What is the 'protocol' around requesting Census lookups in this group?

I see people doing it, and would like to make requests, but don't want
to be abusive. I know someone must have paid for the access, and it
takes some time...

CWatters...

Just go for it.

PS. It's not good form to request a look up in a census that's available
free online! At least not unless you have tried yourself and are having
problems finding the person.

singhals...

You just ask; if someone has time, they'll have a look, if not, they'll
ignore the message.

Best not to post a whole series of 'em at once, of course; ask for one,
wait for a reply, say Thanks, wait another cycle and then ask for another.

One thing I'm finding you really should be aware of or you'll be tearing
your hair out : Some families are heavily disguised. I was looking for
a man whose given name was Aubrey today; he turned up in the census as

Charani...

A friend of my late father's was always known to me as Alan, but my
paternal grandmother always referred to him as Aubrey. To this day, I
have no idea which was his birth name. I'm not even sure when he was
born.

Traps for the unsuspecting.

Herman. If yours are also in the witness protection program, no one is
going to be able to find them but yourself. :(

John Nichols...

In addition to the other excellent responses, I would also say that if and
when you have access that you make a point of doing lookups from time to
time for others who make requests.

Huntersglenn...

Just ask -- those who have the time and access will reply; those without
the time won't reply.

Be sure that you give as many details as possible, though. Full names
if you have them (names don't always match) ages if known, location
(city or town, county, state), siblings, spouse name, and what year
you're interested in.

Generally, the types of thing that would violate the TOS for those who
have subscriptions would be for you to ask, say, for every "Doe" in
Blank County, Blank State, in the 1900 census, whereas asking for all
info about John Doe's family in Blank County, Blank State, 1900 census
is okay.

Hope that helps,