Re: Recommendation for online services?

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:p4dro31t3seo60tkp9okmq6qh99lfdtrq3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "CWatters" <colin.watters@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
 > >You might be able to get quite a long way just using FreeBMD, the LDS
site
> >at http://www.familysearch.org
and buying certificates.
>
> Thanks. How reliable/comprehensive is that? It seems dominated by USA
> sources? My first tests using people whose names and birth dates (in
> England) are beyond question came up with nothing. And using names
> like 'John Smith' in various arbitrary years from 1914 t0 1970
> produced either zero or just a couple of hits!

I haven't used it for post 1900 but I've found it very helpful for info
prior to that. They have the 1881 census on there for example. With other
records check to see if they are "Extractions from local records" or
"Member
submissions". The former are more reliable. . Founds several records of my
British family in India on there.

>
> >Your local library may well have an subscription that will give you
free
> >access to www.ancestry.co.uk whe you will find census.
>
> I'd be happy to buy a subscription again for the convenience of home
> use. Is Ancestry well regarded?

Yes Ancestry is well regarded. There are/were re****ts of people having
problems canceling subscriptions in the past. Not heard that for a year or
so. They quite regularly have offers and free trials and some require you
to
take out a sub with a CC then cancel it if you just want the three months
free.