Genealogy Chat

Has anyone subscribed to Ancestry.com and do you think it has been worth the money? I am thinking about it but would like to hear your views first. Thank you to everyone in advance. I value your comments. Susan.

Absolutely, worth it's weight in gold. We use it extensively for the Census records, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 Other bits of interest, but I find less useful. Peter

Just renewed my subscription for the second time, so I am entering my third year with them. I find it indispensable and I am sure you will too. Regards, Yvonne

I also have found it very handy....Sandra x

Check the areas it covers.Yorkshire is a problem

Thank you everyone for your comments, they have been really helpful. The Yorkshire one is interesting as one quarter of my family is from there, but overall I am thinking it will be worth it. Susan

I too keep getting 3000 options does anyone know how to reduce this what really gets me is the names it throws up are not even near the names I asked for

Glitter and Valerie You're on Best Matches instead of Exact Matches. Click the blue tab at the top to change it. Ancestry is the best money I have ever spent, I am on my second year and will not hesitate to renew. Margaret

oh dear thank you Margaret I do feel silly now

Margaret of Battenburg, If you find Yorkshire is a problem try putting in Durham on your search as many records are listed as Durham and Yorkshire. It turned up loads for me cheers john

I am a great believer in the value of ancestry but I too get frustrated by the over 3000 choices. I do click on exact but always get the message "zilch", use the best matches tab. I cant believe this is so - some names are quite "normal" but I still get nothing on exact and then 3000 choices on best match.

Try putting less info, less is more. Also if its the 1881, for some reason it tells you no info then on the same page if you put in something else, say place of birth, it gives you the info. Why its like that I dont know. You will get used to it. Dont forget about transcription errors, exact means exact, try the soundex. I found my Yates families under Tates, Gates, Gales etc, All to do with the handwriting. My grandmother used to write like that so I do understand it a little more Margaret

Anyone having problems with Ancestry, take a look at Tracie Wades thread on this board called Have you missing persons on census? – try searching out of the box!....Some helpful hints and tips I find putting in the age is a mistake as they always vary as there is no years either side facility. As I said before, just put in the basics, name, place of birth, if you get too many results, then add a bit more. It works, honestly!!! Margaret

Ancestry works differently with different browsers. With Explorer, I don't get the option of exact/soundex and end up with the 'more than 3000 entries' that people have complained about - but using the Firefox browser solves this problem as you can search for and exact match.

I'm on AOL and so have a different browser to explorer. I have never had a problem with Ancestry Margaret