Ancestry

[user1471543683]

Can someone help me with Ancestry.com? I’m in Scotland and use Scotlands People up here. You click on a person and get the certificate in front of you. I’ve taken out a trial for Ancestry.com to look for a relative in England. I seem to just get names and references. Is there no way of seeing the certificate or do I have to order it? Just wanting to make sure I’m not missing something obvious. Thanks

Hi OP,

I too am in Scotland and we have been spoiled by Scotland's People! In general with the English records all you see is the index listing but have to order the actual certificate. I've never ordered one myself because I'm told by other researchers that if it's a common name your looking for you won't always know which is the correct certificate until you have paid for and seen it. One friend had to buy four certificates before she got the right one.

I've found some a very few older records that show the actual certificate but not sure if there's a specific cut-off year for this.

If all you are seeing is references, then I guess ordering is indeed your only option.

I use both scotlands people and ancestry, I've found that anything in the last 100 or so years on scotlands people I need to pay for, is it the same for you?

I found a lot of information on my tree on ancestry, but hit a brick wall so cancelled the membership. Never had much joy at certificates etc alone but found out a lot through researching my family tree, found family abroad etc I never knew I had.

I'm afraid it's poor in comparison to ScotlandsPeople. No instant download of certificates, you have to send off for them. It costs more and the English/Welsh certificates don't give as much information either.

I personally prefer Findmypast to Ancestry, but you can't get the certificates from anywhere, other than by ordering them from the General Registry Office. You can actually find out quite a lot for free using the GRO indexes and Free BMD. The availability of the mother's maiden name alongside the index of birth is really helpful and useful in checking you have the right person, identifying siblings and marriages. However where Ancestry / Find my past are useful is that you can use the census to help find out whether you have the right person.

Also you can get a lot from the parish marriage certicates in the 19th century where you can often see the whole record including father's name etc, so it's worth checking those on Ancestry / Findmypast or some are available for free on Freereg.
I have researched a lot of my family tree without ordering certificates or only occasionally ordering one to check something for certain. However if you are doing it really properly you should always order the certificates to make sure.
I have a Findmypast subscription and I am used to using FreeBMD and GRO index and I would be happy to look up things for you if you want to PM me.

@user1471543683 I suggest you use the Census with the English research. Also use freebmd. You won't get any official records without paying but depending on the area you may get church records.