Ancestry Message Boards

[Zaphod99]

I've been an Ancestry subscriber for 10 years but only just found these.  Perhaps I'm the only one. But I doubt it.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics

Zaph

[Pheno]

I have used them for years but virtually given up now - nearly every query relates to the US in my experience.

Pheno

[Zaphod99]

On this very long list of occupations there are only four which are specifically American. Two for New York and two for the US generally.  Oh. And one for Pennsylvania.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics.occupations

It's up to us to Anglicise it if you think otherwise.  Anyway, many here would welcome a resource which is less parochial than English ones.

Zaph

[dublin1850]

There are country specific boards.
Here's England: https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.britisles.england
The ancestry boards used to be much easier to find. They are kind of hidden away now in 'Community' evidenced by the large drop in people posting.

[Zaphod99]

If, as you say, there has been a usage drop, why do you think that is?  Facebook?

Zaph

[MollyC]

It is accessible without a subscription.  There are a few posts dated 01 Jan 1900, followed by 1998!

ADDED Note the England board contains all the historic English counties, except that Merseyside has crept in.  We still have Rutland and Westmorland, not Cumbria thank goodness.

[Biggles50]

They are utterly and totally a waste of time and effort for anyone not in the USA.

Have posted a few things and always had zero responses.

Drill down through the vast array of menus and you find that the most recent post can be a year ago or more.

You have a problem then RC is by far the best place to post the question.

[Wexflyer]

If, as you say, there has been a usage drop, why do you think that is?  Facebook?

Zaph

Simple, because nobody knows it exists! far from obvious.

[dublin1850]

If, as you say, there has been a usage drop, why do you think that is?  Facebook?

Zaph

They are not easy to find anymore, which is why in some forums the most recent post is a long time ago. If you look back a few years they used to be much more active, because people could find them.

There used to be a heading 'Help' under which 'Message Boards' was found. Now there is a question mark in a circle. I'm not sure their target audience 'gets' that it means help.

It's a terrible shame I think, as among the many 'one person tree' folk on ancestry, there are some very experienced and helpful people.