Ancestry vs FindMyPast - thoughts please

[hurworth]

I think the Scotland census transcripts are better at FindMyPast.

For one family I was really stuck on, FindMyPast gave me the baptisms of children in their English Catholic baptism records, which named sponsors/godparents.  I then found the marriages of some of the godparents (aunts and uncles) in the Westminster records at FindMyPast. They're undoubtedly my relatives because my gtgtgt-grandmother is a witness (under her married name).

[Macushla]

Thank you all very much for your responses and thoughts. I did think there would be other similar threads, my apologies for not searching better before I posted. Unfortunately, I am desperately unorganised, which is of course a terrible trait to have in this hobby.

All good advice here, thank you. I think I will try to carve out some time for myself and visit the local library and try both platforms for a while.

I have fallen back into this by accident, and a lot of my info is on an old hard drive, hopefully still safe and sound. I really should be taking the time to sort out what I have before I try gathering more information.

Many thanks, all.
M.

[judb]

I have both and, as others have said, there is some overlap but often one has something the other doesn't have. My Ancestry includes UK which makes it dearer but, for me, well worth it. Generally I would say that Ancestry has a wider coverage.  I do find Ancestry easier to search, although it can miss big-time sometimes.  I find the on-line public trees on Ancestry most useful with the obvious proviso that there's plenty of mistakes in many trees so need to be checked elsewhere.

Find-my-past has a pay-to-view option as well so you don't have to have take out a full subscription.

You probably know the other free sites which I find very useful:

freereg which has some good parish record info (UK) - again a bit hit and miss but sometimes excellent (and free!) Transcriptions only though - no images but can point you in the right direction at times,
freebmd (UK) and
FamilySearch

Good idea though to have a go at a library.

Cheers, Judith

[Finley 1]

Yes Gadget ... Scotlands people have given me a wonderful insight (albeit not cheap) into my family bless em. 

Whoops I forgot the 1939 Groom.. brilliant

Since I got my DNA results.. I have felt a little 'lack lustre'  or bloomin mardy...

So haven't tackled any decent research.. Until today when I thought -

Just get on with it

So ignore my 70% west european and go forward.

Basically then Machusla 

grab all of them and gain the knowledge each throws up..

OH I just remembered FindMyPast Newspaper Archives as well


xin 

Its more rewarding than filling up the drains, with excess alcohol... and less expensive.

oh dear me...

[groom]

It's easier to search by address in the censuses in FindMyPast as well as it gives the option by name or address.

[Westward]

I've subscribed to ancestry for years but recently wanted some parish records that are only on FindMyPast - so I took a month's subscription (offered at half price), cancelled the auto renewal immediately - and am now working to get through as much as possible  in this month.

[macwil]

. . . FindMyPast - so I took a month's subscription (offered at half price),  . . .

Is this offer still available? Where can I find it?

I currently have a monthly sub to Ancestry @£5/month runs out next month. and would love to subscribe to FindMyPast at half price as I have a lot of ancestors in Shropshire, which is where FindMyPast is better than Ancestry.

[Westward]

Is this offer still available? Where can I find it?

I just logged on (I've had an account since when it was pay per transaction, but never subscribed) and when I went to buy a monthly subscription it popped up the option, 1st month half price - I was intending to pay the full amount. 50% converted to $12 AUS  so not too bad.

Can only suggest you try it.

[macwil]

Nope. Didn't work for me. Maybe it's just an aussie offer!

Thanks anyway. Maybe another day.