Genealogy Chat

Hi

Is anyone having problems with Ancestry? I am trying to search the above and there appears nothing there to search. I've come out of the site and gone back in but there is no box to put name in and no records etc. Can someone log on and see if its just me. The home page seems changed as well as there is no search box vcoming up on log in.

Thanks

Sue

I'm on co.uk & it seems to be working fine (probably seize up now I've said that)

working ok

Refine your search of the England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983

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I've refined but there are no boxes showing to enter name etc - I am experienced in using the site which is why I was wondering if there was a general problem or whether my pc has just had enough and is now sulking.

Thanks for looking I will shut down pc and reboot it - its obviously having an off day.

Sue

Rather than search Ancestry Partial indexes, why don't you use freebmd - it is their transcriptions that Ancestry use and they are added to regularly - Ancestry is quite often a long way behind.

If they are picked up from freebmd then I I guess its possible that a reason for me not being able to find my grandmother's birth in 1910 Q4 is that freebmd has transcribed them all yet. I hadn't realised that freebmd provided the info to Ancestry. You learn something every day.

Thanks for all the advice.

Ancestry is a big boondoggle, these last few weeks.

Two tips for searching images (one I was reminded of the other day here):

- when there is a name added at the bottom of a page, Ancestry asininely reads that as the last name on the page. So if the page starts with Sanders and ends with Smith, but there is a Saunders added at the bottom of the page, Ancestry will not find a page for you for the name Small, because in its opinion that page only goes from Sanders to Saunders, and the next one starts with Smith.

So always use as little info for the search as possible. Don't search for Smith, search for Smi*. And if you still don't get anything, try another surname in the same general range.

- use the direct URL for images rather than searching for the one you want. Save these, you'll probably need them until Ancestry sorts itself out, and next time it goes insane:

http://content.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=8964&path=1838.Q1-Jan-Feb-Mar

That's for births in the first quarter of 1838 -- change the URL to the year and quarter you want -- change the last bit to, e.g.:

1914.Q4-Oct-Nov-Dec

When you're on that page, select the initial of the surname you want. That will take you to the image of the first page for names starting with that letter. Then you have to guess what page you want. Pain in the bum, but if you're impatient, better than waiting for Ancestry.

http://content.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=8965&path=1838.Q1-Jan-Feb-Mar

That's for marriages -- note the "8964" changed to "8965".

http://content.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=8966&path=1838.Q1-Jan-Feb-Mar

That's for deaths -- "8966".

Hope that helps!


Meant to say, on the actual question here -- I've had that happen: the search form stops loading. Happened to me in a census search page. It is indeed a PC problem, and time to reboot!

Sue,

Just checked freebmd and not all 1910 births have been transcribed.

When did you last look? The last update was 7th November

I looked today but cant find her. My grandmother insisted she was bornon 9 Sept 1910 Sylvia May.

However, somewhat of a mystery as there is no record of a marriage to my grandfather (Arthur Millichamp) although she registered his death and gave her married name as Millichamp and her maiden name as May.

She never talked about her husband and used to go on as though Millichamp was her maiden name - all very confusing and one I have tried to sort out through GR before but sadly to no avail as without a record of her birth I cannot be absolutely sure that May was really her maiden name.

Sue

have you searched the complete index:

There is this in Sep qtr 1911:

Sylvia I May MMN Roebuck Gainsbro 7a 1404

Sue-most people are having problems with ancestry,just keep trying-you'll get there eventually x