No you haven't misunderstood at all. Remember Dove? That has been shelved because of cost, and - perhaps more importantly - responsibility for GRO was taken from ONS and passed on to the Identity and Passport Service. They decided that their in-house computer system would remain - there's a very efficient computer system in place at Hydro to produce certs for the public - but the public-use end of the computerisation program would cease - for the time being. They said because of funding issues. Labour brought in "transparency" encouraging public access to more "stuff", unfortunately funds were always going to be an issue, it was probably not costed properly in the first place. Now looking at the Treasury's books, the current government have discovered greater holes in funds practically everywhere. So no money for Dove, even if, in the long term, it would be considerably more cost-efficient. In the short term funds won't be found, or perhaps even looked for. I wanted an ID card as I don't have a driving licence or passport, but no, can't have that, too intrusive, too expensive - blah blah blah. So I and no doubt countless others have to produce a bank card and a utility bill (at the least). Why should my personal financial data be used - it's a cheek! JK On 21 October 2011 23:43, Tim Powys-Lybbe <[email protected]> wrote: > On 21 Oct at 21:39, J K gen <[email protected]> wrote: > > > As I understand it the fiche production is a requirement for the > > newest events, none of which form part of an online database. Whether > > it should be is another question. > > And this other question is one that we should address. > > I am sure that at Middleton Street we were able to access the post 1984 > indices on a computer, effectively on-line. This made for fast and > effective searches and certainly the online database for 1984 to 2005/6 > is very effective. > > The last time I registered anything, I believe it had to be done at a > computer terminal and the data was held on a database and only printed > if required. The master copy is no longer on paper. > > Assuming that registrations are still computer entered (by the > registrars), the data for recent events, 2006 to 2011, must be on some > database. It does not make any sense to then go for physical copies to > fiche. > > What maggot is in the brain of the government bean-counters that forbids > them to allow us online access to data that is already on line? Is this > not something that all the genealogical societies should get together on > and have a big campaign on? > > I know that the project to computerise and deliver all registered data > has run out of money and stalled, but there cannot be major expense > required to provide access to the recent registrations. I can believe > that many commercial outfits would be delighted to provide an on-line > system to give index information for the price of adding a few adverts. > It might even be that the FreeBMD gurus would do a better job for almost > nothing. > > Or have I sadly misunderstood something? > > -- > Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] > for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/ > > ------------------------------- > 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 >

On 21 Oct at 21:39, J K gen <[email protected]> wrote: > As I understand it the fiche production is a requirement for the > newest events, none of which form part of an online database. Whether > it should be is another question. And this other question is one that we should address. I am sure that at Middleton Street we were able to access the post 1984 indices on a computer, effectively on-line. This made for fast and effective searches and certainly the online database for 1984 to 2005/6 is very effective. The last time I registered anything, I believe it had to be done at a computer terminal and the data was held on a database and only printed if required. The master copy is no longer on paper. Assuming that registrations are still computer entered (by the registrars), the data for recent events, 2006 to 2011, must be on some database. It does not make any sense to then go for physical copies to fiche. What maggot is in the brain of the government bean-counters that forbids them to allow us online access to data that is already on line? Is this not something that all the genealogical societies should get together on and have a big campaign on? I know that the project to computerise and deliver all registered data has run out of money and stalled, but there cannot be major expense required to provide access to the recent registrations. I can believe that many commercial outfits would be delighted to provide an on-line system to give index information for the price of adding a few adverts. It might even be that the FreeBMD gurus would do a better job for almost nothing. Or have I sadly misunderstood something? -- Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/

In a message dated 21/10/2011 21:03:16 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Should taxpayers really be subsidising my hobby? No, of course not. But just so you know: the tax rate for us yokels in Dorset is the same as that in London, Birmingham, Manchester .... I have to have an iPhone out here for the gaming aps - got to have some entertainment since they banned burning witches. Mark (chewing on a piece of straw)

As I understand it the fiche production is a requirement for the newest events, none of which form part of an online database. Whether it should be is another question. The main question is whether the fiche production process is cheaper than a paper printout from the computerised registrations from all the ROs in England and Wales. The current distribution of these sets of fiche is presumed to be more convenient to some users than the old address of St Catherine's House or Family Records Centre - which, until online indexes became available, were the only place to view. JK

<<snipped>> >From the 14 November the list of centres holding a complete set of GRO indexes including those for more recent events will be as follows - * Birmingham Central Library * Bridgend Local and Family History Centre * City of Westminster Archives Centre * Manchester City Library * Newcastle City Library * Plymouth Central Library * The British Library. ... What rubbish coverage! Mark from deepest, darkest Dorset Sent from my iPhone <<snipped>> Um. You're using the internet, indeed, using an iPhone, and you want microfiche? <sardonic grin> In all seriousness - this is the problem those distributing these fiche face - I've never used the fiche, can't see why I would. Undoubtedly there are those who can't afford to access these fiche in their current locations or their online equivalents, but I'm _guessing_ that the cost of fiche production is roughly comparable with the cost of microfilm production and that is now becoming extortionate, as Chester Record Office is finding with the task of replacing stolen microfilms. Should taxpayers really be subsidising my hobby? (Accurate statements on film and fiche costing welcome) Adrian B

What rubbish coverage! Mark from deepest, darkest Dorset Sent from my iPhone On 20 Oct 2011, at 17:30, "Else Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote: > As you are aware, the General Register Office for England and Wales (GRO) > provides free public access to the index of events for birth,marriage,death, > civil partnership, adoption and overseas records. This information is made > available in microfiche format at a number of libraries and record offices > across England and Wales. > > The list of centres acting as host sites for the complete set of the GRO > indexes is being extended to provide greater geographic coverage and from 14 > November will include Newcastle City Library. > > Please note that from 28 October, the indexes will no longer be available to > view at the London Metropolitan Archives. > >> From the 14 November the list of centres holding a complete set of GRO > indexes including those for more recent events will be as follows - > > * Birmingham Central Library > * Bridgend Local and Family History Centre > * City of Westminster Archives Centre > * Manchester City Library > * Newcastle City Library > * Plymouth Central Library > * The British Library. > > > Further details on the records available can be found on the Directgov > website > http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevent > s/Familyhistoryandresearch/DG_175464 > > > > > > Else Churchill > > Genealogist > > Society of Genealogists > > 14 Charterhouse Buildings > > Goswell Road > > London EC1M 7BA > > direct phone 020 7702 5488 > > visit the Society of Genealogists' Website <http://www.sog.org.uk/> > www.sog.org.uk > > > > www.Findmypast.co.uk proud to sponsor the Society's centenary year > > > > WOULD YOU LIKE ADVICE ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? > >> From beginners onwards: all queries and problems welcomed. Phone our > dedicated family history advice line on 020 7490 8911 > > Thursdays 6pm - 7.45 pm; Saturdays 11 am - 1pm and 2pm - 4 pm > > The Society also runs regular one-to-one advice half hour advice sessions > with experts at the Society's library on alternate Saturdays from 2pm. > Telephone the library direct on 020 7702 5485 to book an advice session or > library tour. > > > > This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the > addressee only. You must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute > the contents of this communication unless explicitly permitted to do so. > > If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then > delete this email from your system without further distribution or use. > Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments > that do not relate to the official business of The Society of Genealogists > are neither given nor endorsed by it. > > > > Registered Charity No. 233701. Company limited by guarantee. Registered > No. 115703. Registered office as above > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > 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

As you are aware, the General Register Office for England and Wales (GRO) provides free public access to the index of events for birth,marriage,death, civil partnership, adoption and overseas records. This information is made available in microfiche format at a number of libraries and record offices across England and Wales. The list of centres acting as host sites for the complete set of the GRO indexes is being extended to provide greater geographic coverage and from 14 November will include Newcastle City Library. Please note that from 28 October, the indexes will no longer be available to view at the London Metropolitan Archives. >From the 14 November the list of centres holding a complete set of GRO indexes including those for more recent events will be as follows - * Birmingham Central Library * Bridgend Local and Family History Centre * City of Westminster Archives Centre * Manchester City Library * Newcastle City Library * Plymouth Central Library * The British Library. Further details on the records available can be found on the Directgov website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevent s/Familyhistoryandresearch/DG_175464 Else Churchill Genealogist Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA direct phone 020 7702 5488 visit the Society of Genealogists' Website <http://www.sog.org.uk/> www.sog.org.uk www.Findmypast.co.uk proud to sponsor the Society's centenary year WOULD YOU LIKE ADVICE ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? >From beginners onwards: all queries and problems welcomed. Phone our dedicated family history advice line on 020 7490 8911 Thursdays 6pm - 7.45 pm; Saturdays 11 am - 1pm and 2pm - 4 pm The Society also runs regular one-to-one advice half hour advice sessions with experts at the Society's library on alternate Saturdays from 2pm. Telephone the library direct on 020 7702 5485 to book an advice session or library tour. This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. You must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication unless explicitly permitted to do so. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system without further distribution or use. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments that do not relate to the official business of The Society of Genealogists are neither given nor endorsed by it. Registered Charity No. 233701. Company limited by guarantee. Registered No. 115703. Registered office as above

Dear John, A while ago you emailed me about your interest in Charles Fairfax. A new member has joined our society whose wife is linked to Charles Fairfax. I am just emailing you to see if you would like to contact him or join the Society. http://walter9.info/Society/ Best wishes Anne -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 22 August 2010 12:50 To: [email protected] Subject: [SOG-UK] Charles Fairfax of Menston: SOG-UK Digest, Vol 5, Issue 114 Dear Anne That's all very interesting - I have passed down the family an unresearched parchment 'tree' which appears to date from 1754 which ends 'Memm. May 22nd 1754 the above pedigree is taken from a manuscript in the handwriting of the Honourable (x) Coll Chas Fairfax late of Menston which has been collected by him and is now in my possession. J Pulleyn' ' pedigree is headed 'the Decent of the several Families of Rodes both of High Rodes & Menston extracted out of Couchiers & evidences both theirs and my own (x) C Fairfax' '(x) Charles Fairfax livd in King Charles the 1st's time and is often mentioned by the great Antiquary Mr Dodsworth & by Mr Dugdale likewise in his Baronage' There are Latin references to Bolton and Kirkstall Abbeys. This has so far stayed in the too difficult basket on account of my own Latin deficiencies! The earliest reference appears to be 1195, and the earliest Rodes names '1. Luilfus del Rodes and 2. Willm dictus Ruff filius Liulfi' Sorry this is more a question than an answer but I would be interested in any observations on the provenance of this manuscript. My GGGGrandfather was William RHODES, son of Edward RHODES (1767- 1843). The family were brewers in Wetherby and then Thirsk in Yorkshire. Best wishes John John K.H. Cook >----Original Message---- >From: [email protected] >Date: 22/08/2010 8:01 >To: <[email protected]> >Subj: SOG-UK Digest, Vol 5, Issue 114 > > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Advice needed (Anne Hartley) > 2. Re: Advice needed ([email protected]) > 3. Re: Advice needed (Anne Hartley) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:39:17 +0100 >From: "Anne Hartley" <[email protected]> >Subject: [SOG-UK] Advice needed >To: <[email protected]> >Message-ID: <[email protected]@ntlworld.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >I am on the committee of The Fairfax Society >http://www.the-fairfax-society.org/ > > > >I have been asked to find a way to see if the Analecta Fairfaxiana by >Charles Fairfax of Menston [1595-1673] could be translated in parts as >there are Latin sequences. I have tried a few people but the cost is >prohibitive for a small society as ours. The CD was allowed to be copied by >kind permission of the Brotherton Library of leeds. > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions as my Latin days are too long ago and I >find it a struggle. > > > >In hope > > > >Anne Hartley > > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:49:49 +0100 (GMT+01:00) >From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Advice needed >To: <[email protected]> >Message-ID: <[email protected]> >Content-Type: text/plain;charset="UTF-8" > >Try here: >www.babelfish.org/web-dictionary-all.htm Keith > >----Original Message---- >From: [email protected] >Date: 21/08/2010 13:39 >To: <[email protected]> >Subj: [SOG-UK] Advice needed > >I am on the committee of The Fairfax Society >http://www.the-fairfax-society.org/ > > > >I have been asked to find a way to see if the Analecta Fairfaxiana by >Charles Fairfax of Menston [1595-1673] could be translated in parts >as >there are Latin sequences. I have tried a few people but the cost is >prohibitive for a small society as ours. The CD was allowed to be >copied by >kind permission of the Brotherton Library of leeds. > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions as my Latin days are too long ago and >I >find it a struggle. > > > >In hope > > > >Anne Hartley > > > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK- >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in >the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:08:02 +0100 >From: "Anne Hartley" <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Advice needed >To: <[email protected]> >Message-ID: <[email protected]@ntlworld.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >Thanks Keith I will have a look. Anne > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected] com] On >Behalf Of [email protected] >Sent: 21 August 2010 13:50 >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Advice needed > >Try here: >www.babelfish.org/web-dictionary-all.htm Keith > >----Original Message---- >From: [email protected] >Date: 21/08/2010 13:39 >To: <[email protected]> >Subj: [SOG-UK] Advice needed > >I am on the committee of The Fairfax Society >http://www.the-fairfax-society.org/ > > > >I have been asked to find a way to see if the Analecta Fairfaxiana by >Charles Fairfax of Menston [1595-1673] could be translated in parts >as >there are Latin sequences. I have tried a few people but the cost is >prohibitive for a small society as ours. The CD was allowed to be >copied by >kind permission of the Brotherton Library of leeds. > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions as my Latin days are too long ago and >I >find it a struggle. > > > >In hope > > > >Anne Hartley > > > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK- >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in >the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > >------------------------------- >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 > > > >------------------------------ > >To contact the SOG-UK list administrator, send an email to >[email protected] > >To post a message to the SOG-UK mailing list, send an email to SOG- [email protected] > >__________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK- [email protected] >with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >email with no additional text. > > >End of SOG-UK Digest, Vol 5, Issue 114 >************************************** > ------------------------------- 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

I have been asked by TNA if I could disseminate a couple of requests for volunteer help. I'll put this out on the blogs etc tomorrow but thought you'd like a heads up start. See messages below The National Archives is looking for volunteers to help ensure that the pages within a popular record series (unit war diaries from the First World War, catalogue reference WO 95) are in the correct order before a conservation and digitisation project begins. Can you spare us a few hours of your time to help sort and re-order them? The work involves handling original documents and will take place at The National Archives in Kew, but you don't need to be familiar with the series to volunteer as training and supervision will be provided. All volunteers will have to pass basic security clearance, and basic travel expenses are available. If you are interested in the project and would like further details, please email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Volunteer%20opportuni ty> or visit http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/625.htm Secondly, We are in the process of making some changes to the research guidance section of our website to help improve the 'findability' of our research guides. We have included new categories and also tried to improve the titles of the research guides in order to help our users to navigate to the guide that they need in an easier and more intuitive way. But before we put the changes live on our website, we want to test the new navigation with users. As experienced archive users, your feedback would be very valuable. We have created a few scenarios that you can try online (via our Labs site) to find specific guidance. At the end you'll have the opportunity to highlight any issues you may have encountered and any recommendations you feel would help. However if you have any more general comments, please feel free to email them to me directly. The online study should only take around 10mins of your time and you can't be identified through this as the results are totally anonymous. Your participation will really help us improve this part of our website. To take part, please click the link below. http://labs.nationalarchives.gov.uk/wordpress/index.php/2011/09/623/ PLEASE CONTACT TNA IF YOU ARE INTERESTED NOT SoG Else Churchill Genealogist Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA direct phone 020 7702 5488 visit the Society of Genealogists' Website <http://www.sog.org.uk/> www.sog.org.uk www.Findmypast.co.uk proud to sponsor the Society's centenary year WOULD YOU LIKE ADVICE ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? >From beginners onwards: all queries and problems welcomed. Phone our dedicated family history advice line on 020 7490 8911 Thursdays 6pm - 7.45 pm; Saturdays 11 am - 1pm and 2pm - 4 pm The Society also runs regular one-to-one advice half hour advice sessions with experts at the Society's library on alternate Saturdays from 2pm. Telephone the library direct on 020 7702 5485 to book an advice session or library tour. This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. You must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication unless explicitly permitted to do so. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system without further distribution or use. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments that do not relate to the official business of The Society of Genealogists are neither given nor endorsed by it. Registered Charity No. 233701. Company limited by guarantee. Registered No. 115703. Registered office as above

"Adrian Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote : > <<snipped>> > And The National Archives can do a fully on-line wills facility and I can > only imagine it is economically viable, so why can't the Probate Registry > achieve the same. > <<snipped>> > > I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. TNA's online facility for wills > covers only the "Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1383-1858", which must > >be a very small number by comparison with the post-1858 wills - and it's > a > fixed dataset. It seems to me that the future, if not the the present, is digital, so why can't government departments accept this and get on with digitisation projects ? > <<snipped>> > ... BMD certs. If people want a certified copy they can pay extra and have > it posted. > <<snipped>> > > Incidentally, I know you're not suggesting that the provision of > uncertified > copies would save money, but others do. Peter Calver of Lost Cousins, on > >the other hand, established that "the cost of the paper and printing is > just 16p > per certificate", so there's no massive potential by not putting that > stamp > on. Surely the real savings from digitisation of BMDs is in the saving of the labour and machinery needed to find, produce and send a paper copy through the post. Digitisation eliminates the bulk of the process - find the certificate on screen, attach it to an e-mail and send it. All done in 5 minutes. > <<snipped>> > A PPC deal with some private provider could finance [digitisation of BMD > certs]. ... This is a scandal of incompetence and probably staff hoarding > that needs opening up a bit. > <<snipped>> > > Very possibly. On the other hand, I've heard of no-one actually going to > government saying "Let's do it for you", suggesting there's no immediate > prospect of profit for anyone. Personally I doubt many Registrars want to > keep that much hold of the data - though some might. If you're set up to > record _today's_ registrations, then I'm sure the staffing levels will be > aimed at providing the contemporary legal and "professional" service, not > to > deal with family historians, so all this family history lark just plain > gets > in the way. > > It seems to me that no commercial provider like Ancestry would want to > produce a system that satisfied both family historians and current legal > requirements. What's needed is a cut-off (as per ScotlandsPeople) beyond > which the provider could just deal with family historians, rather than > trying to piggy-back family historians off the back of a system providing > contemporary legal and "professional" services, which has to be built to a > much higher level of robustness, security, etc, etc. The whole problem seems to be outdated legal requirements that prevent people and organisations from even considering moving forward into the 'sunlit uplands' allied to the natural inertia of government ! And then, of course, there's the money angle. John B Leic., Eng

<<snipped>> And The National Archives can do a fully on-line wills facility and I can only imagine it is economically viable, so why can't the Probate Registry achieve the same. <<snipped>> I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. TNA's online facility for wills covers only the "Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1383-1858", which must be a very small number by comparison with the post-1858 wills - and it's a fixed dataset. <<snipped>> ... BMD certs. If people want a certified copy they can pay extra and have it posted. <<snipped>> Incidentally, I know you're not suggesting that the provision of uncertified copies would save money, but others do. Peter Calver of Lost Cousins, on the other hand, established that "the cost of the paper and printing is just 16p per certificate", so there's no massive potential by not putting that stamp on. <<snipped>> A PPC deal with some private provider could finance [digitisation of BMD certs]. ... This is a scandal of incompetence and probably staff hoarding that needs opening up a bit. <<snipped>> Very possibly. On the other hand, I've heard of no-one actually going to government saying "Let's do it for you", suggesting there's no immediate prospect of profit for anyone. Personally I doubt many Registrars want to keep that much hold of the data - though some might. If you're set up to record _today's_ registrations, then I'm sure the staffing levels will be aimed at providing the contemporary legal and "professional" service, not to deal with family historians, so all this family history lark just plain gets in the way. It seems to me that no commercial provider like Ancestry would want to produce a system that satisfied both family historians and current legal requirements. What's needed is a cut-off (as per ScotlandsPeople) beyond which the provider could just deal with family historians, rather than trying to piggy-back family historians off the back of a system providing contemporary legal and "professional" services, which has to be built to a much higher level of robustness, security, etc, etc. Adrian B

Those who attended the Centenary Conference will remember Juliet Nicholson's talk on 1911. Her book - The Great Silence 1918-1920 - is now remaindered in hardback at £3.99 in The Works bookshops and perhaps elsewhere. Fascinating read as far as I've got Michael

On 26 Sep at 12:12, Julian DUFFUS <[email protected]> wrote: > Until April 1999 wills from the probate registry where the best value > in genealogy being .75pence a shot what ever the length of the will > including postage. Alas that time is past. > > About 5 years ago I enquired about the digitisation of the index and > was told that it was activity being looked at. Any one who has had the > pleasure of using the on site computerized finding aid for wills will > know how clunky that system is. Very much agreed. And The National Archives can do a fully on-line wills facility and I can only imagine it is economically viable, so why can't the Probate Registry achieve the same. And why can't the GRO also do the same with BMD certs. If people want a certified copy they can pay extra and have it posted. A PPC deal with some private provider could finance it. A fully electronic system at a reduced price should significantly increase volumes (sales) and probably supply extra revenue to the government. This is a scandal of incompetence and probably staff hoarding that needs opening up a bit. -- Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/

I was at PPR today and was told that the loss of the 1 hour service was temporary and for two reasons, one of which is that there is a problem with "the printers". I was told that it may be back up and running next week. This was not guaranteed, however. Emma. On 26 September 2011 12:12, Julian DUFFUS <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear all, > > Until April 1999 wills from the probate registry where the best value in > genealogy being .75pence a shot what ever the length of the will including > postage. Alas that time is past. > > About 5 years ago I enquired about the digitisation of the index and was > told that it was activity being looked at. Any one who has had the pleasure > of using the on site computerized finding aid for wills will know how clunky > that system is. I always assumed that the probate registry resisted the move > Middleton street because of their legal clients. Perhaps it's them that can > now push to have the 1 hour service restored. > > > > Julian DUFFUS sog member 1978 to present > > ------------------------------- > 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 >

Dear all, Until April 1999 wills from the probate registry where the best value in genealogy being .75pence a shot what ever the length of the will including postage. Alas that time is past. About 5 years ago I enquired about the digitisation of the index and was told that it was activity being looked at. Any one who has had the pleasure of using the on site computerized finding aid for wills will know how clunky that system is. I always assumed that the probate registry resisted the move Middleton street because of their legal clients. Perhaps it's them that can now push to have the 1 hour service restored. Julian DUFFUS sog member 1978 to present

Dear Jeremy Thank you for that - the good news is that there is always something else to be found! April Wood Ashton On 12 Sep 2011, at 20:05, Jeremy Wilkes wrote: > If you go to the British Library website and search for "Parliamentary > Constituencies and their Registers since 1832", you can download the > revised edition of this work. It includes a summary of extensions to > the parliamentary franchise (as does Jeremy Gibson's Electoral > Registers 1832–1948). It reveals also that the British Library has > scarcely any Irish registers up to 1922 and none for anywhere in Cork. > Mr Gibson does not attempt to list pre-1922 Irish registers, so I must > leave it to others to say what exists for the place in question. > > However, just to spread a bit more gloom, I can add that I asked an > archivist at the Cork City Archives whether they had anything in the > way of rating records or voters' lists for the 1860s. "Not that > early," was the answer. > > Jeremy Wilkes > > > > ------------------------------- > 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

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 12 September 2011 08:01 To: [email protected] Subject: SOG-UK Digest, Vol 6, Issue 119 Today's Topics: 1. Electoral Rolls Ireland (Ashton April) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:30:30 +0100 From: Ashton April <[email protected]> Subject: [SOG-UK] Electoral Rolls Ireland To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Are there Electoral Rolls available for Donnybrook, County Cork, ireland c1907? If so, who was eligible to vote? Thank you, April Wood Ashton. ------------------------------ To contact the SOG-UK list administrator, send an email to [email protected] To post a message to the SOG-UK mailing list, send an email to [email protected] __________________________________________________________ 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 email with no additional text. End of SOG-UK Digest, Vol 6, Issue 119 **************************************

I had this email, too, from Lostcousins. The GRO web survey url is here: https://vault2.secured-url.com/lake/gro/customer_satisfaction.htm I think it might be a good idea to spread this as widely as possible among GRO users. I shall be tweeting about it. Rosemary Rosemary Morgan London Roots Research www.londonrootsresearch.blogspot.com On 25/09/2011 11:07, "Merryl Wells" <[email protected]> wrote: >Hi, Today I had a LostCousins Newsletter in which it was mentioned that >the >GRO have a survey on their website which in part sounds similar to below. >It took me about 15 mins. to complete and if you tick the main reason why >you order certificates as being family history you are then presented >with >lists of the other prime sites such as Ancestry and FreeBMD to give >reasons >why you might use them. I think it could be worth taking the time to >fill >it in as you can include such topics as the cost of certificates and the >length of time and ease of obtaining them from the GRO - at least let >them >know we are not happy with the price increase last year and are seeking >alternative ways of gaining the same information. > >From >Merryl Wells of Luton, Beds. >E-Mail: [email protected] >GOONS Mem. No. 1757 Reg. ONS: Bawtree; Gullick/ock, Moist/Moyst > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John Brown" <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 9:58 AM >Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] GRO Certificate Ordering (was Principal >ProbateRegistryOne Hour Service) > > >> "Diana Bouglas" <[email protected]> wrote : >> >> >>> Geoff Swinfield was invited to attend a small, one-off focus group >>> meeting, >with three other users of the certificate ordering system. I >>> wonder if this might >have been connected to John's approach by GRO. It >>> was hosted by >IPS/GRO representatives on Tuesday (21 Sep). One was >>>from >>> Southport >and the others were London-based and weren't so familiar >>>with >>> the specifics >of the service. He was by far the heaviest user present >>> (about 20 certs a >month). The other three had used the system very >>> little. >>> >>> They seemed to be concerned about why people might not use their online >>> >ordering service, eg ordering from local registrars or through >>> intermediaries >such as Ancestry and also not ordering at all, perhaps >>> using parish register >versions of marriages or just relying on the >>>index >>> entries. >> >> The contact I had was to complete a questionnaire regarding possible >> options >> for the future supply of certificates. Delivery by e-mail was in there >> somewhere and variable pricing with some sort of subscription-type >>option >> also. >> >> This was around March or April this year and I assumed was a response >>to a >> significant reduction in demand following the huge price rise in April >> 2010; >> one of the questions did ask for approximate numbers of certificates >> bought >> in earlier years compared with 2010/11. >> >>> The one thing they were very definite about was that their digitisation >>> >program (DOVE, MAGPIE etc) is now half complete but will not be >>> >continuing because of lack of funding. Recent BMD indexes will >>>continue >>> to >be produced on fiche but will not be placed online. >> >> Which, given their apparent concerns about people not using the system, >> makes the kind of sense one tends to expect, and despair of, from >> government >> departments, notwithstanding the current financial constraints. >> >>>Also discussed were the possibility of obtaining cheaper, uncertified >>>copies of >historical records (as with ScotlandsPeople) and also the >>>withdrawal of the >checking point option. >> >> I think that the questionnaire also mentioned what might be called >> 'unofficial' certificates for family history purposes, too. >> >> John B >> Leic., Eng >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> 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 >> >> ______________________________________________ >> This email has been scanned by Netintelligence >> http://www.netintelligence.com/email >> > > >------------------------------- >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

Hi, Today I had a LostCousins Newsletter in which it was mentioned that the GRO have a survey on their website which in part sounds similar to below. It took me about 15 mins. to complete and if you tick the main reason why you order certificates as being family history you are then presented with lists of the other prime sites such as Ancestry and FreeBMD to give reasons why you might use them. I think it could be worth taking the time to fill it in as you can include such topics as the cost of certificates and the length of time and ease of obtaining them from the GRO - at least let them know we are not happy with the price increase last year and are seeking alternative ways of gaining the same information. From Merryl Wells of Luton, Beds. E-Mail: [email protected] GOONS Mem. No. 1757 Reg. ONS: Bawtree; Gullick/ock, Moist/Moyst ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Brown" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 9:58 AM Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] GRO Certificate Ordering (was Principal ProbateRegistryOne Hour Service) > "Diana Bouglas" <[email protected]> wrote : > > >> Geoff Swinfield was invited to attend a small, one-off focus group >> meeting, >with three other users of the certificate ordering system. I >> wonder if this might >have been connected to John's approach by GRO. It >> was hosted by >IPS/GRO representatives on Tuesday (21 Sep). One was from >> Southport >and the others were London-based and weren't so familiar with >> the specifics >of the service. He was by far the heaviest user present >> (about 20 certs a >month). The other three had used the system very >> little. >> >> They seemed to be concerned about why people might not use their online >> >ordering service, eg ordering from local registrars or through >> intermediaries >such as Ancestry and also not ordering at all, perhaps >> using parish register >versions of marriages or just relying on the index >> entries. > > The contact I had was to complete a questionnaire regarding possible > options > for the future supply of certificates. Delivery by e-mail was in there > somewhere and variable pricing with some sort of subscription-type option > also. > > This was around March or April this year and I assumed was a response to a > significant reduction in demand following the huge price rise in April > 2010; > one of the questions did ask for approximate numbers of certificates > bought > in earlier years compared with 2010/11. > >> The one thing they were very definite about was that their digitisation >> >program (DOVE, MAGPIE etc) is now half complete but will not be >> >continuing because of lack of funding. Recent BMD indexes will continue >> to >be produced on fiche but will not be placed online. > > Which, given their apparent concerns about people not using the system, > makes the kind of sense one tends to expect, and despair of, from > government > departments, notwithstanding the current financial constraints. > >>Also discussed were the possibility of obtaining cheaper, uncertified >>copies of >historical records (as with ScotlandsPeople) and also the >>withdrawal of the >checking point option. > > I think that the questionnaire also mentioned what might be called > 'unofficial' certificates for family history purposes, too. > > John B > Leic., Eng > > > ------------------------------- > 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 > > ______________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by Netintelligence > http://www.netintelligence.com/email >

"Diana Bouglas" <[email protected]> wrote : > Geoff Swinfield was invited to attend a small, one-off focus group > meeting, >with three other users of the certificate ordering system. I > wonder if this might >have been connected to John's approach by GRO. It > was hosted by >IPS/GRO representatives on Tuesday (21 Sep). One was from > Southport >and the others were London-based and weren't so familiar with > the specifics >of the service. He was by far the heaviest user present > (about 20 certs a >month). The other three had used the system very > little. > > They seemed to be concerned about why people might not use their online > >ordering service, eg ordering from local registrars or through > intermediaries >such as Ancestry and also not ordering at all, perhaps > using parish register >versions of marriages or just relying on the index > entries. The contact I had was to complete a questionnaire regarding possible options for the future supply of certificates. Delivery by e-mail was in there somewhere and variable pricing with some sort of subscription-type option also. This was around March or April this year and I assumed was a response to a significant reduction in demand following the huge price rise in April 2010; one of the questions did ask for approximate numbers of certificates bought in earlier years compared with 2010/11. > The one thing they were very definite about was that their digitisation > >program (DOVE, MAGPIE etc) is now half complete but will not be > >continuing because of lack of funding. Recent BMD indexes will continue > to >be produced on fiche but will not be placed online. Which, given their apparent concerns about people not using the system, makes the kind of sense one tends to expect, and despair of, from government departments, notwithstanding the current financial constraints. >Also discussed were the possibility of obtaining cheaper, uncertified >copies of >historical records (as with ScotlandsPeople) and also the >withdrawal of the >checking point option. I think that the questionnaire also mentioned what might be called 'unofficial' certificates for family history purposes, too. John B Leic., Eng