Is the microfilm and microfiche that is available thru familysearch.org the same that would be found in the Madeira Archives building? The problem I am having is the databases online are not the same as the ones in the building. My family and I went to Madeira for the first time this summer so of course a visit to the Archives was absolutely on the list of things to do. Well, the results I got when I searched were very different than what was online. In talking to the administration, some of the web databases are not fully updated and are following a irregular update schedule. Has anyone else run into this problem in their searches? Has anyone used the LDS databases to look for records from Madeira? Thanks, Rich

I have used microfilm at the LDS Family History Library for years. Their photographer filmed all the baptism, marriage and death records for my father's village, Canhas, Madeira, and my maternal ancestors' Porto Santo. When I went to the Madeira Archives in 1980 I realized that the microfilms there were the very same I had on permanent loan at home. All the records I have read state that they were done in duplicate. I believe that one record went to the archdiocesan office and one stayed in the parish. I was unable to read my paternal grandfather's baptism record because there was a gap in the FHL microfilm. I estimated his birth date from marriage and death records. Last year I went to Canhas and visited the church. All the records were there in the parish office and the pastor kindly gave me access to them. I found my grandfather! What a feeling to touch the very page the priest wrote on! So, I'm guessing that the FHL films were made at the archdiocesan offices. That would make sense. There the photographer had access to the records of all parishes. Maybe that 1850s segment of the Canhas baptisms was damaged by water or whatever. The Canhas films end with 1911. At the church I was able to get my grandfather's 1920 death record, and my grandmother's 1922 death record. What a coupe! I have not used the web to search. Most of my research was done before the internet was such a great source. However, I can go back anytime to the films and do the tedious work of reeling through to find my ancestors. I do not have to worry about the accuracy of transcribers nor the willingness of humans to go that extra yard for me. I can see the handwriting of the priest who wrote down the details at the time of the event. The documents are written in a proscribed form and give the basic information. Figure out the formula and go for it. You don't have to have a complete knowledge of Portuguese. Learn the words for father, mother, paternal and maternal grandfather and grandmother. Using a dictionary helps. Get a good one, not a traveler's pocket dictionary. I have a two volume set, Portuguese to English and English to Portuguese. They have been extremely helpful. Louise Pitta Polsky On Jan 17, 2010, at 1:47 PM, Rich Gomes wrote: > Is the microfilm and microfiche that is available thru > familysearch.org the > same that would be found in the Madeira Archives building? > > > The problem I am having is the databases online are not the same as > the ones > in the building. > My family and I went to Madeira for the first time this summer so of > course > a visit to the Archives was absolutely on the list of things to do. > Well, the results I got when I searched were very different than > what was > online. In talking to the administration, some of the web databases > are not > fully updated and are following a irregular update schedule. > > Has anyone else run into this problem in their searches? > > Has anyone used the LDS databases to look for records from Madeira? > > > > Thanks, > Rich > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message