Recommendation on best online research source

George

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Mar 3, 2004, 12:45:04 PM3/3/04

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As a newbie, I'd like recommendations on which is the best online source for
me to sign up with: heritagequest, ancestry.com, or ?????. I'm primarily
interested in finding ancestors who came over from Germany in 1840-1920 and
who lived in PA, NJ, DE during that period.

Thanks,
George

Bob Rasmussen

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Mar 3, 2004, 2:01:31 PM3/3/04

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Afternoon, George...

You might want to consider a short subscription to Ancestry.com
and Genealogy.com. Their census indexes are slightly different.
Unfortunately, there are missing years in both, during that time
period. As an alternative, you might consider placing your query(ies)
with the group. You'll find many helpful folks in this group with
access and experience in helping new researchers.

Frankly, I prefer the method used by ancestry.com for referencing
unindexed census. You can often find addresses based on their
method of including districts and the surrounding streets. Be
forewarned, "not all entries are indexed even though they have
indicated such." That's why an address can be helpful.

Good Luck...Bob

--
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lvMMMCDLXXIX
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MikeS

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Mar 3, 2004, 3:21:04 PM3/3/04

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"George" <look@signature_to.reply> wrote in message
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George,

I don't believe one can subscribe to HeritageQuest. My local library
provides me a free link to HeritageQuest which has many censuses indexed.
However, they do not provide a Soundex search so you have to enter the many
variations of the names sought. You may wish to check with your local
library to see if they provide access to HeritageQuest.

You can read What is New and More About the HeritageQuest collection here
http://www.heritagequestonline.com/ It tells you which census years are
indexed.

Mike

CLARK1528

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Mar 3, 2004, 3:30:08 PM3/3/04

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For $35/yr, one can subscribe to the Godfrey Library (www.godfrey.org) and have
at home access to all the Heritage Quest resources.

Jennifer Clark

>Subject: Re: Recommendation on best online research source
>From: "MikeS" arch...@heaven.com
>Date: 3/3/04 2:21 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <Q6r1c.28553$OH4....@fe2.texas.rr.com>

Lee Miller

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Mar 3, 2004, 3:32:03 PM3/3/04

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On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 14:01:31 -0500, Bob Rasmussen wrote:
> You might want to consider a short subscription to Ancestry.com and
> Genealogy.com.

Please note there is no such thing as a short subscription to ancestry.com
their subscriptions are one year commitments, even if billed monthly. The
closest you can come to a short subscription is a one year subscription
canceled within the 30 day money back guarantee period (note if you sign
up for a 7 day trial it takes the place of your 30 day period, so you only
have 7 days to get your cancellation in without being obligated for a
year).

Some other things of interest to know that I have come across with my
recent introduction to online genealogy research.

Genealogy.com does offer a monthly subscription.

Additionally you can get free access to the 1880 census information
(though not actual images) from www.familysearch.org. Although it does
not contain actual census images is does provide full information to
search on (genealogy.com is not indexed for 1880, and even the years that
are indexed are only indexed on head of house hold information

Bill

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Mar 3, 2004, 4:20:22 PM3/3/04

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"George" <look@signature_to.reply> wrote in message
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Thanks for asking that question, George. I was wondering the same thing. I'm
also wondering what is the most preferred software for keeping track of the
information. TIA

MikeS

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Mar 3, 2004, 5:30:28 PM3/3/04

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Libraries provide free at home access. The Godfrey Library does provide
access to other databases.

Mike

"CLARK1528" <clar...@aol.com> wrote in message
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CLARK1528

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Mar 3, 2004, 8:12:10 PM3/3/04

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Unfortunately, not all libraries provide at home access. Certainly not in my
area. I am aware of libraries in other states that provide access by entering
one's driver's license number, or through a library card from that institution.

While my local library is an excellent one with lots of genealogy and history
resources, they do not have access to Ancestry or to Heritage Quest.

Jennifer

>Subject: Re: Recommendation on best online research source
>From: "MikeS" arch...@heaven.com

>Date: 3/3/04 4:30 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <80t1c.28700$OH4....@fe2.texas.rr.com>

Eric and Jamie Simmons

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Mar 3, 2004, 8:34:22 PM3/3/04

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Family Tree magazine...newest issue says that ancestry (myfamily.com) is no
longer allowing libraries to let users log in from home due to abuse
(posting DL's on newsgroups so anyone can use it for free) you can still go
to libraries to access it...but apparently the days of being a library
member and logging in from home are over.

http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?id=2756837601697&search=family+tree&x=11&y=14

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Jim Dewater

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Mar 4, 2004, 4:45:37 AM3/4/04

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Frankly before you subscribe to any service, you might simply type your name
in Yahoo and Google and see how many hits you can go through. Also check
out the Latter Day Saints site - they're mostly free.

"George" <look@signature_to.reply> wrote in message
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Paul Andersen

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Mar 4, 2004, 8:09:56 AM3/4/04

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There are at least a half dozen widely used genealogy tracking
programs out there. Prices vary from free to more than I am willing
to spend. I suggest you do a Google search and/or have a look at
Cindi's List to get some information on various programs. I use
Family Tree Maker, it serves me well. There are a couple things I
would change but I've tried other programs and liked them less.

Woodchip

"Bill" <cra...@yahoozi.com> wrote in message news:<pdidndKPx9-...@comcast.com>...

Randy Bard

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Mar 4, 2004, 11:23:13 AM3/4/04

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George wrote:

Here are some free sites to check out before signing with a paid
service. You may find what you want is publicly accessible.

http://www.familysearch.org/
http://www.gendex.com/gendex/
http://www.census-online.com/links/
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/
http://www.rat.de/kuijsten/usenet_search/

CWatters

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Mar 4, 2004, 2:18:59 PM3/4/04

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"Lee Miller" <miller...@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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> On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 14:01:31 -0500, Bob Rasmussen wrote:
> > You might want to consider a short subscription to Ancestry.com and
> > Genealogy.com.
>
> Please note there is no such thing as a short subscription to ancestry.com
> their subscriptions are one year commitments, even if billed monthly.

and even when called a "one month trial"!

Someone else posting here recently found out that their recent "One month
trial" offer actually amounted to one month at a reduced rate AND a
commitment to 11 months at the full rate!

Read the small print extremely carefully!

CaliTeach

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Mar 10, 2004, 10:27:22 AM3/10/04

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Hi...as a worker in an LDS Family history center, I wanted to let you know
many centers now have subscriptions to these resources for patron free
access. At our center, we've got subscriptions to Ancestry, Heritage Quest,
and a few others. Our patrons tend to use those more now than many book
related resources. Check with your local FHC and see what they may have
available. Best of luck!

A.