Ancestry.co.uk

pmduk

Many, if not most, public libraries have subscriptions that enable you to use ancestry.co.uk from their PCs.

chiny

Backing up ancestry.co.uk in a GEDCOM doesn't really do the biz; ISTR that GEDCOMs are just basic stuff, not including pics and other files which bring family history to life. A good point though; years of research entrusted to someone, somewhere and that could change or be sold off tomorrow.

I probably am an ancestry.co.uk member 40% of the time and no data, or access to any data has ever been lost when my membership has expired. ancestry.co.uk make money out of so much data being available to current members and they appear to want to keep it that way.

There is a big social element to ancestry.co.uk; the ability to search on other trees and slurp in data. Clearly some never do any hard work, nor review the slurped data and nonsense results but the idea is sound. DNA adds another dimension. I've tried standalone progs but they simply don't have the reach.

With all this info, an amazing amount can be achieved. I have photos of my great great grandparents from a newly "discovered" second cousin. It certainly brings home how earlier generations lived and died; a number of my now identified relatives died young in WW1.

slinga

I wonder if the DNA checks are just generic rather than individual and/or can go back further than three generations.
Any one who has had one done care to comment.

chiny

The ancestry.co.uk checks are both... your sample saliva is used to analyse your own DNA. From this data, 2 sets of results are given; the general region where other people with similar DNA are located today (essentially what people/tribe you match), and which other tested individuals (cousins) you partly match.

Other DNA companies may have different presentations; some companies specifically look for health issues. It is early days yet and the science is in development.

The matching with cousins seems to work; I've tracked a number of cousins (and been tracked) starting with DNA ("likely a 4th cousin") to the exact relationship via census/BMD records.

Some worry about privacy; looks like you'll be nobbled anyway, tested or not. And as the TV programme, some have found that they are not who they think they are.

china_anne

Thanks, think I will give it a go.

OhhEnnEmm

I think I'll be having a go with the old Ancestry research this weekend, something I've never really done, but it does interest me

pleasedelete

I took advantage dog the 30 day trial. They charged me on day 15. They say that they don't do 30 day trials in the UK- it was the UK website and the links that I followed to 30 days are still live.

They refused to refund (despite providing screen shots) and are generally quite aggressive in their responses- so I think that they must scam a lot of people in this way.

50Twuncle

I have been with Ancestry for 8 years and have just signed up for another year using a discount https://www.ancestry.co.uk/secure/subscribe/signup/register/O-24531?rtype=11&flowId=11


This costs only £59.95 for 12 months and offers full UK access

If you want world access - it costs £89.99 - I use this one
both for 12months - and saves at least £100 on each option



I also have Family Tree Maker 2017 which Ancestry backs up to locally and I use an addon called Family Book Creator (2017) - which allows unlimited reports to be created

LHW99

I use GenoPro, which is a relatively cheap family tree software that allows adding of photos, and also covers a range of other social relationships if required. I have had a subscription to Lives of the !st World war, which gives access to a range of records, not just military, and also use a range of free sites (eg Commonwealth War Graves, FreeREG etc).
I haven't subscribed to Ancestry or FMP, although I have used them at libraries, but have guest registered for several sites.
I agree the Scotland's People site is good, and wish there was an equivalent one for Ireland.

littlerock

I let my sub lapse last year so that I could try FindMyPast. When I logged into ancestry recently, I could do simple searches as a guest but I was no longer able to find my Family Tree online.