Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, I am unable to find family members on the 1841 / 1851 and so on, census's. Eventhough, I have researched parish records and know that the people were being born in the Much Woolton and Little Woolton areas of Liverpool. Maybe I am missing something crutial in my searching. Any suggestions????? Elaine. (Australia)

Want to post details?

Hi Elaine We all know about brickwalls. They hurt don't they?!? lol. Where are you searching - Ancestry? If so, make sure you do ranked searches and not exact searches. I think the exact searches are a waste of time. I have never once had a single hit with them!! Try soundex searches for names to see if they have been spelt wrong. Or just try initials and see if you have any luck that way. It is unusual for families to be missing completely so if you haven't found them at all, post what info you have and we will see what we can dig up for you if you want. Don't let the walls put you off. They can all be knocked down. Sometimes they are just a bit thicker and take more working at!!

Give us some names and we will see what we can find - and then hopefully explain how and where we found them

Sorry Andrea but Using Ancestry make sure you do exact searches and not ranked searches. I think the ranked searches are a waste of time. I have never once had a single hit with them!! We all have our own ways of finding things! LOL

Helen - no matter!! lol. Honestly though, every time I have done an exact search, it comes up with zero found 'try a ranked search'!!! Maybe I am doing it wrong?!?!

Maybe we should start a new thread - ranked search or exact search. Personally exact search every time !! Having said that - give us some details Elaine and we will see what we can find.

I always use the exact search, often with wildcards in, because I don't really understand the whole ranked search thing. How do you know when to stop looking at the results? But the one time I did use ranked search just to try it out, it was a success! Kate.