Genealogy Chat

Well, if you DONT buy the certs to confirm what you 'know', then you risk missing out on the fact that your 2 x GGF married TWICE and that he had children by both wives, and that therefore your 3 x GGPs are wrong - like I did, for five years, so sure was I of my 'facts.' You could possibly save a bit of money by finding these events in the Parish Register, although personally I find the time spent tracking these down, travelling to view them etc, far outweighs the £7. But I do this anyway, for pre 1837 stuff, and have found many interesting things, which differ wildly from what is stated on census returns etc - and what has been transcribed on the IGI. Yes, this is an expensive hobby, but how mad will you be in three years time, say, to discover that you have been following the wrong line, for the sake of £7. Olde Crone

Even where you are sure of the date etc, the certificate can give odd bits of useful information like ...... Witnesses to a marriage - who was witness and perhaps who was not a witness. Iinformant of a death - there will be an address, perhaps a married name for one of their children. Unfortunately to have to buy the certificate before you find out if there is anything useful there! MB

As Tracy and Helen have both said, I usually only buy the ones that confirm and give me new leads, the ones that are for confirmation only are left for another day. I also try and buy these up in a logical fashion each month - I allow myself a budget for my family history and if I haven't hit it for the month, then I will use the extra to buy up the next certs on the 'list'. Trudy

Many thanks for your replies, I will probably send for the birth certs first and see what other info they give me. Regards Ellen

I've bought ones that I can't carry on without. Say James Smith lol If I know without doubt that one family is complete on a census, I will leave them until I win the lottery before I buy the certs. This game costs too much to buy every single cert for every single person. I guess if you want to consider yourself a Pro-genealogist, then you'd have to. But if you're just doing it cos you want to, then I don't see the point, unless you want to and can afford to.

If you are absolutely certain of details - say its your mum and you know her parents etc. then give those ones a miss and go for the ones which are likely to give you new leads.

Heather thanks for replying. The people I have found are all blood line related, they would have been great grandparents and great great grandparents on both sides of the family. I am looking at spending £63 to confirm details, maybe I might send for 2 a month but the suspense will then kill me. Can't win, can I? Regards Ellen

I think most of us need to confirm we have the right info by getting the certs. I tend to stick just to my blood line - that is anyone who had they not existed nor would I! The certs can help a lot for seeing occupations, addresses, witnesses and parents.

Do you send for birth, marriage and death certificates even though you are sure you have the right person and you know the dates and places? In the past I have been sending for the certs but I've come to a point where I now have 7 deaths and 2 births that I know are correct but the expense of sending for certs is off putting. Is there any good reason why I should send for the certs other than to confirm the details I have? Regards Ellen