Genealogy Chat

I think the answer is that you need both. Certificates can give you information that Ancestry does not have. You can then use that information within Ancestry to get more info. Ancestry will also help you get the right information to order appropriate certificates. However, I have not found Ancestry very helpful for getting back beyond 1800.

Cant say Ive found the parish records of any use Im afraid, but they have a lot of stuff on there that must be of use to someone! The census info is wonderful (if badly transcribed at times). When I first started this that is the first site I found that I subbed to - it only had the 1881 or 71 at that time. Now its back to 1841. I would have given up without that, freebmd and the rootsweb sites. It was only when I then found this site and the brilliant researchers on here that I made huge moves in finding more detail than I imagined Id ever know!

thanks everyone

Ancestry's parish records don't cover all parishes and the parishes they do cover don't always have the full range of years. HOWEVER, if they have the area you need then they are great. I have found so much for mine, that alone was worth having the membership for. So many hours travelling, petrol and child minding saved it's SO worth it.

As far as I know, you can subscribe monthly too, at around £10, so if you want to have a concentrated period of research over a month or two to achieve a limited set of research objectives, you can spend considerably less than the price of an annual subscription, and spend the rest on certificates. It is worth remembering that many libraries with computers available for public use offer the Ancestry Library Edition completely free of charge.

Andrea and Heather, Have you found the parish records of any use?

Cant see how anyone manages without out. Dont know if the 20% discount is still on at mo. If not £70 for a year 24/7 access. I would think it will cut down on certs as you can trawl backwards and find names of parents etc and then use the bmd to find the wifes maiden name. Of course for your direct line, there is nothing like having the certs in your album to look at.

If you mean 'should you join Ancestry?' then I would say YES YES YES!!!! I don't know how you can get by without joining. You have all the census, BMD etc and once you've paid your membership that's it until the following year. If you work out how much you pay on other sites with pay per view for each BMD or census that you look for, you are probably spending more than 70 quid per year anyway. It's a big chunk at once and I have to be honest and say, I baulked at paying it for a few months but it was well worth it and I'll definitely be renewing my membership when it runs out.

Thanks Tracy for the advice, much appreciated. Have a great Crimbo!!

If you want to find out about your British ancestors lives, then definitely. You get access to all the censuses for England and Wales 1841-1901, plus they're putting Scotland on now (1841-1861 is there) You also get access to some parish records. I don't use these much, but they're well worth remembering! You will still need certificates. Ancestry does not contain their information, only the references. Some people are impossible to trace with them (some even with them! lol) Oh yeah - don't forget the BMD index available 1837-2004 is free on Ancestry, even if you don't subscribe.

Sorry Jeanette, didn't explain properly. I meant membership to Ancestry itself not so much the UK deluxe membership. Is it really worthwhile joining?

I found it the same as before except you can look at one world tree I thought it they had just renamed their memberships Jeanette

Hi all Has anyone found that subscription to above has REDUCED the need for certificates, the reverse, or are you all purists who prefer to tally info from both Ancestry and certificates? I ask because I am weighing up whether to join but am already eager to spend too much on certs; although limiting myself to one a month-inquisitive nature I suppose, lol. Caz

in a mo