In a message dated 30/07/2003 21:42:40 GMT Daylight Time,
graham.lesley(a)tesco.net writes:
I know there was lots of discussion about 1837 on-line sometime ago,
but as
usual I skipped it. Now I find it might be useful! Without wishing to start
a general discussion what are fellow researchers' reactions to it. I know the
costs but how easy/manageable is it to search using just a surname? Are
accurate dates needed. I notice from their site that they have revamped their
index (as of 25th July) ;any reactions? Be blunt!
First rule. Before using 1837 on line check Free BMD first, the record(s)
your looking for may have been transcribed there.
The "problem" with 1837 on line is that the records are only indexed by the
first three letters of a name and are indexed in quarterly batches. So if
having looked p the census you find that your ancestor Zebediah Quentin was born
about 1886 you have to download the QUE pages for the first quarter of 1886 -
pay for them - drat he's not there! So then you have to pay for the same page
from the next quarter, and may possibly have to expand your search and your
expense into 1885 and 1887 before you find him.
Of course, Zebediah Quentin is going to be fairly easy to find. There won't
be many QUE entries and children with a first name beginning with Z are likely
to be on the last page of those records. If the name is John Jones you are
going to have a lot of JON pages to choose from,so you will have to play a game
of "Higher and Lower", you pick a page from the middle range of those offered,
say page 20 out of 40 - you land on the Edward Jones page as J comes after E
you need to guess a number between 20 and 40 - lets pick 30. You land on Moses
Jones - now pick another number between 20 and 30 and so on until you hit the
right one. This game of higher & lower can work out expensive. BUT it may
still be cheaper than the alternatives of having to give up a few hours at
overtime rate, driving 50 miles to the nearest library with a copy of the index on
fiche and letting the wife loose in the shopping centre with the credit card
whilst you spend a few hours rsearching:-)
Regards
Alwyn