Just an FYI. Most of the public libraries around the country are members of Heritage Quest. If you ask your librarian about it, they will give you an ID and Password to Heritage Quest FREE. Heritage Quest has actual scanned copies of the census and it's very easy to search them. It also has scanned copies of the Revolutionary War Pension records - the very same records you are referring to in this email and it has scanned copies of thousands of old books. I have found tons of family information with Heritage Quest and it's all FREE. Ask your local librarian about it. > [Original Message] > From: Maureen Girard <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 1/13/2006 9:57:12 PM > Subject: RE: [HAM] re: ancestry.com > > In defense of Ancestry (after bashing their sales practices which, I > reiterate, are over the top), I will say this: I just spent several hours > on Ancestry locating and recording information on a Revolutionary War > ancestor I didn't even realize I had. Ancestry provided info on his land > bounty, his rank, regiment, pension, age (info taken from him when he was > still alive), and several census records--and I'm not finished! > > If I had had to go to a library or FHC for that information, it probably > would have taken much more time (don't forget the cost of gas, parking and > lunch!), and I might not have realized how much information was available. > Ancestry has also provided readily accessible and very comprehensive > bibliographical information on records that I can order from libraries and > historical societies. > > The price is steep and getting more so, I agree. They know they have a > captive audience, and they know we're in thrall to them. But as long as I > can access the information I need without leaving my desk, thereby saving > all kinds of other expenses, Ancestry's worth it. > > I appreciate the alternative suggestions and strategies of others on the > list, and I'm going to look into them, as well. But for this year at least, > I'm grateful for Ancestry and what it has provided. > > Thanks to all of you for an excellent discussion of a very important topic! > > Maureen > > P.S. Don't forget your local Family History Library. Most of them have > Ancestry online. Your public library may also some genealogy subscriptions, > such as Heritage Quest. Make a couple of phone calls, and you may find what > you need for free and close to home. > > > > > ==== HAMILTON Mailing List ==== > Visit: http://members.aol.com/johnf14246/gen_mail.html for the most accurate list of Mail Lists available!