Ancestry co uk

[scottishMisty]

Hi All

I am think of signing up to ancestry for a month is it any good for searching in Scotland
or just a waste of time for Scotland
Cheers Jan

[SarahND]

Hi Jan,
I find it very useful for Scotland, because all the censuses are there (transcriptions, not images). You won't find BMD certs, since these are only available on Scotland's People, but if you can follow your people in the censuses, you'll have a better idea of when and where to find the certs on SP.

Yes, the transcriptions can be garbled at times, but since the search is so much more flexible, you'll end up finding the people most of time in spite of it If not, just shout and we'll all give it a try!

All the best,
Sarah

[emanday]

Hi Jan,

I use Ancestry a lot, including for the Scottish censuses. As Sarah mentioned, sometimes their interpretations of some place names and occupations can be real howlers, but I always try them first to establish where folk are.

Why don't you try the free trial first? I think they still do ask for credit card info for it, so just remember to cancel in time if you don't want to continue.

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi Jan

I can only echo what Mary advises.

Try the 2 week free trial first.

I did this about a month ago and spent many hours printing off the censuses I wanted.

It'll take me weeks and weeks to go through them all. I have dozens and dozens!

Very easy to cancel before the 2 weeks expires. Just follow the on line instructions.

When I have extracted all the info from the censuses I have i.e. who was where and when, then it will be easier to find bmd's on SP.

With the information I have gleaned I then intend to to join Ancestry for a month to see what else I can turn up.

After that I will decide whether an annual subscription is the best way forward.

Hope this helps you to make a decision.

Best wisehs
Jean

[emanday]

Right Jean. That's how I started out with Ancestry. It gave me that chance to evaluate whether or not it was worth a membership.

Jan,

If you do try the trial period, try to make up a list of folk you want censuses for before you start and work your way through them. Don't make the mistake I first made - leafing through bits of paper looking for folk I was missing information for while I was doing the searches. Two weeks isn't that long when you have the rest of your daily life to work around and I wasted too much time not being prepared.

[Jean Jeanie]

Mary

Glad you brought that up.

I took each family line and ran off a report from my family tree which showed the censuses I had.

I was then able to concentrate on the ones I wanted to find.

You are absolutely correct, you do have to be organised. It took me all of the two weeks to find what I did. Two weeks passes very quickly

I know that once I sort it all out there will be more gaps, due to missing children either marrying, emigrating, or indeed dying.

I was kept at it for most of the 2 weeks!!!!

The 2 week trial is definitely the way to go. Then you can make your own mind up.

I think I know where I am heading!!!!

Best wishes
Jean

[scottishMisty]

Hi
Thanks for that I think I will give it a try I just worry once you have sign up it is a nightmare to cancel
Cheers Jan

[emanday]

Well, Jan, it never used to be a problem.

I don't remember anyone mentioning any trouble on here either and, believe me, I'm sure we would let other members know.

[scottishMisty]

Hi emanday
thanks I just me worry for nothing
I just to make sure before i sign up it not hard to cancel
Cheers Jan

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi Jan

I had no problems cancelling.

What I did, to make sure, was to cancel on the 13th day, not the 14th!

Best wishes
Jean