How soon we forget! Genealogy research has never been free. Before Scotlandspeoples site, the only way to get your data, without being in Scotland, was to go to an LDS Family History Library and sit at a microfiche or microfilm reader for hours looking at photocopied records. It cost three dollars to have a microfilm brought in, and three hours to read it. Ayrshire records required three films for each years births, three for deaths, and three for marriages. I read all the years from 1855 - 1875, plus a few others as available. You do the math, that is $540.00 dollars, plus 540 hours of reading, plus your driving time to get there. And let us not forget the hours spent reading microfiche copies of the OPR's. I for one was thrilled when Scotlandspeoples website was made available. I was able to search my names of interest from the comfort of my own home at much less expenditure of time, and considerably less money. I have baulked at the cost of Amazon.com, but have found records there I would never have uncovered on my own. My parents emigrated to Canada in 1923 when they were still single, and I had all that data. I knew they had gone back to Scotland for a visit before their marriage, but had no dates. Imagine my pleasure, and surprise, to find the records of not only that trip, but of an earlier one my father made of which I was not aware. So the point is, family history research is a great hobby with much pleasure derived for not only you, but all your extended family. But it is not, and has never been free of cost. George M. McCaig Burlington, Ontario. Sent from my iPad Sent from my iPad