Ancestry.co.uk - Who do you think you are?

blueroses_2

Has anyone tried the Ancestry.co.uk 14 day free trial?

Beanynut2

Hi Blueroses

I've been an Ancestry.co.uk user for over 2 years now - it started with the 14 day trial but I have to warn you it is a totally addictive hobby (lol!).

I've got subscriptions with Genes Reunited etc but they don't give you free access to the Census, birth, marriage, death records and the biggest bonus of all is to some of the WW1 service records like Ancestry.co.uk. It costs about £80 a year to subscribe to Ancestry but I must have saved much more by not having to buy credits to view the various records.

In my view - if you are interested in researching your family tree then it is definately worth taking the 14 day trial and then subscribing to Ancestry.co.

Happy hunting!!

Jill

Mojisola

Beanynut2 wrote: »

In my view - if you are interested in researching your family tree then it is definately worth taking the 14 day trial and then subscribing to Ancestry.co.

I strongly second this! Less than 25p a day for access to all those records - brilliant! It also means that you can chase up more distant relations and test out possible connections that you might not do if you're paying credits for each look-up.

Have you looked at https://www.rootschat.com/ - a great free site with lots of kind people willing to help.

dianasnan

This is another useful and free site that might help in the early stages of a search

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

hardpressed

If you join ancestry through the Australian site it's about half the UK price, there is a thread somewhere else on MSE about it. I did do the 14 day free trail, you have to give your credit card number and then remember to cancel before the 14 days are up. Make sure you do it when you have a couple of weeks free so you have time to get the full benefit.

exlibris

You can usually see census records for free at the Public Library and if you want a printout/ photocopy the charge about 20p per sheet. If in London, the National Archives at Kew give you free access and they also have military records and the cost of a print out is 20p per sheet.

Beanynut2

exlibris wrote: »

You can usually see census records for free at the Public Library and if you want a printout/ photocopy the charge about 20p per sheet. If in London, the National Archives at Kew give you free access and they also have military records and the cost of a print out is 20p per sheet.

Thats great if you live near London or have easy access to the library but if like me you work full-time, have a family and live in the country getting to the library isn't always easy, so Ancestry.co is a good second best and you'll be surprised how much information you can gather by sitting at your screen!

I would recommend visiting a Records Office just for the experience and meeting like minded people. There are also loads of family history societies and groups out there too.

I've come across many free family history websites and forums that don't cost a penny - one of my favourite is the British Genealogy forum http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/index.php I've found everyone really friendly and helpful, its great just to bounce theories and ideas around.

Jill

moneylover

lots of libraries have free access to Ancestry eg we do in Essex with a max of one hour per day.
That isnt very much if you are doing family history but its a good starting point to see if you want to buy a sub to Ancestry or to give you extra different resources if you have decided to subscribe to one of the other databases such as Findmypast.
In Essex libraries and again, in many other libraries around the country, there is free acces to Times Digital Archive and to 19th century London and regional newspapers both excellent resources and, in Essex at least, available from home using your library ticket.

SailorSam

Our libraries in Knowsley have a one hour limit on the use of computers, but so long as there is no one waiting they just switch them back on again. Most of the time you can spend all day there if you want to. I think it's only about 5p or 10p a copy.

hethmar

Its a shame you have missed out on the less than half price deal through the australian ancestry site BUT I have had my sub for 5 years now - last year I let it lapse and it felt like I had a part missing I use it every day still and its worth every penny. When you work it out over a year - you have 24/7 access its very little to pay for so much information. You really need it if you are going to do a serious lot of research.

I belong to GR too and also family tree forum which is free and has a very active site with people more than happy to help your research and there is also a comprehensive WIKI of links to other resources. You can also upload photos and documents for help on there.

Merrywidow

I too have been a subscriber to Ancestry for two years. Fantastic site. Don't think twice about it - go for it.