Basic advice

[kalouk]

Hi, this might seem really stupid to some of you but how do you narrow down your research. I have Ancestry but it has only just occured to me that if you really don't know about older relatives how do decide who is the one for you.  I am finding alot of similar names and districts but am finding it hard to figure out who is my relative

Any basic tips would be great and are Ancestry hints usually right?

Thanks

[CaroleW]

Hi

Which of the Searches are you using on Ancestry

Is the input screen cream or green

[kalouk]

Hi,  I'm so embarrassed asking this but what is the input screen? 

[kalouk]

My background is cream but the writing is green if that is of any help 

[CaroleW]

No problem

Say you want to search the 1891 census for example.  You select 1891 census and get a blank screen with fields in which you put names/birthyears/birthplaces etc of your ancestor

That is the input screen

Ancestry introduced a dreadful "new" search facility which complicates searching which is why I asked what colour the screen is.

If it's cream - it's the horrible new search so we need to get you to the "old" one which is green and then we can answer your query properly for you

[CaroleW]

In the far right hand corner of the input screen - can you see "old search" in very small letter?

If so - click on it and you should get a green screen

Put a tick in the little box that says "Exact matches only"

[kalouk]

Thanks for your patience, I have done as you said I did have the new search!

[CaroleW]

Great - this (hopefully) will make things easier for you

On each census you search - make sure the "exact matches only" field is ticked otherwise you will get loads of irrelevant "matches"

Using the 1871 census as an example (this person does not exist):

You want to find Henry James Gomersall who was born approx 1864 and his fathers name was Samuel.  He was probably born somewhere in  Lancashire

You would input Henry (not his second name) but in the surname field just put Gom**   This is called the wildcard search and will produce all surnames beginning Gom that match the rest of your criteria which can counteract any mistranscriptions

In birthyear input 1864 and then select +-2 from  and select

In Birthplace - show Lancashire in the County field

In Family Members show Samuel as father

[CaroleW]

Just had a thought - post details of one of your relatives that you can't find and we can use them as a real example of how to search - more meaningful