Genealogy Chat

Just wondered out of findmypast and ancestry which of these people recommend, or would you suggest something different?

Diane,

I have had a sub to ancestry for about 4 years. I have used Find my Past occasionally.


For breadth of materials available ....... ancestry wins hands down so far as I am concerned.

In fact, I really don't understand how any one can conduct their research without constant access to ancestry.


sylvia

Hi Sylvia,
I tend to agree with Diane with Ancestry being the one I use most frequently. It's the only one I have a continuous subscription with.
Bye
Paul

When I first started my family history research nearly five years ago, I mainly used 1837online (which is now Findmypast). This was before Ancestry had all the BMD's and it only had a couple of the census years. I spent an absolute fortune running into literally hundreds of pounds a year.

Once Ancestry started getting more census records and the complete BMD index, I asked for an Ancestry subscription for Christmas and now I wouldn't be without it. At first I also bought a few credits for Findmypast, for the odd times that things were missing from Ancestry - but I haven't bothered with that for quite a while now.

I would say Ancestry would be your best bet, but everyone has their own opinion and at the end of the day they both have some things that the other hasn't, so it depends on what sort of things you are going to need in your own particular research.

Kath. x

ok.. thanks for that... I am on ancestry, but thought the super-sleuths on here were converts to findmypast!

Ancestry is THE site overall winner :)

Ancestry.co.uk is worth it's weight in gold!
But do learn to use the very powerful search engine to get maximum benefit. Too many input name and are disappointed with no result. Same family can have a different name in each census. Search on Birthplace, year for example (No names) this produces A to Z list. For ultimate test select 1901 census Male for A to Z listing of 14,720,941.
Female list is 15,726,561 Produced in blink of an eye! Get the idea?
Good Hunting.

Bookmarking for when I'm more awake.

I want to decifer Historymans message....

No offence Historyman. it's not you it's me! Just got in from work 2am. Need some Zzzzzs

Gerri x

Historyman...

I am learning.. fast! I have found birthplace and christian name or birthyear to be invaluable searches when surnames have been mis-transcribed... especially useful when people were born in little villages... less useful when in the metropolises!!

I'm glad I'm on the right site!

Many thanks for everyone's input.

I used 1837, pay as you view , and now Ancestry, which I dont know how I managed without, they take my subs out of my bank account every quarter, so I dont miss the money, and dont have to bother about renewing every quarter.

I did buy census cd's, but that was so expensive. so find Ancestry the answer

Diane,
Pleased you are finding my guidance note useful. Don't forget even in largest places system can still work. Gender selection cuts results by 50%. Selecting Head gets rid of circa 80% of results.
A long surname has virtually no chance of being trarscribed correctly, but say Joseph & wife Mary will usually be correct. Link that to an age + or - 5 years with birthplace. Ancestors rarely moved counties, so select expected county of residence.
I recently assisted someone looking for Radforth in 1901, In 1901 they appeared as Radford, 1891 as Radcliffe, 1881 Radforth, 1871 Redford. System mentioned dealt with the problem and each variation traced in minutes.
Do admit that very common surnames are more difficult. If father's side is Smith , and maternal side Jones I think I would take up golf!

Have to add that historyman is so right in what he says!


I haven't used full surname on census or any searches since very soon after I started hunting my family 4 years ago. Well, one name is Cottrell/Cottrill/Cotterell/ Cotterill and who knows what other spelling!!! Wild card symbol * to the rescue.

I use the wild card * a lot on both christian and surnames. Lousia is a very common mis-spelling (more than mis-transcription) of Louisa ........... but Lou* finds Louisa, Louise, and Lousia, as well as Lou!

And not using the surname allowed me to find my Schofield family transcribed as Silufeld!


sylvia

Historyman.... I wasn't very good at golf.... !

And my Smith line, which I was going to leave til last, turned out to have the most interesting (famous) ancestors!

Teddys... wouldn't an annual sub be cheaper ? !

Cagsie... lol.. a girl can never have too many shoes!

Sylvia... aha... I hadn't got round to using the * key... I'll be even faster now!

Def ancestry, for ease of look-ups, and information available better than findmypast.

Use findmypast for passenger lists only, so buy credits when see something I want

Sue

hello
will ancestry cover Southern Ireland
many thanks to you all for the above info, very helpful to a newbie like me

ann

Ann,

There are censuses/parish records etc for Ireland... if you know something particular you would like looked up as an example to see how useful it might be, leave me a post here, and I'll try it for you.

It seems that the Irish didn't have the regular censuses that the UK did, however.

Diane
looking to find Matthew Henry maybe from mullingar in ireland all i know he would have been born late 1800s, he was my grandfather and my dad is 74 now, but wont really talk about him, so i am kinda stuck, i know he married some one called Elizabeth and he died in his early 30s, i know its a long shot but have to try,
many thanks for getting back to me
ann

Given those dates, he could have been born after 1901? (census?)

There is only one Matthew Henry on the English 1901c and he is born 1841!!

I have looked for Irish records but there is no record of a Matthew Henry, but then actually there are only census records on there for Antrim that had any results to look at.

I presume your father was born in England? Perhaps more sideways conversations with your father might be needed!

Sorry not to be more help..

Diane

Nudging to keep. Thanks.

Diane
thanks so much for looking for me, its a complete jumble, and a long story but i will keep looking
ann
xx