Genealogy Chat

Ri, If you have input your grandfather's name, with Maria as the spouse, it will only bring up results where there is also a Maria on the same page. Click on the page number and it will show you all the names on that page. Unless you have 2 very common names, you would be unlucky to find the wrong one. What other information were you hoping for? They can only provide what was on the index, not the certificate itself. Carole

hi everyone. can i ask a really stupid question? (well, it sounds stupid to me!) when you go to a record in the BMD site, how do you know if it is the right one if you don't know the area or year? I've just tried looking for my great grandparent's marriage (michael and elizabeth melia) but have no idea if any of the results are them. all I know about them is that they were born c1862 & c1865. when you click on the 'info' it doesn't actually give you any further information, does it? also, is the BMD only in England? i know he was born in Ireland and she was born in Congleton. i'm new to all of this and am constantly tying myself up in knots. this makes me stop looking for things. has anyone got any straightforward tips about how to progress with finding people? thanks in anticipation. Ri

Christine, I'd forgotten about the images being available on FreeBMD to, thanks for the reminder! As you said, it is quite onerous, but at least you aren't using up a credit looking at each image. FreeBMD has come on in leaps & bounds in just the past year I have been using it, so it can only get better (albeit possibly slower with more people using it, but that is the price of success I suppose). Carole

Two other points... On the basis of finding something on FreeBMD which didn't appear on the Ancestry search, I reckon that Ancestry searches its own copy of the database. If FreeBMD has just been updated, the Ancestry copy may not have the whole dataset. Also... FreeBMD now makes available some index images (as at 1837Online) - for free. Look out for the link (which doesn't have a reverse gear!). The search basis is a bit quaint (to say the least) but as it's free, I don't feel justified in complaining. Christine

Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb(.)com/cgi/search.pl (remove the brackets) which bypasses the homepage and takes you straight to the search page. That way you won't be confused by the Ancestry banner. Ancestry must get more hits from that damned ad than anything else! As others have already said, keep looking on FreeBMD, as it is being updated all the time. Carole

You are not the only one Jim, I paniced and ran when I thought it was another Ancestry site. I do agree I get nothing from some of these sites excepy tantalising info which tells me there are x number of Swaffields,but I read to sign up. To all of you who put the helpful hints on about Fbmd, Thanks I'm going to try again.

Nudge

When I go to the FreeBMD page it has an Ancestry ad at the top too. I rarely do go to the main page though, I go to the Search page which has an ad for English Origins at the top.

I'm confused. Whenever I go to the FreeBMD main page it always says 'Advertisement' just above the box for Ancestry. On the search page, the first line of text says, in bold type, 'to search FreeBMD enter the details of the search below'. The Ancestry box is clearly above this statement. How come this doesn't happen for everyone else?

Hi Jim, keep trying with BMD - I've found lots of information. It's not complete so I use www.1837online.com when I can't find what I need. Usually I manage to find who i'm looking for, except for my G Grandmother, Amelia Sutton, born in 1869 - no trace anywhere! You can register with ancestry for a free 2 week trial which Ii'm told by others is no problem to cancel. Keep searching Maggie

Cheers Thanks Jeff have just logged on using your link. Loads of matches for my family thanks so much. Silly me fancy not scrolling down Cheers again Kelly xx

Jennifer If only you could print off certificates! You can't, I'm afraid. What you will get of FreeBMD/Ancestry Eng & Wales civil registration/1837online is the reference you need to order the certificate from the GRO, which currently costs £7. Helen

Have just been reading all your emails. I have not been able to get any info on free BMD either. Have paid to Ancestry and expected to see birth/death/marriage certificates which I could print off. Have got nothing and wasted my money! Will follow your instructions and hope for success! These tips are great!

It's because the ancestry ad. loads more quickly than the rest of the page. I fell into the same trap at first...it's a clever(?!) marketing ploy. Just wait a bit, then scroll down. There are other sites that the same thing happens on. Good luck! And keep your info fairly vague...I find that selecting 'all' often gives me something worthwhile, whereas being too specific gives nothing! Sue (NZ)

Go straight to this page for your search http://freebmd.rootsweb.*com/cgi/search.pl (remove *)

Kelly, Ignor the small box at the top of the page....go down to the main part. It's a common problem. Sheila x

Hi I have the same problem, when i enter my search it shows no free results. Just drects me to a subscription area with the promise of results. Whatever your doing wrong Jim i am too!!!!!!!!!!! Kelly x

I use FreeBMD and also the same info on the Ancestry site. I had to register (not subscribe) to use Ancestry, but I find it is quicker than FreeBMD and I prefer the way it lists hits, you don't need to do so much scrolling down. On the other hand, if you are looking for a marriage and want to look for both names at once, FreeBMD is better. I generally use whichever suits my purpose best each time. Helen

Good oh! This is an absolutely essential website but remember to keep checking back if do not find entry as they regularly update it. good luck grandpa jim! (my grandad was called jim too!) zoë x

Thank you all, I know it looks dim of me, but I was totally at a loss. I am in now. Jim ::--))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))