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Family history websites

M

Millie

master brummie
Can anybody help with info about how useful the different websites are. I've seen advice in various places about looking for people in places like findmypast, genesreunited, rootsweb, etc. I've had a quick look at some of them but can't see much without paying a subscription (except for BMD & LDS sites) Do they all have different versions, or better transcriptions, of the censuses, or different content. Most make some claim about being the best, most comprehensive, & such - how can you tell. I have subscription to Ancestry but haven't thought it worth paying for another one unless it can give something different or more than Ancestry.

Has anybody else had better infor from elsewhere. would welcome any opinions,
Cheers,
Millie
:confused2:
 
Hi, Millie

I subscribe to Ancestry and to Genes Reunited. I have occasionally signed up with others but haven't found it worth the cost. I use Ancestry for all my searches, as I can search as many records as I like, my sub is not on a pay per view basis.

I use Genes Reunited to build the family tree - I like the format better than the one on ancestry. Also, I have made quite a few contacts on GR who have turned out to be within the same family, some of us share the same GGparents so we have emailed photos and documents. I have found it v useful and easy to use.

I think some of your preferences will depend on where your family are from and whether they stayed put. Also whether different branches were from different places. In a very short time I have found this site invaluable for researching my partner's family. I wish there were sites like this for the towns and cities where I'm researching my own ancestors!
 
Hi Millie,

I subscribe to FindMyPast and perhaps the biggest drawbacks are the lack of the 1851 Census (still being negotiated) and the 1901 Census (much of it still in the process of being re-indexed). Otherwise I find it quite good and fair value for money.

Amongst the free sites, don't forget Cyndi's list of sites at https://www.cyndislist.com/ - you'll find the occasional dead link in there, but some little gems as well! :)

There are quite a few free links on my own site here too:-

https://www.msheppard.com/links.htm

I've also taken over the Theatrical and Musical Deaths List which had been dead for several years and added over 1500 new entries. I still have about another 2000 entries to add when time permits! I'm also working on an online history of actress/singer Marie LONGMORE and her husband, Frederick HUMPHREYS, who was Musical Director of Birmingham's Theatre Royal for 40 years. How I wish there were more hours in a day! :D

Regards,

Maurice
 
Hi both, thanks very much for the info - a few things for me to think about. I didn't know about the couple you've listed Maurice, so I'll give them a try and see what comes up. I seem to be learning about new places every day, so I'm bound to find some good bits in some of them.
Many thanks again for your help, I'm really grateful,
Millie.
 
Hi Maurice, I've just had a quick look at those sites - there's so much nfo there, I never realised. It'll take a week to go through it all, but I'll enjoy that when i've got a bit more tiem.

Actually, I'm really writing again about your comment about the death lists for Theatrical and Musical people. This is a long-shot, but I thought it might be worth asking. Apparently there's a long-lost uncle in my family (grandmother Howell's brother) - called Monty Guy. The family 'story' is that he scooted off to London, where he formed a danceband, called Monty Guy & his Serenaders, or Masqueraders, or something like that. This would be around the late 1890's-ealry 1900's. Not surprisingly, I've drawn a blank on this. Is there likely to be any leads in the site that you mention? I would be delighted to know - & I know my mom & her sister would be as well.

fingers crossed ......
Millie
 
Hi Millie,

I can't spot anything from a quick look, so I've sent you a PM.

Regards,

Maurice
 
just to let you know, Millie, I got a message through genes reunited yesterday, out of the blue. Someone had been sent a name match to my tree and contacted me. I had no knowledge of the link. and she thought it was a long shot that would probably lead nowhere. Turns out our GGrandfathers were brothers and this has opened up a whole new set of names and info for both of us. And the other person is even more pleased than me, as she could not trace sibling links and was despondant. She now has lots more data and has helped me too. The nicest part of it is that she has emailed to me copies of photos and other docs.

That's why I keep up my subs to GR.
 
I am so pleased for you smallheathexplorer. I remember when this happened to me about five years ago the photo's were the things that thrilled me most. The secret with GR is the more names you add the more contacts you get. Good luck with your search.
 
Thanks a lot, smallheathexplorer - & you too, Wendy. Seems to me that it will be well worth joining the GR site, I haven't used it yet except for a quick look - hope I'll find someone like you did.
By the way, I'm also a smallheather - born & grew up in Tilton Road - anywhere near you ?

Millie
 
The photo's are still comming this one is a little distant but still makes the tree more interesting. Without the internet I would never have seen this. It was sent from a relative in Canada who has never been to the UK.
 
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