Genealogy Chat

Has anyone used the Centre at WSM? And if so how helpful were they and what sort of records do they hold? I live in Somerset and WSM is about 40 miles away. The families I need to research do not come from this area, but the Lancashire/Nottighamshire/Shropshire areas. Do I have to visit them to order the microfilms? I do not want to have to make too many journeys with no end product. Any ideas??

Margaret Cannot help with WSM specifically, but I think all LDS centres are more or less the same. I use my local LDS almost weekly. You need to pay a 'drop in' visit first, as they will not accept film bookings over the phone(but check to see if theyre open before you go!) In order to cut down on 'wasted journeys' it helps if you have a film number to order when you go, although if they are not busy, they will usually help you to look up a specific film number. Look at their Library on their Website, and you will see whether they have film for the area you want. I find the staff to be generally very helpful indeed, although I soon learned there was a particular day to avoid! Having said that, be clear in your mind that they are not going to do your research for you - I am sure this is not your intention, but I have been present when someone has sat, like a lemon, waiting for Staff to find a baptism for them, say, when they have the film in front of them. They also have the GRO on microfiche and I am told that you can access Ancestry from their computers, but I havent actually done this myself. Each Centre has a collection of records - what they are, specifically, you will have to go there to find out! Finally, remember that it is run by Volunteers(trained) and they make no charge for the use of their facilities. I occasionally give a small donation - this goes directly to providing more Fam Hist facilities and NOT to the Church. And finally, finally! Are you sure there isnt a centre nearer to you? I live in Cornwall and have three centres in a twenty mile radius. Marjorie

Thanks very much for the information - no unfortunately there isn't a centre that is nearer, due to the geographical make up of Somerset! Exeter is about the same distance, and Yeovil further away!

Yes if you look at the LDS site and see what records are available - print off a list of those you wish to view. Short term film loans - up to 1 month is £2.20 + 50p and can take a couple of weeks or more to arrive (my centres usually come in on a Monday). You can book them for longer or extend if no-one else has ordered them but not sure of cost. However the FDS FHC Centres are only open at certain times and some of those slots are restricted to LDS Members. Now at the moment I have 4 films to view and I'm going to struggle to view them in the time available. You don't realise how long it takes to work your way through a film so I would only order a couple at a time and see how you get on. I spent 3 hours on a 1841 census film and still haven't viewed it all. You can also google Hugh Wallis which gives batch numbers for the LDS IGI.