Genealogy Chat

Yes - you're right OC - most of the progress on my tree has been sideways, filling in families of collaterals from census & BMD. After only 3 generations, because of late marriages that are typical of my family, I am well beyond help from census & BMD. But I have managed to find 4 new 18th C surnames through the help of GR people, so am very grateful for that. What I need now are PRs - very difficult for me to access here in the Aussie bush!

Well, Michael, I suppose a lot depends on who and when you are researching. I am not particularly interested in 20th century research, and prefer to go backwards, rather than forwards. My family has virtually died out, so the 20th century for me is just tying up loose ends - very few contacts to be found there. I have my tree well into the dim and distant past - mostly before many new researchers on this site have made the connections to that past. So, I don't get any meaningful hot matches, and when I do, it is me who is giving out the information. I don't mind that - but I AM beginning to object to paying for the privilege of handing out my research. Many others on this site, who are in a similar postion with their research, feel like I do and will probably drift away from this site. At which point, there will be a lot of possibly inexperienced researchers wading around in the dark and missing out on good information. I have had some wonderful help on here, from clever and experienced researchers. Most of them I can find on other sites, so there is really no reason for me to stay. OC

Well that really stirred things up didnt it? Sorry to offend folks , but I just cant help myself playing Devil's Advocate sometimes! The greatest strength of this site is the ease of information exchange and of course the wonderful people who are always available unselfishly to help others with any query or problem no matter how small or basic. And of course the much maligned Hot Matches that have provided me with a wealth of useful contacts over the years. I had been struggling along for 30 years with my tree - since joining G R my tree has quadrupled in size. Stick with GR - its still the best!

OC I for one, although I'm sure I speak for many others will miss you. I have found your advice invaluable since I started researching six months ago and for that I would like to thank you. Caz

I also have not said I hate this site. I have found LOTS of relatives using it and for that I'm grateful. However, that was when the site was more reliable and the tree permissions did what they said on the tin! I've also found relatives on Curious Fox for a fiver! ;-) The first price I paid for GR was £7.50 per YEAR (not six months). I don't think the price increase is justified especially as the service has gone downhill. This moaner has 3,400 people on her tree but I achieved that mainly through Ancestry. I had a tree of over a 1,000 people on here until I removed it after the fun and games of a few days ago. Why do I waste my time on here? Because I've paid for a subscription and I happen to like helping people! Hope that is OK and hope I am allowed to express an opinion. I'm a big believer in free speech even for those who disagree with me. ;-) Cheers, Horatia

Michael Didnt say I hated this site, I said it was not worth the money and does not provide anything that you cannot get elsewhere, for free. I shall not be renewing my subs which run out in July. Sorry if I have been wasting other people's time on here in the last three years - I was only trying to help you, both with my knowledge of how to/where to research, and to give quite a few of you detailed information about our mutual relations, back to 1137 in one particular instance. But don't worry - after the 24th July, I won't be bothering any of you with any of this obviously unwanted information. OC

I seem to be unusual, in that I think the hot matches on this site are worth the fee alone. I've found a lot of accurate matches who were able to help me and an ex-wife of a great uncle who was able to provide me with an absolute MINE of information regarding Family history and stories and to provide the actual truth on a family rumor (which proved to be far more scandalous than we could ever imagine) So yes its not free but its worth 50pa week!! Carole (and I'm also a rarity in that I'm not partic bothered about other people seeing my tree)

I guess the ones who are moaning may not have had the success that some people have had. Di

So for you lot who hate this site - why do you waste so much time on here?

Yes, it is me who was once and anorak......IYes I do understand that there are many other sites available that give free info etc. but the thing I like about GR is the members. Sometime I have asked, to the more advanced members, what may be a silly question, but I am so very gratefull for all the help, understanding and advice that I have been given. I have an annual subscription to Ancestry and along with GR and other free sites I have been able to go back in time and see the route that has brought me to 2007. So to anyone who has hellped me as 'So, I am an annorak' and now as 'Soft as'....I will say, again, my sincere thanks to you all. and may all your children be boys or girls lol lol. Kathlyn

I have to agree...this site is the best. Simply.... because the members are always so willing to help others and put them on the right track. I posted a message on another site about one of the Dublin sites that I found, which has Baptism, Marriage and Burial Parish Records that you can search.......only to get a message back more or less shooting me down in flames........telling me that it was not complete, Brady and Murphy names are verry common, Blah, Blah, Blah. I had already said all of this in my posting. I just wanted to let other people, searching for their ancestors in Co. Dublin..that this Dublin site was free to anyone and was worth looking at. Perhaps I was treading on his toes! ....I was only trying to be helpful for goodness sake. Teresa

Hi, I thought I would have my say, in the last month or so, I have been able to get a father and son reunited after 40 years plus half siblings etc, found and got my father his 1 and only living cousin reunited, found numerous of 2nd cousins, now tell me if that is not worth 9.95 of anyones money? Di

UKBMD - FREE ( and matched to marriage partner, and the venue of the marriage). GOOGLE - FREE - everything from how to spell a word, to the history of the Ancient Egyptians. OC

Basic account on Tribal Pages (FREE) Rootschat (FREE) Your Family Tree Forum (FREE) Family Tree Forum (FREE) although they do like voluntary donations. FREE BMD (FREE) FREE REG (FREE) Ancestry BMD indexes only (FREE) Google (FREE) Latter Day Saints Personal Ancestral File Software (FREE) Agreed not everything for genealogy is free - but a lot is! :-) Cheers, Horatia Feel free to add more.

I belong to several other sites, all of which are FREE and all of which have members who will do lookups etc, also for free. And they also have far more FREE information available in their databases. Sorry, but I don't think GR is worth the money. OC

£9-95 for 6 months, Holy Moly, that's almost 50 pence a week. Come on folks, I know a lot of information is available on the net but if you are a relative newbie and you don't know where to look for it then all you have to do is ask on here. Less than 50p a week, it's gotta be right. While I'm on my soapbox, I along with almost everyone on this site will help others when they ask a question but a lot of the questions are asking for information from sites that you have to pay to use (disgusting....PAY) please remember that any site with information available requires a great amount of work by the site owner to make that information available on the net, the infornation has to be collated, website created, uploading, it's all time so please if you do have to pay for it, don't moan about it, would you work for nothing. Everything in genealogy aint free. Rant over, gets off soapbox. Ron www.genealogyprinters*com

I think its great value for money here, and I get my daily dose of laughs. Lin x

Sorry but I couldn't agree more....for the price you pay to get in contact with other members, I think it is an absolute bargain !! I also have had very few problems with this site compared to others (she says touching wood !!) Marie x

Stop whingeing you lot! GR is the greatest thing since sliced bread! Especially all this Chicken Little hysteria the last few days about trees being raped and pillaged left right and centre! Very cheap entertainment in my opinion - much better than watching the tellie!

This is the best site for the money but don't tell GR or they might raise the rate