Geneology

Carmen

Hi,
I want to start researching my family and was wondering if anyone could please recommend a good site/software etc?
Many thanks
Carmen x

bubblegum26

I would recommend www.ancestry.co.uk or find my past. I have been researching my history for over 7 years and found Ancestry a great place to start and you can also build you tree there also.

Both sites are subscription sites or pay as you go but are definately worth the money

x

*emsj21*

I bought the Family Tree Maker 2010 software and this came with 6 months subscription to Ancestry, which I've used an awful lot. Findmypast had an offer on during the World Cup which I took advantage of. For births, marriages and deaths searches I prefer Ancestry, but I find the census search better on findmypast.

fountainpen

Id say Ancestry.co.uk is the best site to find census online , it also has records from abroad depending which countries you are researching .
The 1881 census is free at www.familysearch.org there are also other sites you can use for records too.

NOWSE

Before you take out a subscription to a geneology site try your local library. In many of them you can get free access to sites such as ancestry.com

Syman

I use ancestry and findmypast depending on what i am looking for. I have a paid subscription to ancestry as they give the best all round VFM for my needs.

A friend of mine took aout a sub with findmypast (best for 1911 census), and between us we cover most bases.

If you are just starting out Genereunited is worth a look too, though not as comprehensive as the others. You can start to create your tree with their online software. (can be downloaded as a GED file to import into other programs when you decide which to buy)

FREEBMD is another fantastic resourse.

If your family has been more or less in the same area over time then a good source for information are "local history" groups. There are plenty on the web. All of them have very helpful members, many willing to do lookups for details if you do not have access to particular info.

ooops went on a bit but there you go!! HTH

sockdrawer

I've been researching my family tree for about 25 years now.
I agree with Nowse, public libraries often have a family history section and a subscription to things such as the births/deaths/oprs etc. and they tend to be free.
I've used scotlandspeople.gov.uk for a lot of things, having family in Scotland, which is pay as you go. The advantage of Scotlands people is that you can actually see the records as they were written

moggies

Hi ,I use the library for free research,Ancestry.com,but the best site I have ever found was
http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums.

The people on that site are wonderful,they are so helpful and friendly ,also myself a lot of my Ancestors are Canadien,and you can look on the USA/Canada/Australia and various other countries boards,Scotland/Wales/England and also all the different counties of England,please take a look on there ,if that does not help I dont know what will:beer:

7roland8

I would say Ancestry - they also give a free 14 day taster I think - so you can try it out.

As well as finding census and other info -a nd possibly others doign the same family line, you cna build your own tree and have it either private or accessible to anyone - or just invited relatives - plsu you can add pics and stories.

Cheaper for a yearly payment but I pay monthly - 12.95 now I think but there is a 10.99 one too - i don't get out through illness so its my only luxury.

Also if you sent off for certificates it would be costly anyway.

Bets of luck - I log in every day and have made contacts in USA and Australia throguh it - as have my friends - a great hobby.