Find MyPast - a welcome resource and growing 29 August 2011 Reviewer: Susan S. from Santa Rosa, CA, USA
205 of 408 people found this review helpful
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I remember well doing British research back in he days when the census had to be searched, page by page, on microfilm, and vital record indexes were found in huge volumes to be thumbed through on site in a London repository, or again page by page on microfilm or micro fiche. So I am grateful to those who are making these records available online. And to think, I can even print out an image of the original census records on my home computer printer!
It's true this is a paid site, but so is Ancestry for these types of records. And when you consider the cost of digitizing the records and maintaining the service, the cost is very low. I personally prefer the pay-per-view payment plan rather than a subscription, now that my need for looking up entries is less voracious than it once was.
I have also found the passenger lists and other records valuable. The parish records will surely be a great asset online at this site, though they are in the early stages of compilation at present.
It can be frustrating not to find someone in a census when you know for sure they were there in a certain time and place. But that is unfortunately a characteristic of all record indexes--they're just not perfect. Sometimes it's up to the user to be 'creative' in searching variant spellings, since the handwriting in the original records can be misinterpreted by the indexers. When you do find a record this way, it is often very obvious how the name could have been mis-read. I have entered transcription corrections on some FindMyPast entries and have found that the website replies to my suggested change in a timely manner; thus far all my corrections have been accepted.
Free BMD is a vital records site maintained by volunteer efforts and a great boon also, though not as complete as the FindMyPast indexes. Use of these two sites has enabled me to expand my British family tree backward in time and broadly through connected families for the decades covered by published censuses and centralized vital record keeping. And earlier records are becoming more available all the time. We are living in fortunate genealogical times!
I regularly recommend FindMyPast to others in our genealogical society and elsewhere.
In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.
