Genealogy Chat

Just spent 2 hours searching for birth & marriage records on FreeBMD and found NOT ONE!! Am I the only one who seems to always be searching in the years that are not complete or does everyone else have the same problem. Think I will have to volunteer to transcribe some records, maybe that way I will get to see them before they go online!!! LOL! Lynne Sale

I just go to the local archive and they have all the BMD's on fiche from around england. Its free unlike 1837 but has the same info, the only trouble is a few of the years are handwritten and the pages begining in C that I am interested in are unreadable.Is this a problem for the Freebmd transcribers as well.

I have decided I will 'do my bit' for freeBMD when my youngest starts school in September. I have used the site so much that I feel I owe them at least a few hours a week to input some more of those names we are all waiting for.

How can we find out if we can help? Do we need to be qualified? Do we need special equipment? My youngest also starts full time in Sept and won't know what to do with myself??? so would love to help

I started transcribing for Free BMD a few weeks ago, because I had got so much free information from them that I also wanted to give something back. Also, the more of us that give of our time, the quicker we'll all find what we're looking for! To find out more, just go to the FreeBMD homepage and click on 'Join FreeBMD. There's loads of information about what's involved, and full details on how to contact a syndicate. It looks a lot more complicated than it really is, but you will receive as much help and advice as you need from your syndicate co-ordinator. You will also need to download some software to help you with your transcriptions - but if you go to the site, it will tell you all about this - and more. You don't need any qualifications as far as I'm aware - just to be able to copy exactly what you see! Happy transcribing! Janet. Northamptonshire.

Lorna, Just followed your advice, it appears they don't need transcribers at moment. Only USA or Canada unless I did something wrong. Well it wouldn't be the first time!! Shelli

Michelle Saw your message after I had sent mine. I've had a look at the FreeBMD site and you appear to be right. Try contacting the Volunteer co-ordinator - the e-mail address is on the same page - and see what they have to say. Regards Janet. Northamptonshire

Michelle I can tesify as a transcriber that they are always looking for more volunteers, they might be snowed under with new volunteers though as it takes some organistation to dispatch training information etc. You want if possible to join the Scan2 syndicate, you will certainly find them very helpful indeed.

I'm with you Stuart! I am a transcriber as well and I am sure Derek at Scan 2 would welcome transcribers with open arms! You don't have to be a whizz kid on the 'puter and I get a great kick out of seeing the pages add up that I have transcribed! I was really impressed to see how many peopple were ready to sign up and help out! Good on you all!! The index will be finished in no time at this rate!! Warm regards Sonja

I am also a transcriber for FreeBMD and agree that we need all the help we can get. I would love for all the files to be finished so we can find all the people we are looking for. However.... if you are transcriber for FreeBMD you have access to ALL files.... I have only just worked this out and have since found 4 births and 2 marriages - having a great time!

There are a lot of us FreeBMD transcribers on this site, aren't there?! Andrea - I didn't know about the access to ALL files for transcribers! How does that work? Janet. Northamptonshire.

I thought I would give it a go,as plenty of spare time on my hands!I have sent an email to the volunteer coordinater and waiting for a reply! Barbara.

Well, Lynne! Your original message has certainly started something here! Good for you Barbara, and Michelle, who I know has also contacted the volunteer coordinator. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Janet. Northamptonshire.

Lynn, you could try the other site www.yourshirebmd.org.uk I have often found relatives on this one who were not present on the BMD site, good luck

oops sorry on reading the message i left i'v so spelt the website name wrong its www.yorkshirebmd.org.uk

Come on Andrea! Spill the beans!! I didn't know either Janet! Please tell how you can access they all. SOnja

I think Andrea must want to keep this one to herself, Sonja! Janet. Northamptonshire

There are very good reasons why it shouldn't be broadcast that this is possible, we don't want transcribers who are only interested in getting access to scans for their own use and neglect transcription work. If your internet savvy enough then you can work it out for yourselves but I wish, for the sake of FreeBMD, that nothing had been said in public. They only had to password the scans in the first place because someone told the world that they were available and FreeBMD was crippled by the flood of people who started to download them.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I will certainly see if they need any volunteers now I know it's not difficult to transcribe. Lynne

Thanks for the explanation about the situation Stuart ......... enough said, I think! Janet. Northamptonshire