Genealogy Chat

I read the tips board daily and find them very helpful. My question is, is it worth paying for membership? The people I think I might like to contact are really just stabs in the dark; do you think I might have success if i went down this route? Comments appreciated Helen

I have found 3 distant relatives on genesconnected since March and have had a lot of help with my research. I am at the moment waiting for a reply from a lady with some information on my great Grandad. To me, that makes it worth paying the subscription fee. Maggy, West Yorkshire

Hi Helen, Ditto everything Margaret says! I also have had contact with people who's ancestors/desendants, have linked directly with someone in my tree. And what a buzz when it happens!! Also the help given on this site is second to none. I also try to help where I can, and find that very satisfying, by being able to give something back. I think it's well worth the fiver. Debbie

I agree, it was money well spent. I know what you mean thou i was doubtful it would be any use to me and at first the only difference seemed to be that i could email people. But the help i recevied on the message boards has been fantastic, several dead ends have unblocked and given me more leads to follow up.

Hi Helen, I agree with Darren, Maggy and Debbie, it's money really well spent. I have so much help and just reading the tips has tought me so much. I also really enjoy helping others. If you are not a full member you connot mail other people or view their trees. What can you but for £7.50 (Fee went up last month) maybe one Chinese Take Away! Regards Margaret

Thanks for your comments, Maggy and Debbie. I have given and received help on this board without being a member; so far as I can see the only difference is that I can have access to other member's trees? (and vice versa). Am I missing something? Do you get lots of contacts this way? Helen xx

And thanks also to Darren and Margaret. It seems to be the viewing of the trees thing that is the key?????

Blimey Margaret! Where can you get a Chinese Take-a-way for £7.50! Give me there number!!! Debbie

Hi Debbie, Try 0131 339 9888. I thinks it's about £6.50 for one Lemon Chicken and Fried Rice - my favourite! Is Edinburgh too far for you??? LOL Regards Margaret

Hi Helen, I think the viewing of trees in now resticted for new people joining and not paying the full membership. I see that you joined in January. Regards Margaret

I paid £5 to join for the year in May. At that time they said the fee was going up to £5 per month after end of may. I would not pay £5 per month. I haven't really had any success finding anybody off the site connected with my tree. And my one moan is that about 90% of people contacted do not bother to reply. I too read the tips board everytime I come online and think it is really good. I used the census decoder from one of the links with great success. As far as I am aware you can only view someone elses tree if you allow them to. Nobody can automatically view whatever tree they like.

Hi Diane, I was talking about viewing tree of those that you had been given access too. Regards Margaret

Hi, Thought I'd have my say. I think it is well worth the money, before I got on this site I had no idea how to go about my family tree. I have contacted a second cousin through this site and through the links board I have also made contact with two other relations (3rd/4th cousins I think), I have also given and received lots of help and it's really enjoyable. I'm learning a lot. Laurie

I agree it is really great to have an English(?) based site. So many are American. I started my research three years ago. I have an unusual maiden name (GEDEN) and there are not many on the site only about 23, this includes doubles believe it or not. I suppose like anything there is more success if your name is a little more common. My married name Davies is and although I haven't really done much on that one (couldn't face it yet) I would expect more connections. Saying that I have Smith's in Bucks. I was dreading looking into that but it would appear in that particular village there were only two Smith families at any one time. But as I said previously it would be so nice if people you contacted replied even if to say no. I like the new look on the site and only learned from here about the new family tree magazine which I have subscribed to. I only found this board just over a week ago and think it's great.

Hi Helen,It is very definitly worth paying your membership.I joined just a few months ago and due to an old family rift had no contact with my family and could only go by vague childhood memories.Since then I've found 5 cousins and have traced back 5generations and have also done the same for my husband.I know compared to some people it's not a lot of knowledge but to me it means a great deal.I'm now well and truly hooked!!!.Every evening after checking my emails I go straight to this board,everyone on here is so knowledgable,helpful and friendly and you learn such a lot,even as a computer newie I've been able to pass on tips about various sites to people.Long live this site I say and most especially this board!!!!!. Happy hunting everyone, Regards,Elaine

I have had more help from here than anywhere. This is well worth the money and it lasts for a year. Mary

I've been reading the replies to Helen with interest and thought it was about time I gave my two penneth's worth! I've been researching my family for 25 years, and although I have got my Devaynes family back to the 17th. century, and the female side back from there to the 12th. century, I had never had contact with anyone researching my maiden name, Reddington. When GenesConnected started up this year, I joined, with not much hope of success, but from the first day I had two contacts, one a second cousin and the other a second cousin's daughter. We are all connected through our great-grandparents. As mygrandfather died when my father was twelve I knew nothing about the Reddingtons. Since then we've traced back to London in the 1750s. So Helen, give yourself a chance if you really want to pursue our great hobby, and join GenesConnected. You never know what you might find around the corner! Pat McCourt

I had come to a standstill with my tree until i joined this site. Everyone has been so helpful.

Work out how much the g.c.membership fee is per day when you divide it over 365 days. I think this is a great site with lovely people, good support, and much information. I found my 3rd cousin within an hour of him registering with g.c. Both of us diddn't know the other existed! Whe have now met & get on great. I think the joining fee is well worth it elaine x

Go on Helen you know you'll like it!!! You will be drawn in like the rest of us. And like it has been said before everyone that can help you - does!!