to see all or as many of the records as possible use the to cross reference to get the information about the events in your ancestors life to prove they are YOUR ancestor....and using connecting documents such a birth certs which show child and parents, census returns, which show family groups etc.

So websites are useful but they are not the 'be all and end all' of family research ..........................