Genealogy website subscription

Conchir

Hey everyone,

I was thinking of getting a subscription to a genealogy website for Christmas, but I don't have a clue of which one to get, and I can only get one. I was wondering if anyone here could recommend one for me.

As far as I know, my relatives are only from Ireland, Britain and the USA (obviously I know that could all change but I just thought I'd include it in case it helps or is important for records etc). Thanks in advance

pinkypinky

At the moment, I'd go for Findmypast - they have recently changed to have a subscription which will allow you access to UK records as well as Irish. Ancestry's sub is going to cost more but if you really want to focus on US records, then a world sub for it is best.

OU812

Not subscription, but I heard that ancestry.com in the US will do a DNA match for $100. Basically, send them a saliva swab & they'll match you to your ancestors (that they know of).

RGM

OU812 wrote: »

Not subscription, but I heard that ancestry.com in the US will do a DNA match for $100. Basically, send them a saliva swab & they'll match you to your ancestors (that they know of).

I'm pretty sure none of that is accurate.

OU812

^

dna.ancestry.com

Not exactly what I said, but the crux of it.

Ponster

I've had a world-Ancestry subscription for a few years now and it's been well worth it. I ended up doing not only my own family but also a lot of friends also.

My family are all Irish but my wife in British and I have a lot of family in the USA. I found Ancestry to be the best for my family.

Try the free trail that most sites offer and see what you come up with

RGM

OU812 wrote: »

^

dna.ancestry.com

Not exactly what I said, but the crux of it.

It's twice as much as what you said and the bit about matching you to your ancestors is, at best, misleading. Ancestry will compare your tree to the trees of people that have results close to yours and if they find a line that appears to match, then they'll bring that to light. But that doesn't help if you don't have an extensive tree on there and doesn't account for the accuracy of the trees. It also doesn't really have anything to do with the DNA test, they don't match specific bits of DNA with specific ancestors. Ancestry also does tree-matching for all subscribers, DNA test or no.

There's a lot of poor information being shared about these DNA tests right now. They can certainly help, but it's not as simple as take the test, find your ancestors. People should learn more about it before they spend hundreds of dollars on it.

Jellybaby1

pinkypinky wrote: »

At the moment, I'd go for Findmypast - they have recently changed to have a subscription which will allow you access to UK records as well as Irish. Ancestry's sub is going to cost more but if you really want to focus on US records, then a world sub for it is best.

I have a findmypast.ie subscription. Is it possible to upgrade to the one that includes UK and USA records?

Joe10000

Ponster wrote: »

I've had a world-Ancestry subscription for a few years now and it's been well worth it. I ended up doing not only my own family but also a lot of friends also.

My family are all Irish but my wife in British and I have a lot of family in the USA. I found Ancestry to be the best for my family.

Try the free trail that most sites offer and see what you come up with

What is the link ? Thanks

Jellybaby1

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I have a findmypast.ie subscription. Is it possible to upgrade to the one that includes UK and USA records?

Asking the above question again in case someone can help.

On the other hand, I was looking for a person's birth cert, I know the name, age, and place of birth from the 1901 census form. But when I search for it on Findmypast.ie it doesn't show up. A bit disappointing. Thankfully I got it on FamilySearch so I can go to the GRO for the cert.

pinkypinky

I don't think FMP have any actual bmd records - just secondary references to them like the O'Brien index from the Irish Times, etc.

Have you tried calling them to ask about the subscription question? There's nothing about upgrading an existing account on the website.

Jellybaby1

Thanks pinky. On Findmypast.ie when I saw 'Search Records' and then 'Life Events Births Marriages Deaths'. I really assumed that the records were there. Seems misleading to me.

pinkypinky

I actually find their site really confusing - it's difficult to get a list of actual records in each category. I've often not felt confident that I had seen everything.

Jellybaby1

Me too. I don't think I will renew my sub next year. Might follow others to Ancestry, maybe a monthly sub, but not sure yet.

shanew

back to the original question .... when it comes to Irish records I dont believe there's a subscription website that suits all purposes.

For civil records the best way is to use the free index on FamilySearch, and order a research certs from the GRO. If you are lucky enough to find extracted birth records you can save that step - although these dont include all the details, which can sometimes provide vital clues. Several Pay-per-view and Subscription sites have transcripts of Civil records, but coverage is patchy and you have to check their sources (assuming they keep their lists up to date). e.g. RootsIreland include transcripts of civil records for districts in some counties, but not others. These often work out at a similar price as research certs.

For parish records it again depends on the location (along with the denomination). Beside the free records on IrishGenealogy there are various pay-websites covering parishes and congregations in southern and northern counties, again with patchy coverage. Several counties have no significant online coverage - e.g. RC and CofI records for Clare, RC records for Carlow etc

Much of the Irish details on Ancestry are also available FamilySearch, but they do have the civil marriage cross-match function, which saves time, and they also have some additional RC transcripts. Most of these apparently originate from the Diocese of Meath, but I've also seen records from parishes in Co. Wexford, and Co. Leitrim.

For slightly more unusual sources it might be worth checking FMP IE - e.g. Landed Estates Court Rentals, Tithe defaulters, Directories, William Smith O'Brien Petition, Prison records etc and Ancestry for RIC Index, Military records etc

Coolnabacky1873

Joe10000 wrote: »

What is the link ? Thanks

Ancestry.com and sign up. You have to provide credit card info but if you cancel before the end of the free time period you won't be charged.

Coolnabacky1873

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Thanks pinky. On Findmypast.ie when I saw 'Search Records' and then 'Life Events Births Marriages Deaths'. I really assumed that the records were there. Seems misleading to me.

I think the aim is to get people to sign up who presume this to be the cases as it is worded very broadly. It can also get people to try a sub who might not be well up on their sources and are looking for that elusive 1834 birth cert, which of course does not exist.