Genealogy Chat

I think this BMD indexes thing is a bit of a red herring. You can look at the indexes free on ancestry just for registering; whether or not you pay a subscription makes no difference to that (or so I understand). But of course if you use a pay site such as 1837 online to look at the indexes you should expect a better service. You get what you pay for really. But ancestry does have all the censuses, and although their transcriptions are not especially accurate, you have more flexibility in searching on there than you do on other sites, as you can leave out surname, for example. And your subscription will allow you to spend all day every day looking at census images if you like, whereas some other sites charge you for each one you look at. I would definitely recommend ancestry, but you can take out a trial sub first to find out if you like it. Kate.

Apologies Andrew, Misunderstood! Sometimes if a quarter appears to be missing ie when you type in the name it just gives you the last three, if you go onto one and then highlight the year it will give you all four, very bizzarre, but true. Not always though, and sometimes when you go into the quarter that has been previously missing it will ask you for the letter of the surname you want ie S for smith, and then you have to trawl through the images. Hope this helps. Heather, I agree with you that without Ancestry doing this would be nightmare, still is sometimes even with it!!

Fuzz, Andrew does mean the bmd index with images - its not been going that long and has been a terrific bonus on top of all their census and other info but I guess there are some teething probs and you do sometimes find a quarter not there. Weirdly, I have found a quarter, gone back later to check and its disappeared and then looked again later and its back again! Basically I think it is all there, but they are still getting it all streamlined. When I think of the fiver a time I used to spend on 1837 and still not find someone, I think its brilliant that you can check on ancestry for nowt.

Fuzzy, I already have a paid Ancestry subscription. That's what I'm talking about. I log on, go to the BMD images and this is what I find. I'm not aware that the BMD indexes are any better whether you access them with a subscription or not. It's the same database and collection of images after all. Andrew.

Andrew, We are talking about a paid subscription to Ancestry, this allows you access to the complete BMD's images, I agree with you that the free ones are very incomplete, but once you have paid your fee for a membership then you get access to all their material

I know a lot of peeps on here bought a lot of 1837 units just before ancestry got their bmd index and 1837 was pushing their service with mega year long offers, so you can always request a look up from some kind soul if you do find the quarter you want is missing.

Elaine, When I said 'recently' I meant YESTERDAY. I doubt if Ancestry corrects their BMD images THAT quickly. And this isn't an unusual example - it's happened to me time and time again. By contrast, I've only ever found one missing image on 1837 in three years of searching. I know Ancestry is free so you can't expect perfection, and I couldn't do without their census data, but you can't rely on it yet. Sorry if I can't go along with the general enthusiasm here. Andrew.

I wish I could join Ancestry. I havn't got access to a computer at home and have to use work which is not ideal, last night I went on my neighbour's Ancestry to find something and could not believe what he has access to. Think I will have to move in next door. LOL CAROLE

Andrew, I think that you will find that Ancestry is improving day by day. If you go back now and search for the same information you will find that most (if not all) of those quarters are now available.

While I agree that Ancestry is worthwhile - do NOT discard 1837! The BMD indexes on Ancestry are poor to dreadful. The indexing is unreliable, and many pages are hard to read or missing. Just as an example, I recently did a search of the Ancestry marriage index for Rose YOUNG, married sometime in the 1920's or 30's. Starting from 1921, I found: 1922 Q4 1923 Q1&4 1924 Q1&2 1925 all Q's were missing. At this point I gave up on Ancestry and went on to 1837. Don't cancel your 1837 sub or you'll regret it. Andrew.

Well Lee if you have been buying units for sites like 1901 and 1837 - both of which you can now discard - then £55 or even £70 a year is peanuts. A quid a week, blimey what can you get for that? If you dont have a family tree program (which you will also need), why not buy that aswell at play*com and get ancestry free sub for three months with it? Family Tree Maker - I think its £30 on there including 3 months ancestry sub - (commission to Fred!)

definate YES! I signed up for the free trial first, after having it for 2 weeks I couldn't manage without it now. I spent about 20.00 buying credits for 1837 and used most of them searching and not finding anything. Ancestry works out at about 1.35 a week if you pay the full subscription. Linda c

If you're just starting I'd recommend getting a software programme (genes is good to start but it doesn't have enough fields to collect information & is not too flexible) Load of us have got FTM-2006 (Family Tree Maker) which works really well with ancestry - the programme searches ancestry for you. See Heather Positive Thinker's thread titled (something like) 'cor this is handy FTM' I'll try to find it & give it a nudge for you Sarah :-)

well that seems to be unanimous, i will see if i can scrounge a early xmas present out of the wife ! yes iam getting fed up with pumping money into 1837and 1901 census. cheers guys i am now convinced.

Lee I agree with all that's been said and in the past I have trawled to Record's offices---which I enjoy but on Ancestry you often find rellies who have moved to another area which, you wouldn't find unless you were in the relavant records office---if you see what i mean ---hard to explain!!! Having said all this I am on a free trail and when i cancel i will be lost without it,so will have to sweetheart hubby to give me money to enrol again----poor pensioner's you see

Yes, Lee. It is absolutely invaluable. The census information would be worth the subscription alone. Once you subscribe you will wonder how you ever did without it.

Definitely! I lasted 3 weeks doing my tree before paying the subs, people on here are really helpful for lookups, but when you first start there are so many leads & things to try that it gets frustrating having to rely on other people... seems expensive but it's well worth it & if you download the census forms that interest you you'll have them even when your sub runs out... do as much as you can with the free stuff - bmd's etc then pay, then you'll have a whole year's searching ahead of you! Good luck! Sarah :-)

YES YES YES YES YES As I think Paul once said, doing this hobby without an ancestry sub is like taking up cycling but not buying a bike. It is the best money you can spend - yes you do get to see all the census and you can save the actual images, you can look up the births deaths marriages. It saves you a fortune and really is the best. £55 a year 24/7 access if you can get the discount on Lost Cousins website still. Otherwise about £70 a year. BARGAIN

Hi Lee The census images you can view/download/print as often as you wish, the bmd index is free anyhow but for how much longer nobody knows. You can also see the incomplete parish records as well as Pallots marriage index,plus you get the post 1984 bmd index as well. It is worth the money,until you try you don't realise just how much there is,and new databases are being added all the time. You will wonder how you ever did without once you start. Glen

can you advise please, is it worth it? do i get to see all the census forms back to 1841, can i down load the same images how much is it for UK only lookups. thanks people.......Lee