Genealogy Chat

nudged up so I don't start on this whole rant again. Kate.

I suppose the cheapest way, if at all possible is the County record office, but if you live a fair distance away that could prove expensive. I am shortly going to become a member of our local genealogy group, so hopefully they may car share, but as at some point I shall have to travel from north Hampshire to Dorchester I'm going to have to make it worthwhile. I must say it's nice to know, if that's the right way to put it, that not everyone has endless financial resources because sometimes that's how it seems. I'm widowed and still have to work to supplement my pension so that I can have a few extras and run a car which I need because mobility is a bit of a problem. It doesn't bother me it's just that I find people tend to look down on you if you haven't got the latest everything. I'm off before I really get going. My motto; I'm better than nobody else and NOBODY'S BETTER THAN ME. Goodnight

It's the little coincidences you find when you get the right certificate. For example my BIL has a middle name of George and was born on boxing day. His grand-dad was called George and was born on boxing day. I would never have known this without buying the certificate and wonder if BIL's dad knew he was naming his son after his father - as his father died when he was only a baby.

Gloria Yes, money is tight for me, too. But sadly, there ISNT a benevolent god of family history researchers who lets you get your tree right just because you can't afford the certs. Sad but true. OC

Not just on a pension!

Everyone seems to agree and it is the surefire way of proving your ancestry. I must say though the research is enjoyable and keeps me out of mischief, and then it's nice to be proved right. I guess some people though don't have a lot of money and on a pension even £7 can be quite a bit at times. Gloria

Paul Um....have those other GR members sent you copies of THEIR certificates? OC

Hi All, I've fallen into the trap of going down the wrong path so now I tend to be a lot more carefull. Whenever possible I buy certificates, not every one of course but enough to ensure that I am still on the right path. The family side lines I tend to note from census details and have been quite fortunate in other GR members confirm the relationships. Bye Paul

I would love to buy all the ones I need but if I did I would be homeless, I find it fascinating reading, so just buy some now and again .But if only I could send for the Hundred or so I want how amazing I would be totally absorbed.

Through buying certs, I have found that 3 of my 4 GGMs were second wives and therefore not the mothers of the children I thought they were. And I have one BC which appears to be in all respects correct - the information was exactly what I had expected it to be. But a nose round the Parish Registers for a baptism (I'm SUCH a pedant lol) produced the information that he was illegitimate - his Aunt and Uncle registered the birth as their own and brought him up as their fifth child of ten. No-one in my family knew this and I often wonder if even he did. OC

Agree Whe I first started ( naively ) I traced my maternal family back and claimed them, I them realised the impaortanc eof certs and re did my tree and I had the entire wrong family. Buying certs saves hours and hours of wasted time and is much more enjoyable when you realise that you have the true family Joanne

Hi Kate I totally agree with all the messages. Certs can help no end...I have had several where I have sent for a cert in the hope that it might be the right one and the address (Road) given has confirmed. Also addresses can give a clue for other family members as alot of them didn't seem to move too far from their family. Sylvia

Kate I know what you mean.. I also think that a lot of the 'Newbies'.. miss out on the buzz you actually get on researching the info out for yourself....getting out there to the libraries and searching the census and St Catherine's House Index.. (if they dont have Ancestry of course..) I have been on now for 2 1/2 years.. and I still enjoy the buzz of finding the info.. confirming the siblings in the parish records.. and me I agree all the way.. Certs and parish records are the way to go..certs after 1837..and parish records before.. Time Consuming Yes.. Rewarding... Very.. Mo

I'm the youngest child of the youngest child of the youngest child (are you still with me?) My tree is my birth family and i had to go the cert route as there was no-one to ask for any names or possible dates. None of my mothers generation are still alive,and there were three who died as babies. The nine from that generation are all backed up with certs,as are my grandparents and grt granparents (unless pre 1837 birth of course). I have 31 certs for my direct lines on my mothers side,and have just started on my fathers. My half sibs couldn't even be sure who their grandparents were so i had to use a very disciplined approach to ensure i had the correct people. At least i know the info i have is based on certs,and is as accurate as it could be. Glen

I agree too, I found a connection on here, but the person wouldnt give access to her tree and we spoke several times on the phone, resulting in her telling me my research was wrong, she had been doing her tree for years and was older than me so she must know more than me! I had all the certificates to back it up...she hadnt and it was her tree of around 100 of this surname which was wrong! Had a little smile to myself!!!!!!!! Laura x

Irene, Your friend could have the correct info and hundreds of rellies of 3 of her GGdads, and be looking for the fourth, Although I do agree that the remarks made on some requests, and the strangeness of someone with 12 names in their tree asking for info from 1676 seem odd.

I agree as well xxxx ive brought quite a few certs now as I needed them to see what thier parents names and occupations were. It just gets harder when you get back to births before 1837 and have to rely on LDS and Parish records. I still have a few certs to buy (have brought 28 since May) id have brought more but hubby keeps his eye on me too much lmao Luv Angie xxx

I agree about buying copies of certificates to confirm that these people are my ancestors.It is something I have always done. I looked up a message the other day on the trying to find board and a girl was looking for her gt.grd's details so I tried finding him and when I went to give her details she had 3000 people on her tree and I thought how could you get that many people in your tree if you had not found your gt.grandfather. I think some people are just happy to quote numbers that find out actual details about their family. Good luck to you all with your research. Irene

This takes me back a week or two,trying to help a friend,although she is grateful for my help she now claims a tree of over 2000 (through my work,trawling bmd and census returns,finding fellow researchers etc) based on just one English cert and three Scottish ones,starting with her g g/parents!!And she still owes me the money. Her hubby has decided he wants his tree doing and adding to hers,three possibles for each of his grandfathers. I sent the bmd refs for all three events for the chaps,instructions how to obtain the certs etc. Result,he has decided that the ones in the census nearest to the area he lives in are the ones,regardless of what certs might prove. Oh dear!!!!!! Glen

I have always bought certs for direct ancestors as and when I can. I've just sent off for a marriage and a birth cert because I am desperate to fill in part of family. Gt grandfather John had 4 brothers. 2 died young and the eldest is very elusive! I think he was a seaman and have found a possible marriage. The likely wife is with her children on the census, but I can't claim them until I have the certs which I hope will definitely show that the husband/father is my gt gt uncle William! Then I just have to find a death for him, which is proving a challenge. nell