Loss of Family History Online

[kerryb]

Hi

Has anyone heard any up to date news about what is happening with all the records that used to be on family history online?  I know that the local family history societies were unhappy about the records going to findmypast. 

I was having a PM conversation the other day with another rootschatter and we were moaning about how much we feel the loss of that brilliant site and all the records that used to be on it. 

Kerry

[Keziahemm]

As far as I'm aware, from the beginning of March, all these records are now available on findmypast.  In return Family history societies receive royalty income.

Susan 

[kerryb]

Hi Susan

That's the thing, the records that used to be on FHO are not on findmypast.  For instance there are now only burials for Sussex whereas FHO had stacks of baptisms as well. 

Kerry

[Little Nell]

I think that some of the family history societies (not 100% certain about this) have now made other arrangements.  Some societies were split over placing them online when FamilyHistoryOnline was first set up.  It may be worth checking the position with those socieities whose records are no longer there.

Nell

[Keziahemm]

This is an extract from email received from Family History Online back in February

"As you may know, www.FamilyHistoryOnline.net will cease to trade on 2 March, 2009. Most of the records you have enjoyed on this site have been transferred to findmypast.com, one of the leading suppliers of UK family history records, where you will be able to find many other records."

Have checked my local FHS journal, the only records they have on FindMyPast are burials.

Family History Societies are a rich source of information.  Income from the sale of CDs of BMD transcripts helps towards funding search facilities, open days etc., so can fully understand them not wanting to put all their resources online.

Susan 

[Ringrose]

In the Family History magazine this month it tells of a very large number of records from Family History on Line got lost in the transfer.
Quote--"-An estimated 2.8million records disappeared from on line after the closure of the Federation of Family Histor Societies  website Family History on Line on March 2nd.Although some records were transferred to Find My Pastmany were lost including BMSGH Marriage index for Birmingham, Staffs,and Worcestershire as well as details of baptism marriagesaand memorial inscriptions
FHS hope that the content will go back on lineat some point,meanwhile manual searches will still be possible at contributing History societies"
Bring back FHonline. How could this happen?So much work has been put into an excellent site which is no more. It is not so easy researching at the Family History Societies unless you live nearby which is highly unlikely.
I dont think there is much we can do is there
Ringrose

[kerryb]

Hi Ringrose

That's rather careless, losing 2.8 million records and I wonder if that includes the baptisms from Sussex that I can no longer access.

Kerry

[MarieC]

That's really bad.  Certainly those of us on the other side of the world can't trot along to the Family History Societies to do research!   

MarieC

[suey]

Kerry - I've just looked for some Sussex Ballard/Bollard baptisms and burials that I found originally on FHO and none are  appearing on findmypast......

What a shame the Sussex records were some of the best on FHO

Suey