International Genealogical Index - Advice

[rosie99]

You will find 'text only' (Transcriptions) on both Ancestry & FindMyPast which are just copied over from familysearch/IGI and show the LDS film number. 

[Gadget]

I'm sure the ones that I looked at were images of originals - I don't usually settle for transcriptions - although Ireland is proving a bit tricky - not all images are available via the irishgenealogy sites,

Added - yep - just checked and Devon images are on FindMyPast.

[haddockinthekitchen]

You will find 'text only' (Transcriptions) on both Ancestry & FindMyPast which are just copied over from familysearch/IGI and show the LDS film number.

Indeed they do....and I am guessing the LDS film is what can be seen at these family history centres??If so  then BINGO! I can view them as and when I visit....is this correct ? From what is being said, that would be my understanding?

[haddockinthekitchen]

I'm sure the ones that I looked at were images of originals - I don't usually settle for transcriptions - although Ireland is proving a bit tricky - not all images are available via the irishgenealogy sites,

Added - yep - just checked and Devon images are on FindMyPast.

This is good news indeed....I started my search via Ancestry in August, and thanks to so many kind people, I have found a very rich family history, that promises to be even richer.......provided I can see those originals......I know of the Irish problem, as my friend is searching his Irish ancestors - to date, not a single Irish person in my tree....but forewarned is forearmed......now back to Devon and Cornwall and those wretched reference numbers!

This info has been one of the biggest breakthroughs of all - my reading around the subject had taken me some of the way, but this info (from Rootschat) has been invaluable!

[rosie99]

You will need to order in films to the family history centre, I believe that this is now done online

https://familysearch.org/catalog/search

[haddockinthekitchen]

You will need to order in films to the family history centre, I believe that this is now done online

https://familysearch.org/catalog/search

This just gets better and better! I am a French speaker, so a phone call is not a problem, so I can order in advance of going - thanks so much for all this valuable info!

I have been saving links etc online, but now have a "book" to scribe in all my additional  info (numbers etc. )
I have only been to one History Centre (Swindon) and I was overwhelmed at the help I got, plus the services available to me....I was asked to say that I had no pens on me, and when I asked why, they told me that I would be viewing ORIGINAL documents!
Imagine my seeing the entry for my grandmother in the workhouse births register....it was a special moment, as I learned who her mother was, and that she in fact had five siblings.....details all provided by the books at the centre.

It's quite amazing the amount of info that is being recorded for us all to use and enjoy.

[rosie99]

The LDS will just be films/fiche but still much better seeing the written records. 

[haddockinthekitchen]

The LDS will just be films/fiche but still much better seeing the written records. 

Yes of course it will but still wonderful to know that on fiche/ film it has been preserved for many years to come....just to see the original writing is a great honour I feel......

[FionaO]

I have used the Batch and Film numbers on Family Search quite successfully, especially if I know an area I'm interested in together with just a surname. In this way I've found whole groups of families from which I can then search on the other sites to view the actual image.

Here's a link which helps as it lists the batch numbers by geography:
http://www.archersoftware.co.uk/igi/fs-eng.htm