The new Findmypast (Part 2)

[LizzieW]

I do not subscribe to FindMyPast but to GR and was going to change over but not now.

  Unfortunately, GR is owned by the same company, so I foresee changes ahead on there too.

[lesleyhannah]

Am very grateful to find this link - by accident as I'd just posted a lookup request because I can't access findmypast. I get to the home page but can't access the records although my sub has several months left to run. Windows diagnosed a firewall could be blocking the site - but I'm having no problems with other sites (like Roots!)
I also sent an email to findmypast, but am not sure whether it actually reached them. If anyone else finds a solution to this problem, or even gets a reply from the site I'd be very grateful to hear from you!

[locksmith]

I've just done a marriage search for a known entry in 1871 and the possible spouses are shown.

If you want to practice, use Henry Arthur Sherry in 1871

make sure you select marriage and divorce from the drop down box at the top of the screen

As with most of the records, if you want the search form specifically for the GRO marriage records you can select 'search all records' from the search records tab, then Marriages under 'Birth, marriage, death & parish records', then Marriage records 1538-2005 and finally England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005.

Having now looked at this England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 search form, it has no search field for registration district, but has one labelled Page ?

Simon

[LizzieL]

Am very grateful to find this link - by accident as I'd just posted a lookup request because I can't access findmypast. I get to the home page but can't access the records although my sub has several months left to run. Windows diagnosed a firewall could be blocking the site - but I'm having no problems with other sites (like Roots!)
I also sent an email to findmypast, but am not sure whether it actually reached them. If anyone else finds a solution to this problem, or even gets a reply from the site I'd be very grateful to hear from you!

I had same problem could do basic search as guest but as soon as I tried to log in, got message to say that Internet Explorer could not access this page. Complained to FindMyPast who said it was a problem with my browser not with them. Funny it only happened as soon as I was forcibly moved to new version. Never had a problem with the old. Have now downloaded Google chrome browser and works OK. Did try Firefox but it refused to download images although I could view them

[LizzieW]

In fact has anyone had a reply to any of their complaints, queries, comments lately?

No.

[LizzieL]

Just got two replies in quick succession after posting that.

I don't think they actually read them, a robot just picks out keywords and sends links to what they think is most appropriate FAQ.

My main problem is with census address searches, I know the address exists because if I search on name I can find it (correctly spelt). If I try and enter it in the road name field it tries to match with a list and will not allow me to type it and reverts to the name at the top of the list or nothing at all so I get 32 million hits.

[LizzieW]

Have now downloaded Google chrome browser and works OK.

Why should we have to change browsers to suit FindMyPast?  In any case, I've tried Google chrome twice now and each time my laptop froze, so I'm not about to try again.

The other thing that annoys me - and I've written to them about it, but not had a reply - is when you put in a year of birth and want to put +/- 2, it works OK, but if you want +/- 5 for instance, when you click to find it, all you get are a list of +/- and you have to work you way down to get 5, 10, 15, 20 etc.  Why couldn't they just put the appropriate number after the symbols?

I used to use FindMyPast every day, but I'm afraid I've given up now and go straight to Ancestry, something I would never have done in the past.  By the way Ancestry now has the 1911 census with images of the original pages, so we don't need FindMyPast for that any more.

Lincstothepast has the Lincolnshire BMDs which, although FindMyPast site states they have them, when you do a search, nothing comes up from Lincolnshire.  I can't find the Crew members either, which I check regularly in case my g.grandfather's name should come up.

LizzieL, I couldn't even find my g.grandparents on the new FindMyPast, even though I know they are on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census.  I assume if I put in their places of birth, their ages, the place they lived etc. the new FindMyPast would find them, but usually when you search for an ancestor you haven't go all that info, and it should let you search on name only, as the old site did.

I also used to like the Search all records, which I used to use when searching for a missing ancestor.  Putting in the name, year of birth and possible date of birth, it would then show a page giving all the instances where that name appeared, various census, births, marriages, deaths, newspaper articles etc. etc.  but that search has gone too.

Lizzie

[LizzieL]

Searches on places of birth seems to have gone . Subject of one of my many messages to FindMyPast yesterday.
I wonder what FMPs response will be to that one.

I used to have trouble with G Chrome and expunged it from my laptop. Redownloaded and so far it's  fine but somehow it remembered my old bookmarks - interesting things I saved in 2007.

[locksmith]

Just got two replies in quick succession after posting that.

My main problem is with census address searches, I know the address exists because if I search on name I can find it (correctly spelt). If I try and enter it in the road name field it tries to match with a list and will not allow me to type it and reverts to the name at the top of the list or nothing at all so I get 32 million hits.

This I think is my main gripe with the searches. Where you have to enter something into a box that has 'Browse <something>' you cannot just type what you want, you are forced to select from a list. 'Browse Street Name' 'Browse House name' 'Browse Birth Town' etc. and it becomes completely unusable. A blank field to type into with wildcards is so much easier, quicker and efficient.

Simon