Genealogy Chat

Like Jackie I always use the local county BMD sites first, Cheshire,Yorkshire and Lancashire are going strong . They are very quick and for marriages tell you the church. Go to http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/index.php to see if you are lucky to have any coverage. These sites take their records from the original local records which are more complete and accurate than GRO/1837. Bob

I have found that cheshire bmd has been more helpful and complete than free bmd, there is also a lancashire bmd not very complete though. Don't know about other areas but could be worth a try.

I hadn't used FreeBMD for ages but yesterday I got an answer I wanted within 2 minutes. I was well chuffed - I had no idea when the wedding had taken place or even where!! Anne

Just took a look at BMDIndex.online and they say they have twenty years of indexes on line for now. Doesn't sound too much. Perhaps it will be more helpful in future once it is complete, or have I misunderstood. I still feel FreeBMD is extremely useful given the delays in access. You often get a message saying that they are too busy, but if you are willing to try again svereal times you always get a reply in the end Jane

BMDIndex is incomplete and requires a subscription so, like Siobhan, I use FreeBMD first, and go to 1837online to check results and order certificates, or to search if FreeBMD doesn't have the info I need. Judith

I don't think Alice is referring to freebmd, she is referring to www(.)bmdindex(.)co(.)uk. I haven't used this one at all. So can not comment What I tend to do is check on www(.)freebmd(.)org(.)uk and if I cannot find what I am looking for, then I will use 1837online. Regards, Siobhan

never heard of freebmd ... sorry,new to all of this!

Alice As I understand it (never having used 1837 online!), the difference is that Free BMD is what it says, free, but as it is still being transcribed by volunteers, it is incomplete (roughly available between 1837 and 1909, but still with many gaps). Helen P.S. I'm talking about http://freebmd.rootsweb(.)com

www.1837online.com and www.bmdindex.co.uk

if by BMDindex you mean freeBMD... I've used both. Freebmd is great, it's free, BUT it's VERY slow lately and also is incomplete. OK, you have to pay for 1837online but it's complete. I rarely use freebmd anymore to be honest

I use 1837online and have never used BMDindex. Whats the difference and which is best??