Req: Advice re subscription web sites

I'm a novice here and would appreciate advice [I'll understand if I don't
get a response]. I've been paying for access to 1901 and 1851 census
records and I think I've gone about as far as I can go at one site. I also
used the BDM search facility and found it useful but quick to chew up the
credits. Before I commit further with pay sites [e.g. Ancestry.com] I would

Charani...

Which sites have you been using?

like to know what the experienced researchers think about subscriptions to
genealogy sites generally. Are there other free on-line alternatives? I'm
not resident in the UK but that's where my roots are.

C Rihan...

You don't say which site you were using.

It's not complete yet, but many BMDs can be found using

also if you are researching in the areas covered here,
you may find the ones you want

the loacl area you want to look at.

This one has free index for the 1881 census.

Best wishes
C.Rihan

V

Tom Perrett...

Without really meaning to, we subbed
for a one year sub to ancestry.co.uk
and we are ever ever so happy that
we did, we a rooting around and digging
out all sorts of things.

Cheers,

Tom [Tom Perrett]

Retired...

Some of the sites have a pay as you go scheme - you pay, say, five pounds,
and get so many credits which are deducted from your account when you
download an item. If you aren't sure how much you are going to use a site,
or wish to use more than one, this seems quite a good option. There are
quite a few sites, all have their strengths and weaknesses, so for us this
has been the best approach.
Read the terms & conditions carefully, as some sites have a limited period
within which to use your credits. Also if you are not in too much of a
hurry, there are frequently special deals available.

Jill...

I understand the reservations some have about Ancestry but I have found it
wonderful
You pay once and then you have access to a lot of records, limited only by
your time to delve and your inclination to find uncles, cousins etc.
It is more distracting as you can disappear along twigs very easily but then
again you are more likely to find family curiosities that way
Some of the transcription is terrible - you do have to learn to think very
laterally. Especially the new Scottish ones which are diabolical.
But with some ingenuity you can find your folks and, for the English ones,
the images are there to check your details.

Hugh Watkins...

I saw how central ancestry.com is to USA genealogy
and became an evangelist because

I had to wait a year for my first relatives to come on line

so for fun did a lot of look ups

play with the freebies first
drop down menu 1881 free iundex pay for images

Complete BMD Index ranges & Images 1837-1983

which some of us transcribe for and administer

if used as an index and cross checked with original documant or images
of them

Do not subscribe to ancestry dot com unless you have many relatives in
USA - dot co dot uk is best for most of us

I also use ancestry library edition
in any Solihull or Birmingham library

(but I find the one hour time limit a nuiscance)

remodelled byprogrammers and webmaster

for local info join the county list (pre 1970 names) of the shire in
which the relatives you are researching were born
SEE

first

if you web-search
FHS plus the place your are interested in you may get contact with a
relavant society
best if a member of the Federation of Family History Societies

a well formed question here will often get a really expert answer
especially if you are stuck

please feel welcome :-)

BTW
the 1881 set on CD is still good value especially for scottish research

occupation and address searches

enjoy

Hugh W

PS in the next stage in UK online genealogy is going to be the
development of competitors to ancestry

just as Heritage Quest is in USA

Tids...

And if you can't find them......there are many people on here who
will do their very best to help you.