Genealogy Chat

Simon, I agree with you. Maybe the best solution would be for GC administrators to head up the records board with an explanation that sites such as 1901 census and 1837 can cost money and that people should wait until an offer appears for these sites and not ask first. On the subject of general look ups, can I say that I spent most of last week doing look ups for the hampshire Burial and the Norfolk, Devon, warwick 1851 census. Without fail I received thanks from everyone plus offers of help with my research. I find in this life that you reap what you sew, you help others they help you. Those that get their fingers burnt by certain people wont offer help to them again and those that take advantage will soon learn when they don't get lok ups done for them. I don't agree that these threads don't work though, most people are curious and read most threads so it will have pointed out to those who didn't know that there is a cost involved. ann glos

Siobhan I apologise in advance for the length of this post! I am still a relative newbie, but I agree with your sentiments about people's attitudes. Unfortunately, I am not sure that a thread such as this actually helps. The first problem I see is that it will not be read by the right people, ie the offenders themselves who are too busy on the Records Office Board. The second problem I believe is that it causes some degree of bitterness or unfriendliness to some. One solution would be not to read threads entitled 1837 or 1901 look ups. This way you wouldn't be offended by what you didn't read. The people who respond to look ups that cost money are quite entitled to do so if they so wish and if they get some responses they don't like then I hope they will stop providing help to those that have offended, which is quite a small proportion of people. One of the main issues here is that newcomers don't know what they are asking for or what is actually available, so in some cases it is just misunderstanding, so we have to be careful not to tar everybody with the same brush. Therefore I would like to suggest some practical solutions as I agree there is a problem and I would prefer to see this kind of public upset minimised or eliminated as well. At the bottom of this post is an Important Note. Perhaps this should be expanded specifically for the Records Window. Additionally, some expanded guidance on conduct on all Message Boards should be provided - something that only GC can do probably. Appoint a moderator. Perhaps someone should volunteer. And maybe with or without GC help. Changing the user name to Moderator or Administrator might be a way forward. Write a thread on the Records Office Board entitled something like "Look Up Requests - A guide for newcomers". Include in this thread something along the lines of the post by Irene Dredge but expanded a little to explain what can be achieved. For instance, a clarification of Irene's thread has been offered already, but the key point is the image and therefore the address is not possible to obtain on 1901 unless you pay. This could be nudged up every day, which means it could be on the first couple of pages of the Board for days. In fact, anytime someone saw something they didn't like they could just nudge it up even anonymously. Some of these solutions may not be possible, it would for instance need a volunteer for a moderator or even to post the suggested thread in the first place - a brief change of user name might just provide some anonymity. But I'm sure this would be a far more practical solution. Siobhan, I mean absolutely no offence whatsoever, I just don't see the situation changing as a result of this kind of thread. At Christmas there were several such threads and the problems have not gone away - one might argue they have actually increased. I'm sure there are many more practical solutions, so I would invite others to post any suggestions here too. If we take constructive action then I'm sure these boards will remain a pleasant, informative and helpful place to be, which for the most part they already are. Regards Simon in Munich

Actually, thinking about it, some people reply by email, don't they, so that doesn't always show up on the boards.

Siobhan, yes you make perfect sense so don't worry! I agree with you. In fact I wasn't referring to any of my requests because kind people have always replied and given me help when I've needed it, I just thought today there seemed to be lots with no replies.

I answered a couple of requests for look ups. One in particular was somebody asking for a certain name in two years on 1837 online, in several particular places. I looked using 10 units, as she said she had lost the info(5 names) she had already got. There wasn't one name in the areas she said. From this I assume it was a good way of getting somebody to look and hope there might be the info she wanted.

Helen, I doubt very much that this topic is the reason, no one has had a reply to there look up. It may be that the current people online, don't have access to what they are looking for. What you would need to do, is nudge the post up, so it stays on the first page for a couple of days, if there is still no reply. Then you know that no one has access to what you have asked. But I am pretty sure you will get at least one reply, telling you where you can get your information if they cannot help you. Does this make sense???

Hi All Firstly, if I have spare credits at any time, then I have no problem in helping people, when they are geniune and it not worth there while buying credits themselves, when they only need one look up. The point I am getting at, is it is always the same people that are posting threads, for lookups that do involving buying credits, it is not just the one occasion it is all the time. This is not so much the problem, cause I am sure if someone has credits to spare, then they will get their look up. It is more the replies from some when you don't get what they are looking for, or you look for one thing and then they ask for another and another. I understand Genealogy can be expensive, but I do not agree with people relying on other to dig into their pockets. Sometime I get the impression these people never actually want to pay for anything themselves. Am I get my point across, or is it coming out completely wrong. I don't know LOL

I was interested in this thread because earlier this morning I noticed that lots of people who had asked for lookups hadn't had a single reply and this is probably why! Whenever I've asked for help I've always assumed that whoever answered had the information to hand and not had to pay out for it. I've visited cemeteries for other people and occasionally used my credits on someone else's behalf, but I don't think many people would expect others to spend money on them. I think the answer might be to reply and explain that a particular lookup costs money to do and perhaps they didn't realise that. After all there are newbies joining every day. Cheers everyone!

I agree with what Siobhan says. I think the point she is making is that it is not the fact of asking for help or lookups, I have done so on many occasions BUT the fact that they are asking for info that will cost money to view ie 1901 census & 1837 online. HOWEVER if people do not wish to spend their money doing this for others they can just ignore the post. I like the idea of advertising any spare credits. When I have used 1837 online, I have saved and also printed the pages I have looked at and have passed them on to someone else who is also researching the same name to see if they could help them. I also know how frustrating it is when you only need one bit of info but need to buy and whole bunch of units/credit. Not sure what the answer is but please remember please and thank you cost nothing! Karen

Hi crista, have emailed you, regards trish

You can get the wife, son and daughter relationships from the decoder if you use the advanced search option and select the "relation to the head of family." Crista

1901 is on line free to view but if you want a printout it will cost 75p but you have to buy £5.00 of credits first. You could use a decoder but that will not tell you the relationships 1881 is free with the IGI Ancestry have 1891 on line but I have not tried that. The others, some are transcribed by Counties, some are indexed, others just copies of the film on CD's so no index. If people have these then they don't mind helping. I have found the odd census for different parishes free on line, not sure how I found them, but just hunting different parishes. Places like Headington in Oxford have 1841-1891 on line free. 1837 the scanned copies of the indexing in London is .10p to view a page again you have to buy £5.00 credits first. Freebmd (indexing) 1837-1903 is free. Amazing what you can find out there. Irene

And, they are also missing out on the pleasure and excitement of finding the info themselves. Margaret

So what is the answer then,where can people obtain these census. and what is the cost please. regards trish.

Oooh wot u started now?? I've asked for help a few times before, more for a fresh pair of eyes really, think I'm still going round in circles with one part of the family but decided to leave them for a while then start fresh. I'm glad to say that I actually managed to help someone else out yesterday, for the first time, I'm fairly new to this so I was over the moon to be able to help someone. the first time I asked for help William told me I might be able to help others one day, I am so glad he was right, wouldnt like to feel like I was taking, or being taken, advantage of though so can understand where you're coming from, wend

It is not so much people replying to offers, it is more the ones that post a thread for someone to do a lookup for them, because the need more info, which involves having to pay to get this information - say like on a census. Then when someone has spent their time searching for them on the decoder, this has not been good enough for them, they want this person to pay to get the information for them, that is what I have been noticing, and it is the same person again and again, it is like they want to get info without having to ever fork out themselves.

Hi Siobhan, I too have noticed the same names popping up time after time,I have only asked once.I am a really busy person,going out to work, it seems the same people,must be the ones with either time on their hands,or really becoming obsessed.There are so many kind people out there so willing to help,I am sure a lot of us that does not have the facilities such as yourselves,perhaps would like a bit more info, such as the best place to purchase and perhaps the cost.I am sure if I had the records,and I had the spare time, perhaps, I too would be more than willing to help,but not the greedy ones.But as they say, there are more people willing to take than to give.I do agree with you entirely, but people will always take someone up on a kind offer. regards trish

I not really up to naming and shaming, only tends to cause cat fights, and fighting is definately not for me. I am a nice person - HONEST. I really enjoy helping people, but have been shocked recently of there rudeness of people. But hey got it off my chest now, so feel alot a better LOL.

It is not so much the constant request of these look ups, but also the replies I have seen to some of the help people have given. I just can't believe how rude some people are. I love helping people, but am shocked at the sheer cheek of some nowadays. What ever happened to manners.

I couldn't agree more Siobhan and I'm a Newbie, I felt guilty asking for help yesterday with the 1901 Census, but I'd spent £4.75 and only needed to confirm the occupants of one more house and that was me done. Thankfully someone kindly offered to help, although they didn't have to. SO in return I now have some spare 1837 credits and if anyone would like some help I'm willing to pass on the gesture :) Sioux