Genealogy Chat

Ive got a subscription to Ancestry. Yes it is relatively expensive,but In my opinion,it is worth every penny I have paid for it. If I had to go out and buy the different census discs for where all my ancestors came from,it would cost a lot more,and if I had to go to the local records centres etc. Some people cant afford to pay for a subscription.I couldnt really afford it,but I felt guilty asking people to do lookups for me. I fully intend to renew my subscription in Jan when it runs out,I stopped smoking 6 weeks ago,and already have £120 to pay for my new subscription and certificates etc. I dont mind doing lookups for other people either I dont mind people getting into ancestry for free through the various websites as it doesnt affect ME accessing it as i paid for my access BUT at the end of the day,it will affect the places where ancestry provide access for free,as they will withdraw it,therefore stopping people gaining free legitimate access as their Terms and Conditions are being Breached Anna :-)

Good lord..... I didn't expect world war three to break out in the few short hours I was gone !!! Thanks for renaming the thread Chrissie. I've never been the subject of a post yet ;) My point was that yes, I'd also used the original free access through the Thompson Gale entry point and found it invaluable, was gutted when it ended and decided to subscribe. Now I took the quarterly option for 20 something quid. If when my next subscription amount is due I can't afford it then I'll cancel it. It's good value for that amount. And whilst it's no one elses business what I can and can't aford I choose to make my research my priority and spend my money on that. I'm sure there are people out there who spend the same amount on less productive things like booze & cigarettes, but I don't judge them. I enjoy helping others and have done so in the past especially as I now have access to Ancestry, but you have to admit that there are the hard core few who seem to do nothing but rely on others doing all the work ! Anyway this wasn't ment to be inflamatory ..... like any other post, if you don't like it you can always choose to ignore it. Ciao Sioux try: http://www(.)gale.ancestry(.)com/ggmain.htm

Hi Aran - it's a good idea! But (sorry to be obstructive, lol) how practical would it be? I'm such a greedy old bag I'd want access to it 7 days a week! I'd also like to echo what others have said: I've had lots of help on G.R. - sometimes even without asking for it - and have appreciated even the smallest bit of help. Glenys.

Aran i like your idea xxxx

This is really odd, I had acess to Ancestry plus for ages, then I started to get problems geting in, assumed it had gone. But last night at work, I managed to get into it, could see all the info I wanted. Thought our luck was in and it was probably back. Now I'm at home again, and it's not there. How frustrating!

Nobody likes my idea then?!

An interesting discussion...and the simple answer to the likes of Mr Betts is if you object to doing searches for people who haven't subscribed to Ancestry then don't do them! Everyone who posts a look up request is extremely grateful to those who take the time and the effort to do it for them, but no-one forces anyone to use their subscription to help other people. They do it cos the MAJORITY of people on this site are extremely lovely and very helpful and in an odd kind of way, we've all become friends over the months that you see the same names appearing and everyone is very aware of the fact that you don't get anywhere without a little help from your friends. I may not subscribe to Ancestry so can't help that way but feel no guilt about asking for help occassionally cos I've certainly spent a lot in 1837online credits helping people who are stuck and I do it cos I want to. Ali

I'm much the same; I've been on the trial period for Ancestry with a view to subscribing, but when I was on it I kept on being taken to yet more sites on Ancestry, charging extra subs. I must admit that put me off a bit, but still I intended to subscribe. In the end I didn't go for it for various reasons, but would recommend it. I am not a "freeloader" Gary; I'd like a bit more respect than that please. I've paid for vouchers for the 1901 Census before, also spent money on 1837.com credits. I really appreciate the efforts of the transcribers on FreeBMD, too. Trouble is, in our financial situation I'd not be able to afford certs and the Ancestry subs, so am concentrating more on the certs at the moment. Regards to all, Glenys x

Just a thought - how about 2 people *sharing* a subscription - one could use it weekdays, one at weekends and go halves on the cost?

Whenever anybody asks me what I want for Birthdays and christmas and I tell them Money or family history stuff, they all look at me as if I am stupid. And a couple of weeks ago I went to a family history fair and bought a Album to keep my Certificates in, showed it to my mum and she said I could have bought that for your birthday, I even asked if she would like to come to the fair but no.

I agree Margaret, If I paid the ancestry fee I would not be able to get the certificates. So not much point in getting the info if it can't be taken back further by buying the certificates to find Mothers maiden name etc. I would still be stuck with my Grandfather! In which case I would have stopped looking right from the start. Now I can find a little more history which I am finding a big help. Incidentally I ask for money from relatives at Christmas and birthdays so I can pursue this fascinating Hobby. We all have different hobbies and income! Happy hunting all Jean

Thank you everyone for the support!!!!!!! I only wish i could afford Ancestry then i could possibly help others doing look ups, as many people have helped me....Elaine,Rosemary and Debbie to name but a few, but as you say saving up for a couple of certificates is hard for some of us. Would like to thank everyone who offers to do look ups...were would we poor people be without you!!!!!!!! Christine

A sense of perspective here. It must be remembered that Ancestry is a profit-making enterprise. Contrast to FreeBMD and the fledgling FreeCEN and FreeREG who are transcribed by volunteers. I am a transcriber for FreeCEN. I felt that I’d received so much free info from other people it’s time I put something back. There are many of us but we need a lot more volunteers. We are also making a much better job of transcribing the records than Ancestry as we are local people who are transcribing EVERYTHING on the form. All transcriptions are checked by other people with local area knowledge. With more of us we could make the 1841-1901 censuses available free to all sooner. Jonathan

And he called us freeloaders.

Well we had this discussion before Mr Betts, havent we you do have a habit of being very offensive do you enjoy it? I think its very offensive to call people "Freeloaders" especially when you do not know the people you are calling such names. I subscribe to Ancestry and think its good value but thats because I have found tons of info on my people, and I was lucky enough to get the sub as a present. I don't object when people on these boards ask for free access and others give info on how to let more people access the records for free. I say good luck to them. I don't think people should be excluded because they have not got the readies to pay for all you have to pay for, I have to budget like others but I don't believe in blaming others for my financial restricitions. I think you may have some problems and feel you would be better keeping your nasty twisted comments to yourself, you have a right to your opinion as we all have but I would prefer if you kept them to yourself rather than upsetting people here with them. Pat

Hi all I just paid £6 for 20 credits on Ancestry. I saved up all the people I need to look up and I am going to spend this week looking them all up. I think its a bargain that I can look at 20 census pages for £6. Then I may never need to use Ancestry again (yeah, right, for another 12 months anyway!) Lynne

And he was rude on Deborah's message of thanks on the records board too... Re: freeloading - £40 is cheap for some, to others it is a week's pension money, or all they have left after paying bills etc to feed the kids with. In other words it's only cheap if you've got it! And as I said on Deborah's thread - a lot of people may only have one or two ancestors on Ancestory, if they are mainly European or like me have elusive Irish and Indian born ancestors! So not really worth paying 40 quid for if a kind person on here can do the one or two look ups for you.

Perhaps after spending all that money, he wont be able to afford the £7.50. Now that would be funny.

I am sorry but you say it is cheap, but perhaps you have the money to spend on things like that, I have to wait and every now and again I can order certificates or go on 1837. How some people can say such stupid things I just dont know. Not everyone has the money.

I didn't think it was that expensive, I took out a 12 month subscription to the UK collections for $69 which is less than £40. I balanced that against the cost of me getting to records offices to do the research (£40 would cover 2 train trips into London or the petrol for one trip to the area where half of my rellies are from) also the time and convenience of being able to do an hour or so in my free time on-line rather than trying to find a day to go into London or a few days to go back to my home county. £40 well spent (and when my renewal comes up I will probably request it as a birthday present from however many friends want to contribute) cheers H