Genealogy Chat

Must explain that I only joined this site a week ago and am doing quite well on my tree., However it is very frustrating as I cannot get any answers on the FAQ section(am in touch with the support team) but what I really want to know is can I access any other census lists prior to 2001 on this site and if not what would you suggest. Many thanks

Not sure what you mean by prior to 2001. The available census images cover the 1841,1851,1861,1871,1881,1891 and 1901 census returns. The 1881 census is partially complete on the family search website (which is free),the remainder via ancestry,but to view the images on ancestry you would need a subscription. Glen

The latest census you can view is 1901, there is a 100 year privacy law so the info can only be released 100 years after it was taken (in England only). The next census will be the 1911 but it will not be available to search until 2011/2012. Ancestry have all census's from 1841-1901 but you have to subscribe to view them. The 1881 census is free to search on the family search web site. Georgina.

Thanks everyone and do I feel an idiot, I meant to type 1901 not 2001, will now go back and read your answers, cant believe how quick your responses have been. Have been sending out several messages through 'hot matches' etc but in spite of eagerly logging on each day not much response yet, do you think I am over keen being new or just replying to too many?

Hi Wendy A lot of people only log into GR intermittently,so you might find that someone will only find your message a few weeks from now.Some people are also no longer members. Keep looking for contacts,the more there are the more likely you are to get a reply from one,but don't get too upset if no-one seems to share your family. Glen

hiya, well, as you are new the hot match system is very 'hit and miss' alot of it depends on whether the recipient is still actively seeking information on his/her lines, or whether they are indeed still a member of the site/ or havent bothered to notify GR if they have changed their email addy, alot of this factors greatly, I have had some success with the hot match system, but have had better response from doing an actual name search within this site hope this helps Julie by the way Welcome

Hi Wendy As Darksecretz says, the Hot Match system is very hit and miss on here. Some tips on how to sort the wheat from the chaff: A Hot Match with only one name is unlikely to be a match with your family. Even if it does match, it means the person has ONLY got that connection to you and probably cant tell you anything about the family. I personally never bother with I matches (unless it is the one surname I am desperately seeking, which it never is). More than one hot match with your family? Are they related to EACH OTHER, or are they randomly spread across the country and the centuries? I sometimes have as many as 8 matches with the same person - but they cannot be my rellies, because, if they were, they would have a lot more than 8 matches! These are usually made up of Greens, Bells, Jacksons etc - names which are dead common and most people will have some of these in their tree - doesnt mean we are related. Ignore ANYTHING which does not state a place of birth - they don't know, so will hardly be able to give you any information about this person. Finally - I dont know about anyone else on here, but I find it very difficult to follow other people's trees and rarely bother looking at them, preferring to exchange info in a PM first. I never open my tree to anyone - no-one needs to see all of it because most of it is irrelevant to them. Happy hunting - oh, do check carefully any information you receive, either through GR, or from any other site; people make mistakes. OC