Genealogy Chat

Hi, I want to go onto census pro gov and have a look at members of my family. You have to pay for 'sessions' on the site, using credit card, which I have no problem with. I was just wondering before I did this; Has anyone had any problems on this site? Was the information on there useful? Would you recommend it? Any Info is much appreciated. Many thanks, Teresa.

My advice, as a member who's used the 1901 census countless times (someone's getting rich on the back of me alone!) .... The information is really useful ... but do not take it as gospel (transcription errors are rife - a relative of mine Sarah Jane Heckingbottom was transcribed as Saint J Bottom!). Don't waste your time on the Address Search - or rather do ... Try searching for The Mall and use Westminster as a Additional Information ... then you'll see the problem! Check out the charges before you start so you understand exactly what you're paying for ... those charges soon clock up ... Try viewing the image of the census page at £0.75 rather than the individual at £0.50 and then the whole household at £0.50. Occasionally you'll come unstuck here as the household may split over pages, but at least you'll know you've got the correct information (transcription errors). Be sure about what you want to search for before you start - you can get very carried away! Remember to suspend your account rather than just logging off - especially if you've not yet spent £5 (otherwise, when you remember that vital record you forgot to look at you could end up paying £5 for one more look up). Hope this helps. Lesley

I have paid to get information from the site. Once you find the person you want, the paid information consists of the census entry for that address so will include names, address, ages, marital status and occupation of all persons present at that address on census night. I personally have found it useful but at 50p a look you have to be reasonably certain it is the correct person. Having said that, if you have reached a brick wall, the money could well be worth it if it gets you on to the next step. Happy searching, Jacky

Hi Teresa, It might be as well to do a person search first which is free then if you find your relatives pay to see the household that way it will not be as expensive because you can go straight to the person you want. A friend paid a fortune and found no one because she was not putting in the information the computer recognised. I found that less is more with 1901. Gen

I don't use credit card i get voucher from library and use them as that way there is no minimum spend. That way i can do a look up when i want. the site lists where you can buy vouchers. I also recommend using the census decoder to narrow the search, make life a little bit cheaper Shelli

We use with no problem. You might be better off using vouchers. I buy them from my local library, which isn't a main one. They only cost £5 and are valid for 6 months. If you suspend your session and don't close it , you can view the same images again at no extra cost for 48 hours. This works out alot cheaper. sally

Hi, Thanks everyone for some very useful information. I think that I will give it some more thought, and write down everything that I need to find out before I pay! Regards, Teresa.

We can't get vochures :(( only credit cards! I get really disgusted sometimes with this as I reckon it is discriminating against those who do not have access to the vochure systems. You can be extra sure that as soon as your card runs out, you will need to search again! I have often thought of getting one of my Pommie Pals to send some vochures over! Sonja in a vochureless Oz!

Hi Sonia wonder if this will help you?... http://www(.)gsv(.)org.au/5vouchers(.)htm Vouchers from Melbourne Good Luck Kate

hi there Try using the census decoder (do a google search on 1901 censu decoder and download it for free). This will help you pull data together from the site by sorting by page Id and person Id to group families together. It allows you to put everything into a speadsheet format which is useful, and it helps eliminate the need to look at quite so many records, thus saving a fortune. I only use the pro site now if I need to check the address, or the other occupants of a household (different name). Give it a try and give me a shout if you get stuck - I'll be happy to help. Regards Maxine

Elaine When paying with a credit card your money is valid for six months as with a voucher so long as you remember to log out after each session (a session can last up to 48 hours during which time you can go back and look at what you've already paid for within that 48 hours for free) or is this what you meant? Bear with me I am blonde! Jeanette

No, after 48 hours, if you pay by credit card, your session is terminated. It doesn't matter if you've only spent 50p, the whole £5 is deducted form your account. However, within those 48 hours, as long as you have suspended rather than logged out, you can revisit pages without paying twice.

Hi Kathryn Your right! I've just been back and read it. I'm sure when 1901 first came online I used my debit card to purchase a fivers worth and I'm sure it lasted me longer than 48 hours. Oh well, I'll have to see if I can make it worth my while to use my debit card again or maybe purchase a voucher. Are the vouchers freely available? Jeanette

Vouchers are available at most librarys. The voucher is valid for 6 months from the time you first use it, not buy it. This way you can keep a spare at home. If you suspend account when you come out you can go back into those images for free, within 48 hours. If you don't use the £5 up within 6 months, you can purchase another card and any balance will be transfered to the new card. A much better deal than credit cards. sally

Thanks for that Sally. Down to the library it is then Jeanette

As others have written, use the image of the page at 75p rather than the trasncription at 50p. That way there is less chance of errors and sometimes you spot someone of interest in a nearby residence. Don't set the maximum to amount to the minimum of £5 or you will lose out i.e. 6 x 75p = £4.50 and no change given. Set it higher (£20?) and you will only charged for what you use. Have a think before you start to make sure you have a list of people to check. Save every page so you can look at it later and paste into your family tree program though you are probably not supposed to do so. Use a program like the 1901 decoder to search the indexes before and again save all the results. You can use these to plan who you want to look up. Martin

Hi everyone, What a great bunch you all are. A great deal of advice and information given. Many thanks, Teresa.

Thanks Rosemary - thought I was going mad Jeanette