'Forcing' Ancestry to search what I want it to search !

[Lydart]

I'm getting more and more frustrated with our favourite census site !

My family contains lots of Williams (surname) but they are from Hamphire/Dorset, not Wales !

So why when I enter a name, plus (in an attempt to eliminate Wales) a county name such as Hampshire, does it come up with dozens of names in Wales ?

How can I force it to NOT concentrate on Wales ?

This isn't a query about a specific person, just about using Ancestry !

[CaroleW]

A lot depends on exactly HOW you are using Ancestry - for example - are you using their dreadful "new search" or their dependable "old search" facility?

Have you ticked or unticked the box that says "Exact matches only"

[Ringrose]

I have the same problem and find that you have to go through pages to find the one you are looking for. I never use exact search because I have found that the person is there and again not on the first few pages.I like the new search but you have to go back to the old search if you need to put a census reference in which is important to be able to do. I do feel they are mucking us about ---they dont seem to use alphabetical order or even come up with the right county on the first page. Even with the problems it has opened up my family research so I must not grumble too much.
Ringrose

[les_looking]

as Carole says assume your using the new search? old search,
when i am searching for someone and i know the county, i select historical records, name, country then select county and uk only,
then search results will return either born or residing in dorset,

[alli_burnie]

I have exactly the same problem with that site!  I've abandoned it - even when I know the information I need exists, I can never find it due to their ridiculous search results and the way they are presented.

I honestly feel they muck around their (high) paying users.  I'm not a fan.

[Lydart]

Glad its not just me !!

I'll try out your suggestions ...

[kerryb]

I still use the old search, the new one makes no sense to me.

Today I am searching on Belton and for some reason I come up with pages of Baldwin, which just happens to be my surname.  Is Ancestry trying to be too clever! 

Kerry

[CaroleW]

On the Ancestry Home Page - make sure there is a tick in the box that says "Exact Matches  Only"

If you don't - it throws up it's own Soundex search

If you are presented with CREAM coloured search fields - look to the right hand side of the screen for a very small sign saying "Old Search" and click on it

The old search uses GREEN search fields

So - Green is good - Cream is bad!!

Have you set up your own "Quick Links"   I have every census - E/W/S/CI/IOM set up and also other links for the BMD index, London registers etc etc