Genealogy Chat

With all the comments I am reading about Ancestry which is the best site to join at the moment - Ancestry or Find My Past. Mostly looking in the UK but have some ancestry in Australia and New Zealand.

Thanks, think I will sign up for FMP.

I have been able to complete most of my tree by using ancestry.co.uk ( I have taken advantage more than once of their 14 free days offer)

But I find their transcription of the Censuses appalling - on a few occasions I have found people purely by chance.

One time having given up on one relative I bought some credit on findmypast and found them straight away in plain sight - I then found that ancestry did not have any record of this particular census page.

I find it best to use more than 1 site both free and paid for

With Find My Past, is it possible to view the original handwritten birth entries or are these typed as on Ancestry?

I think it is wrong to try and compare sites in this way, as each is different and has its own strengths and weaknesses. Much depends on which records you are trying to research.

Almost like saying do I subscribe to corn flakes for a year, or are rice crispies better, don't you think?

Hi
I am lucky enough to use the 2 sites, FMP will be the only site doing 1911 census from 2009 (or so it states) you will have to buy the credits but at least you would get a good preview for the info you may need.
Debbie

With Find My Past, is it possible to view the original handwritten birth entries or are these typed as on Ancestry?

The ones i have seen are typed.

Rachel

you cannot see the original handwritten version of ANY birth marriage or death on the internet.


All you ever see is the transcription from the GRO (General Records Office) quarterly register. In the early days these registers were handwritten ......... by a clerk in the GRO Office in London. Later they are typed.


In fact, you very rarely see an original certificate ....... what you buy for £7 from GRO is a transcription or computer generated copy or a photocopy of what they have. If it is handwritten, then it is usually all in the same handwriting indicating that it is a copy done by a clerk.

You almost never see your ancestors' handwriting.




sylvia

Except in Scotland! Where for a reasonable fee you can see images of the orginal handwritten records. They might have your ancestor's signature on them. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Pat

Sometimes, if you apply to the local register office, where the event occured, thy some times copy the original register. Once I have seen on a certificate that was wrote by the registrar, and then on the same certificate I sent different handwriting - this I believe to be my relative's signature.