Pls help a newbie with some tips!

[ohnoquickhide]

Hi,
Started investigating my family history six weeks ago, completely new to this. I have been using ancestry.
I have looked at some other threads for tips but I am still a bit stuck with a couple of issues and wondered if you could help please?

1. is it worth joining any other paid for websites?
2. although I have the bare bones, I'd like to find out what my ancestors were like eg whether they were ever in trouble, did they move out of an area for a reason etc ....what is the best way to do this pls?
3. I am stuck with a certain ancestor which could change who those before him actually were. How can I clarify when he was born? I can't find anything on ancestry or FreeBMD.
4. how do I find others who have already investigated a branch of my family tree? There are two on Ancestry: one did not reply to a message and one replied to say he'd done it for some one else.

Lots of thanks
Xx

I have been doing Family History for a very long time.

1. I also use Find My Past. They seem to have a lot more Parish Registers but also access to Newspapers.
2. newspapers can sometimes be useful. Depending on the period you are searching (and the name - surnames that are also placenames or nouns are harder to look for) you can sometimes be lucky and find your ancestor was involved in one of the local law schemes, or won prizes at school, or even got arrested. You can also search for local history resources and join a local history society for the area they came from. Otherwise you may need to visit the local records office (when we are allowed to).
3. when was this person born? If between 1837 and 1915 check the GRO searchable records, which include the mother's maiden name.
4. only two on ancestry? usually loads.

Have you also tried the familysearch.org site? They can be very good.

1. I have a subscription to Findmypast and Ancestry. I prefer Findmypast usually as I feel it presents the search results more logically and doesn't throw up anything outside your search parameters. However sometimes it's good that Ancestry does throw up something that you weren't expecting and can help you trace the person you couldn't find. You could try the 30 day free trial for Findmy past and see if you like it - try rerunning some of your searches and see how it differs.

I also use the GRO index for births and deaths from 1837 and free BMD for marriages and births and deaths. Particularly when you can't find someone it's worth checking multiple records in case something has been transcribed incorrectly along the way.

1. Have you looked at the censuses? This is a good way of finding out a bit more about jobs, family relationships, who lived with who etc. There are free online newspaper archives for Wales. I don't have the newspaper subscription for findmypast as this is the top tier subscription. Sometimes I go and use the British Newspaper archives in the library or you could subscribe to that also. Also once you know your ancestor's name and dates look at all the different categories of records thrown up by the search in Ancestry (this is better in Findmypast I think) - you might find trade records, army records, prison records etc.
2. Sometimes you just can't find someone. But if born after 1837 search the GRO index also. Try variants of spellings of names. Try searching eg on Christian name and mother's maiden name to see if anything comes up with a different spelling. Try searching the census to see if you can find the person in that and that will also show if they are living with the people you would expect from their birth records etc - siblings and parents. I would be very happy to search for you also to see if I can find anything - I love a challenge! But as I say, some people are just not there for whatever reason.
3. Genuki sometimes has family trees as well.

Thank you both so much for replying with such detailed replies. Much appreciated. I'm going to try out your tips in the next few days and will come back to you! Xx

Bit late to the thread but most libraries have free access to some of the main geneology sites. Obviously a bit difficult at the moment but I do know that my local library has extended it to home use so maybe look at your local government web site. Also findmypast and ancestry do a free 7 day trial and often open up their records freely on special bank hols ie remembrance sunday, mothers day.