Ancestry Scottish Census search acting up?

[SarahND]

Just think of it as one of the JOYs of Genealogical Research.

All the more satisfying when you actually find something!

[heymarky]

FWIW: I have noticed that sometimes when I use the back button to go back to a search form, Ancestry (other sites for that matter) helpfully unsets things that I hadn't realized I didn't want.

Is it possible that you 'back'ed at some time?

[DavidWW]

FWIW: I have noticed that sometimes when I use the back button to go back to a search form, Ancestry (other sites for that matter) helpfully unsets things that I hadn't realized I didn't want.

Is it possible that you 'back'ed at some time?

I very much suspect that this is the situation here, or something similar in terms of default search options.

So often, when I've used the Back Button I've been presented with a screen showing options that I didn't realise existed.

In line with the post that started this thread, during a single session on Ancestry, I've quite often been unable to duplicate the results of a search carried out several minutes before; and haven't always been able to navigate back to a search screen that then allows me to duplicate those initial search results.

Obviously, more practice on my part required

David

[JustJean]

How nice to wake up and see Ancestry being picked on for a switch

Sarah I know exactly what you mean. I too generally only use "exact search". I detest the Star System!!! Very late last night into early this morning I was piecing together the thread for Agnes Farish and realized the Scottish census returns were odd. I was far too exhausted to figure out just what the prob was but intended to look at it again tonight after work. Hmmmmm k

David the back button on Ancestry is one of my pet peeves. I often flick back to re-enter some search criteria only to have the boxes fill themselves in with what was there before and I miss removing something. However the back button is still the fastest way to run another search in the same specific database. That is what I really hate....I Idon't want a huge return of all the places the name shows up around the world ....I prefer to do my own narrowing down. As for duplicating a search and getting the same results twice....fortunately they do have the previous search and previous viewed record list.....it will only stretch back for the most immediate records but it's invaluable to just go back to the home page and choose the entry from that in lieu of trying to re-enter the search criteria and find it again. I've told Ancestry via survey form that they still have some website improvements to go..... Wouldn't it be nice if they had their ears on?

Best wishes
Jean

[SarahND]

I detest the Star System!!!

So do I!!!!! In fact, I hate all the "features" that try to second-guess what I will find relevant-- and usually fall very wide of the mark! Like you, I prefer to do my own narrowing down. In the past few weeks I have been "randomly selected" to answer various questionnaires on that site and have done so each time, hoping that with repetition, the idea might finally reach them
As for the back button... yes, I don't know why some of the databases, if you come up with no hits, will present you with what looks at first glance like the same boxes to fill in, but if you do so, you get a ridiculously wide search that you don't want. So the back button is the only way to keep the parameters you have been working with. Annoying

Good to know you noticed the problem too. I haven't heard back from them, but hope they will do something about it in short order-- really makes it tedious to search the Scottish censuses.
All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Got an answer from Ancestry... no help at all:

Dear Sarah,

We appreciate your message.

We have not changed the search parameters recently. One thing that can change things is the exact box might have been unchecked. That would throw you into ranked. Also, did you notice at the very bottom of every page there is a search section for re-fining the search, just scroll down. Thanks

If there is anything else with which we might assist you, please let us know.

Stacy
Member Solutions
Ancestry.com

Well, yes, I DID know that there was a search section at the bottom of the page and no, I did NOT uncheck the exact box

Would those of you who have an ancestry.com subscription please try this search I just performed in the 1891 Scottish census?

Exact search checked!
All boxes are left blank except:

First name: Walter
Birth year 1849 +/- 2
Birthplace: Leith

I get 28 hits, of which only 5 are named Walter
They all were born in Leith during the years 1847-1851
Each household has a Walter in it... but that Walter can be any age and born anywhere.

Is it just me, or does it do the same to you?
Thanks,
Sarah

[JustJean]

You mean like this?

Name/ Parent or spouse names/ Estimated birth year/ Birthplace/ Relation/ Civil parish/ County

Alexr S Allan/ Maryann/ abt 1847/ Leith, Edinr Head Duddingston Midlothian
C Archibald/ abt 1850 Leith Head Edinburgh St Cuthberts Midlothian
Mary Bartholemew/ Alexander/ abt 1848 Leith, Mid Lothian Wife Kirkcaldy and Abbotshall Fife
J W Bennett/ abt 1849/ Leith, Edinburghsh Head Dalkeith Midlothian
William Black/ Mary/ abt 1850/ Leith, So Head Edinburgh Canongate Midlothian
Janet Geddes Bortherston/ George Henderson/ abt 1849/ Leith, Edinburgh Wife Haddington East Lothian
Fanny Butler/ John/ abt 1848/ No Leith, Mid Lothian Wife Leith North Midlothian
Catherine Carnie/ abt 1851 No Leith, Mid Lothian Head Leith North Midlothian
Jemima Chalmers/ Walter P/ abt 1849/ Leith, Edinburghshire - Wife Edinburgh St Luke Midlothian
Walter Cunningham/ Mary G R/ abt 1851/ Leith, Midlothian Head Leith South Midlothian
George Easton/ Elizabeth/ abt 1851/ County of Edinr, Leith Head Glasgow Maryhill Lanarkshire
Jane Gibson/ Robert/ abt 1848/ South Leith, Mid Lothian Wife Edinburgh St Stephens Midlothian
George Gunn/ Margt/ abt 1847/ No Leith, Mid Lothian Head Leith North Midlothian
Margt Gunn/ George/ abt 1847/ No Leith, Mid Lothian Wife Leith North Midlothian
Isabella Hare/ Thomas/ abt 1851/ Mid Lothian, South Leith Wife Leith South Midlothian
Mary A Hutchison/ Robert/ abt 1848/ Leith, Edinburghshire Wife St Cuthberts Midlothian
Margret Irvine/ Walter/ abt 1851/ Leith, S Wife Leith South Midlothian
Janet Scott Laing/ Thomas Fraser/ abt 1849/ Leith, Midlothian Wife Edinburgh St Cuthberts Midlothian
John Liston/ Margaret/ abt 1851/ No Leith, Mid Lothian Head Leith North Midlothian
Ann McKinnon/ Donald/ abt 1851/ Mid Lothian, North Leith Wife Edinburgh St Cuthberts Midlothian
Walter Nicholson/ abt 1850/ North Leith, Mid Lothian Patient Greenock West Renfrewshire
John Paterson/ Catherine/ abt 1847/ Leith, Edinburghshire Head Leith South Midlothian
Andrew Scott/ Maryann/ abt 1849/ Leith Head St Cuthberts Midlothian
Walter Scott/ Welhelmina/ abt 1850/ So Leith, Edinburghsh Head Leith South Midlothian
Walter Thomson/ Barbara/ abt 1851/ Leith, Edinrshire Head Leith North Midlothian
George Trotter/ Elizabeth/ abt 1848/ Leith, Midlothian - S Head Leith South Midlothian
Margaret Watson/ Walter/ abt 1849/ No Leith, Edinrshire Wife Leith North Midlothian
Walter Watson/ Margaret/ abt 1848/ No Leith, Edinrshire Head Leith North Midlothian

[SarahND]

You mean like this?

Exactly

Thanks for replicating that I will now proceed to ask the ancestry folks to try it too and see what they say...

Regards,
Sarah

[sheilajim]

Hi Sarah

I got 28 hits, only a few were called Walter, but they were all in Leith.

The strange thing is that when I was searching for myself earlier today looking for Janet Miller, address Alloa , Clachmannanshire born Denny, and not using the exact button, I got nothing.
It wasn't until I just used Janet, born in Denny, that I got what I wanted.
Something is strange.

Regards

Sheila

[heymarky]

But.... more results is better, isn't it?