Genealogy Chat

I think I have found all I can using cheaper sites and search engines, but Ancestry is so damn expensive. How good are their records - how far back do their censuses go in the UK?? Do they give complete info, or do you wind up paying more to get copies of records or to see the additional info.... Is it easy to search, or do you have to go trawling thru enormous amts of stuff to find what you are after??

Ancestry has the complete England & Wales census for all decades from 1861 to 1901 inclusive. All are name-indexed (but with some howling mistranscriptions!) and the indexed names are linked to images of the original census page. The 1881 is also address-indexed. The subscription is all-inclusive - i.e. there are no extra charges for downloading the images, etc. The 1851 and 1841 census have been promised ''soon'' (whatever that means - though the 1851 was up and running for a few days last week, so presumably is at the testing stage). There are also some other useful databases, eg. bmd's from 1984-2000, but the site's main usefulness is for the census info. It doesn't have much for Scotland or Ireland, but if you're chasing ancestors in 19th century England/Wales then I would certainly recommend the site. Richard

Hi, Why don't you trial it..... You can test it out for 30 days which I am doing ..... I will definately be signing up for it after the 30 days is up. But see what you think.. Sal

Hi, Ancestry is worth every penny. I started researching long before ancestry put censuses on line. At the LDS it took me 8 hours (over 3 weeks) and 3 films at £2.70 at time to find my families in the 1871 census of Ebbw Vale. I found them again on ancestry in 2 minutes. When you take into account the cost of fares to record offices, the price of copying census from film, plus the hours and hours of searching unindexed censuses it is a total bargain for anyone serious about genealogy. Gwynne

I go to my Local Studies library ever week, and have watched new people come in week after week, and it is the same procedure, they only know there grandparents name and no address, they sit at a film viewer and start trawling through the images, for an hour, they find nothing, they then think this is to much like hard work, they give up and you never see them again, happens all the time, i sit there and think i could find you them on Ancestry in a couple of minuets, and i do offten log people in an get them started, once started they love it, but since the bbc programes i think the interest hit the roof and has now fell back to worse than before then, my library is dead most days now, i think having an interest in family history and not having Ancestry is like having an interest in cookery and having no oven.

Spread over a year,ancestry isnt expensive,and you could hammer it in the first year,printing off all the censi and bmd refs for 1851-1901 on all your bloodlines,then....worry about parish records later-theres enough time spent in that era,without needing it for the ancestry years. I got it for £55,which works out as less than one packet of fags a month (if youre a smoker) one pint of beer a week (if youre a drinker) if youre neither a smoker nor a drinker,then even more reason.Whats more you'll have a lot more to show for it !! I've been on it for 6 weeks and have already printed off 50 or so census sheets,which would otherwise have cost me £25 alone. Remember-youre not paying for mistakes this way. Also-dont forget the charges you pay to be on the internet in the first place-an average package works out as £200 + a year just to be connected.

The discount offer is still on at www.ancestry(.)co(.)uk/promo £56 for years subscription, at £1-07p a week it's a bargain. Carol www.genealogyprinters(.)com

Hi Happy I think Gary's description of Ancestry as being like an interest in cookery but with no oven is spot on. Made me laugh too!! He is so right. To me Ancestry is the foundation of Genealogy, and I couldn't possibly be without it now. It might be a bit expensive but believe me it is well worth it. Dianne xx

YES. Ancestry is worth every penny its invaluable. I joined it 3 years ago. Supscription was then about £90. The only census it had at the time was 1891, but I had my moneys worth within about 1 month of joining. Now it costs even less but with 1861-1901 and hopefully 1851 and 1841 census as well. I dont see how anyone can manage without it. I shall certainly be renewing my subscription. Sue

Im not well off by any means, but I am always surprised when people say ancestry is expensive. No doubt these people have already spent more than the sub on looking on sites like 1837 etc. At about a quid a week, with 24/7 usage, its a damn good bargain.

I think ancestry is worth every penny. Before I joined had a look on 1837 1861 cost a fiver didn't find what I wanted also spent money on the 1901 though that wasn't wasted. Like everyone says within a few minutes of joining ancestry a whole new era was opened up. Plus like someone else says you don't pay for your mistakes. And with the 41/51 hopefully being added soon. You see the actual images and can print and save them. Yes worth joining if only for census alone. Germaine x

If you could have seen my friend's face in June, when I found a family in London, that she had searched for for over 7 years, you would see immediately the benefits of Ancestry. She had slogged away, reel by reel on many trips to London but without success. Ancestry found them in a couple of minutes.

I agree - Ancestry is absolutely worth every penny. I love Gary's comment. Being a cook but having no oven - so true!! I'm sure you won't regret - GO FOR IT!

My oven doesn't get nearly as much use as my Ancestry subscription Gary. Hubby thinks I've forgotten how to cook!! Kath. x

LOL Kath, same here. I think they should give us free insurance against dvt too!

If your family are from England/Wales then it is invaluable. It’s also enabled me to do trees for some of my friends – great fun (or perhaps that’s just me?). Having recently had to look at Scottish records (not covered by Ancestry) for someone, believe me when I say that Ancestry is cheap at half the price. I couldn’t do without it. John

I only joined Ancestry 3 weeks ago, I had put it off for so long thinking it was an extravagance could live without. I joined when there was a promothion on. It is brilliant! when I think that it can cost me £30 for a day trip to London to visit the FRC, this has to be so worth it. (I may still need to do a London visit, but it won't be to trawl through the census's) I an surprised just how worth it it is! Suex

Did it have the little padlock on the site saying it was a secure site. If not then I'd be worried if I was you. Kath. x

Im sure it would be ok, just a blip in ancestry. May be the discount offer is no longer valid?

Better VFM than certain sites, ahem!!