Starting out - Learnt three useful lessons

[Leashl]

In a recent post "Stint" I received some replies that have been very helpful that I thought other beginners might not see but find useful. They are obvious really but they weren't to me until pointed out!!

1) Looking up various spellings - I have found a lot of probable "Stent's" when I have been looking up "Stint's"

2) Mis-reading by others of information - "H" written as "ST" etc with Nell's suggestion of writing out the name with sloping handwriting and see what it looks like.

3) FreeBMD is not complete - I knew it was lacking but thought it was as complete as it could be. I didn't realise that 1837online was complete. Grr...it's just a database - it should be!! Money, money, money.

Thanks to all helpers as we rookies totter around blindly in a fog of misinformation.

[Keith Bateman]

Hi Leashl,

Another useful thing is to use the "*" key - particularly useful on the government 1901 census.

i.e. a search for Hertford will not find Herts - but a search for Hert* - will find both!


We are all learning - but this is the best site to find helpful advise - if only I could remember it all!!

Cheers

Keith

[acorngen]

Other things to know.  The GRO index is missing a lot of registrations, ages on Census can be wrong, baptisms may occur years after the birth or miles from where they were born

and most importantly

If you get addicted easily DONT start your family history

GEn

[Christopher]

Hei Leashl,

Another important rule - If you have problems tracing any Irish ancestors ask the Irish members of Rootschat to assist you. They have a lot of expertise in finding missing ancestors with so few records available

Best Wishes, Christopher 

[eribus_holler]

Hi Chris,
eri here, like the lines, if i'm not on chat, you'll get me on ......msn.com, use my chat name.
Regards
eri