Newbie - Findmypast or order certificates?

[Graham B]

Hello,
I'm just getting going. As yet I've not subscribed to Findmypast (Or anyone else). The free search engines give me a good start but I'm puzzled by the fact that although Findmypast has a subscription service to view the certificates they still suggest you order the actual certificates.

What can I see from the actual certificate that I can't see or print online?

[Olde Crone Holden]

Hello Graham, welcome to FTF.

You cannot see English Welsh certificates online on any site - you have to order the certificate I'm afraid. Very misleading, isn't it.

OC

[Elaine ..Spain]

You cannot view English and Welsh certificates online - you have to order them.
What you will find on subscription sites such as Findmypast and Ancestry is an index of BMDs (births marriages and deaths) which will give you the reference number that you need to order the certificate.

A bit of advice - order certificates from the General REgister Office at a cost of 9.25 pounds - don't get linked into other sites which cost more.

Have a look at freeBMD which will also give you BMD reference numbers, although the index on there is not complete (but the site is free as its name suggests!)

[Graham B]

Thanks for the superfast replies.

As it looks like most of my family was in the Bermondsey/Southwark area it looks like my cheapest option is to build up the certificates I want to view and pay £18 and research the records myself for six hours. If I want copies I still need to order and pay for them.

[Elaine ..Spain]

If you are researching the Bermondsey/Southwark area then you might be better off using Ancestry rather than Findmypast.
The Ancestry website has quite a few baptism, marriage and burial records from the LMA (London Metropolitan Archives) and you might find something of use - particularly with the marriages as you might be able to view a copy of the certificate online!
I know that contradicts what we said originally - that you have to order them - but there are a few exceptions, these London certificates being one of the exceptions.

You can sign up for a free 14 day trial to see how you get on, and although you will have to give a credit card number, providing you cancel before the end of the 14 days there would be no charge.

www.ancestry.co.uk

[Graham B]

Thanks for that. I found the Ancestry website a little difficult to navigate but if there's free information to be had.....................................

[petrene]

Ancestry now have some marriage cert's and banns on line, to print off i have been fortunate to be able to print some off,
Ancestry are doing a 30 day free trial,but remember to cancel befor that 30 days are up, if there is any name or dated i will have a look for you, just incase you are a lucky one, like me

Petrene

[Olde Crone Holden]

You can also consider buying a copy of FamilyTreeMaker which normally has a free subscription to Ancestry built into the price - check the pack for details though. you don't actually need to use the FTM to get the free sub!

OC

[Elaine ..Spain]

Just to get back to basics, the coverage for the LMA records is predominantly 18th/19th centuries.
Can you get back to around 1900 with certificates in your possession?

[Elaine ..Spain]

You can also consider buying a copy of FamilyTreeMaker which normally has a free subscription to Ancestry built into the price - check the pack for details though. you don't actually need to use the FTM to get the free sub!

OC

From Amazon
Family Tree Maker 2011 which includes a free 6 month subscription to Ancestry premium package (free sub is worth 50+ pounds)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Tree-Maker-2011-Platinum/dp/B003S3RLLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316292731&sr=8-1

[Graham B]

Back in 1992 I was given a family tree which goes back to the 1800's. There is no backup info, just the tree but, by using free BMD and Findmypast most of it checks out. There are a couple of oddities though but I'm off to see my mum tomorrow who has bits and pieces stashed away.

I've just had another crack at Ancestry but BMD/Findmypast seems much easier and gave me the info I wanted so much quicker.

Petrene,
One marriage I'm trying to sort is between;
Percy Taylor (Middle name A?)
Lilian Kate Stone
Marriage in St Olave's area, Bermondsey in September 1930.

[margaretmarch]

Here it is
Lilian K Stone
Spouse Surname: Taylor (full name Percy A Taylor)
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1930
Registration district: St Olave
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume Number: 1d Page Number: 394

[Jill on the A272]

Some libraries have free access to Ancestry so it might be worthwhile checking out what is available near you.

[Graham B]

Here it is
Lilian K Stone
Spouse Surname: Taylor (full name Percy A Taylor)
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1930
Registration district: St Olave
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume Number: 1d Page Number: 394

Thankyou. I had found that on the free site. It looks like I'll need to at it to my "look at" list.

[Elaine ..Spain]

The information that Margaret has given to you is the reference details of the marriage registration.
The only way you will be able to see more information is to order the certificate for £9.25.

Once you get to pre 1900/1910 then you might find some Bermondsey/Southwark marriage certificates available via the LMA records on Ancestry.

[margaretmarch]

Thankyou. I had found that on the free site. It looks like I'll need to at it to my "look at" list.

There is nothing else to look at - you will need to order the certificate :(
Margaret

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Graham, you have to get the premium service to view all the LMA (baptisms/marriages/burials) records on ancestry. A lot of mine are from Bermondsey and Southwark and it has saved me a mint in certificates. I would really suggest you take an ancestry sub. You can buy a family tree program on ancestry which includes 6 months premium sub for only £30 - absolute bargain. A few certs would cost that - as mentioned, these will be earlier ones, not the 1930s! There are also probate records and much much more to be seen.

[Graham B]

Thank you everyone for your helpful comments.

I've spent most of today with my mum who has kept loads of certificates that she has come across. It's all a bit fragmented so it's going to take me a while to sort through it and understand what questions I want to ask next.

What I don't understand with Ancestry is that given the same information, Ancestry gives me thousands of unrelated results while findmypast and free BMD give me what I'm looking for with just a few dozen others which also bear some relationship to my search request.

Time for wine I think.

[Elderflower]

Graham, I find Ancestry much easier to use once you have figured out the best way to use it.

First, make sure you are in the Old Search. Go to the top of the screen and click on the menu "Search". Then click "search all records". When that screen appears, go to the far right at the top of the screen and click "Old Search".

When in the old search, choose which records you wish to use. For the BMDs choose England & Wales Birth Marriage and Death Indexes 1837-2005

Then choose which part you need to search.

If searching the census collection, I always click on the whole collection rather than a particular year, unless I am onlt interested in one year. I also tick the exact match only box to start with. Remember less is more when searching. I rarely enter the place of birth but usually just the County of birth.

Give it another try and you might just get to like it.

By the way, the free version at the library does not allow the old search method. If you live near a Family History Centre, they have free access to Ancestry, FMP and The Genealogist. You could try them all out and see which you prefer before buying a sub. There would also be someone to help get you started and help you get the best from each site.

[Graham B]

Please, how do I find "old search"?
I tried a link from another forum search but it said the url was no longer active.

I'm following the website menu and ending up at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/