Genealogy Forum UK

My subscription is due to be renewed in September and I can't make up my mind if I would be better with FMP instead, I want all the census , BMD and Parish Records.

At the moment I have a subscription with Ancestry for Census, BMD and few other I do not use and I can't view Parish Registers, on FMP I have a subscription for the 1911, so would I be better with FMP .

Annie

what is the FMP site. I have a subscription with Ancestry and find it sometimes frustrating if you put specific details in of ancestors, it still gives you a full list to search.
What is the charge like on FMP compares to Ancestry

FMP is Find My Past

As to which is best it is personal preference really -- I have both and find I use both for different things so can never decide which to cancel.

FMP will allow street searches which is occasionally useful.
I find FMP is good if you know where the people are but ancestries "long lists" is useful when you are trying to track down poor spellings as it is more flexible in that way.

FMP does have access to 1911 -- so that swings keeping that one.

Ancestry does allow you to build up an on line tree and offers suggestions about which records might fit -- some of which I have to say are very vague connections.

Maths girl wrote:FMP is Find My Past

As to which is best it is personal preference really -- I have both and find I use both for different things so can never decide which to cancel.

FMP will allow street searches which is occasionally useful.
I find FMP is good if you know where the people are but ancestries "long lists" is useful when you are trying to track down poor spellings as it is more flexible in that way.

FMP does have access to 1911 -- so that swings keeping that one.

Ancestry does allow you to build up an on line tree and offers suggestions about which records might fit -- some of which I have to say are very vague connections.

You definately have to be very careful about Ancestrys links, especially to other peoples trees. An aweful lot of people copy other peoples trees without checking - the golden rule of genealogy is doubley true here: check and double check. Other peoples trees can help lead you in the right direction, but use them with caution, especially if you can't see their source. I have also had historical records come up with a totally different first name. But that said I couldn't have done all the research without it. It is good for browsing.
I am thinking of subscribing to a second site, although I haven't made up my mind totally yet. I'm looking at The Genealogist as well as FMP.

Snoopy Sue

suepaul9 wrote:what is the FMP site. I have a subscription with Ancestry and find it sometimes frustrating if you put specific details in of ancestors, it still gives you a full list to search.
What is the charge like on FMP compares to Ancestry

They quoted me £64 for 6 months and £103 for 12 months, I have a subscription with FMP for 1911 so they have deducted that off the full price.
I also get a list of things I don't want on Ancestry.

Annie

Thank you all for your opinions , I have till September but think I am swayed to Findmypast, think I will take a look at The Genealogist are their census complete.

Annie

Annie wrote:Thank you all for your opinions , I have till September but think I am swayed to Findmypast, think I will take a look at The Genealogist are their census complete.

Annie

They don't have the 1911 census at present.

Thank you Sue.

Annie

It's a pity they don't all have a free trial like Ancestry, then we could try before we buy.

snoopysue wrote:It's a pity they don't all have a free trial like Ancestry, then we could try before we buy.

FMP do have a free trial. I think I used my free credits in about 15 minutes though.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/free-trial.action

http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/freesub/

brickwalls wrote:

snoopysue wrote:It's a pity they don't all have a free trial like Ancestry, then we could try before we buy.

FMP do have a free trial. I think I used my free credits in about 15 minutes though.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/free-trial.action

http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/freesub/

I'll be trying out those when I've got the time and energy to be subjective - thanks Brickwalls

brickwalls wrote:

snoopysue wrote:It's a pity they don't all have a free trial like Ancestry, then we could try before we buy.

FMP do have a free trial. I think I used my free credits in about 15 minutes though.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/free-trial.action

http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/freesub/

Thanks Brickwall I will give them a go.

Annie

No worries

FWIW I prefer FMP, however Ancestry have the Irish records, which are what I need more than anything at the moment.

Ancestry will get the 1911 census eventually, it just depends when they get off their butts and decide to actually catch up. From what I was able to gather at the library, 1911 isn't on general release yet.

I've just signed up for a free trial on both so won't take me long to use the credits.

Annie

Find My Past is purely UK only. Totally useless for anything outside the UK.

Its has poor indexes for marriages and deaths.

Looking up UK information is far easier on Ancestry and you have far more options on filtering.

FMP has nothing like the hosting facilities of Ancestry.

Yes, you have to be carefull of other people clues on Ancestry but better to have some than none.

I have no idea why anybody would choose FMP over Ancestry if they were restricted to just one.

To me it has half the facilities and nowhere near the value and I have subscriptions to both.

You will get far further in your research and more quickly with Ancestry than FMP.

As for Black Country research, Ancestry murders FMP once again.

FMP has zero Black Country related Parish Registers.