Ancestry UK

swingaloo

If you join Ancestry UK can you search unlimited records or are you able to search Birth and death records of people you may have lost touch with.

I'm trying to connect to a couple of old friends but it could be possible that they have died. Would joining the ancestry site enable me to search people outside my family or is there a better site?

Ive tried a couple of the free search sites and even when putting in correct information regarding dates etc the search come back as -unable to find any record.

I'm happy to join the site but not if I'm not going to be able to get accurate information. Can anyone recommend or suggest an alternative.
Thanks

~Beanie~

You can search records of people who are not in your family, yes, however I'm not sure you would find what you are looking for. You would maybe find the records of a birth or death but you can't see the information that would be on the actual birth/death certificate.

Last time I used Ancestry you could get a 14 day free trial so it may be worth signing up for that if they still do it.

clairec79

How recently have they died? It doesn't cover that recent a death, up to 2013 I believe

You can search anyone though

swingaloo

Thank you for the replies, Ive just looked and they do still have the trial period so I will give it a go.

Marmaduke123

You don't say how recent the deaths may have been.

You won't find death records after 2005 on any of the commercial sites. If you think they may have left a will you can look on the government probate website, but you can only search year by year and won't get much information other than a date of death. Unless they have very uncommon names you would struggle to identify the right person.

If they were registered to vote Findmypast have electoral registers, just how recent depends on the location. Or there are numerous sites where you can search the electoral roll by name and pay for the information.

I presume you've tried googling their names?

swingaloo

Yes I have tried to google the names but getting nothing. I haven't been in contact for over 40 years so its a long shot. The surnames whilst not being that common are not unusual so that does not help.

just tried to join ancestry uk and its saying there is already member with my email address!

Grumpelstiltskin

OP When searching for someone on Ancestry don't put too much information in your search.

For instance you may have always thought their Christian name was Carol when in fact they were registered Carole Anne.

The golden rule with Ancestry is always less is more.

DigForVictory

Also bear in mind that you may know someone for decades as Carol, to find that her birth certificate read Margaret Carol.
I've no idea when or why Carol decided to be thus called, or ditched Margaret, but be ready to chase several colourful herrings.