"Terry Pinnell" <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message news:p4dro31t3seo60tkp9okmq6qh99lfdtrq3@4ax.com... > "CWatters" <colin.watters@NOturnersoakSPAM.plus.com> wrote: > >You might be able to get quite a long way just using FreeBMD, the LDS site > >at http://www.familysearch.org and buying certificates. > > Thanks. How reliable/comprehensive is that? It seems dominated by USA > sources? My first tests using people whose names and birth dates (in > England) are beyond question came up with nothing. And using names > like 'John Smith' in various arbitrary years from 1914 t0 1970 > produced either zero or just a couple of hits! I haven't used it for post 1900 but I've found it very helpful for info prior to that. They have the 1881 census on there for example. With other records check to see if they are "Extractions from local records" or "Member submissions". The former are more reliable. . Founds several records of my British family in India on there. > > >Your local library may well have an subscription that will give you free > >access to www.ancestry.co.uk whe you will find census. > > I'd be happy to buy a subscription again for the convenience of home > use. Is Ancestry well regarded? Yes Ancestry is well regarded. There are/were reports of people having problems canceling subscriptions in the past. Not heard that for a year or so. They quite regularly have offers and free trials and some require you to take out a sub with a CC then cancel it if you just want the three months free.