In a message dated 25/11/2002 23:16:09 GMT Standard Time, bapace2(a)juno.com
writes:
You may be interested to know that the BMD indexes are going to be
available on-line from 8 December on:
www.1837online.com
There is a minimum charge of £5 allowing you to look at, print, or
download up to 50 pages. Though not operational yet, the site is open as
regards
explaining what it intends to offer.
Letters to this effect seem to be spreading like wildfire over the lists this
evening.
I've looked at this site, it may just be my suspicious mind, but it looks a
bit fishy to me :-(
There is no obvious copyright notice, to start with; and as the BMD index are
crown copyright I would have expected a very big copyright notice. I would
also have expected a big announcement from the FRO, telling us of their
arrangement with the company concerned to publish the BMD index on-line.
£5 for fifty pages may sound like a good deal, but when you consider how many
pages may need to be downloaded to hit the right page, it may turn out to be
damned expensive.
Try this for example, go to:
http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/scan-source2.html#scan7180
and try to find a possible marriage between John BETTON and Mary Anne WARDLE
in the period 1874-1878, in fewer than 50 hits :-0
If the site is legal, well indexed and truly cheep to use, I wish it all the
best. BUT I would like these facts to be confirmed before I invest a hard
earned fiver in it.
Any thoughts from other list members that put my mind at ease will be very
welcome.
regards
Alwyn