Genealogy Chat

Please read below....Thanks.

Hi All, I have just been given some info from a cousin of mine, who says a helpful gentleman working in her library found a rellie's birth record on the St. Catherines web site - http://www.stcaths(.)com - He was JAMES COVELL, born 1820 in North Walsham, Norfolk and I could NOT find him anywhere, his birth/baptism is untraceable on the parish records (in North Walsham), he has not appeared on one census from the years 1841 & onwards but is named on my G-G-Grandfather's marriage certificate. Now, my cousin says, she HAS found him but his birth or baptism record on the St. Catherine's site...?? I have just looked and it's 15 pounds for a years membership but Am I reading it right...you only get 5 searches within this membership, then any other searches you are needing, you have to pay for...?? I would really appreciate anyone's thourghts or opinions on this, reading throu it sounds like a good deal, except for the 'only 5 searches' bit...?? Must admit, I am only in need to look for this particular birth/baptism for this mysterious James Covell. Thank You for reading me out and Happy Hunting to you's all. Regards, Dawn.

NO NO NO NO NO St Caths Membership: For £15 you essentially get 5 searches of the GRO index, 1881 census and BVRI. For another £15 you can get a certificate. The GRO index of births, deaths and marriages is free at FreeBMD (though not yet complete). Or go to the FRC in London or a large local library and look them up for free. Or buy £5 worth of credits from 1837online(.)com - that allows you to look at up to 50 pages. And that is usually more than 5 searches' worth! Certificates are available for £7 from the GRO direct (follow the 1837online link) or the same price from the relevant register office. The 1881 census is free at familysearch.org It sounds like your cousin has been given the baptism record from the BVRI (birth certs werent' available pre-1837). People would have been able to do a BVRI look-up free on the Records' Board.

The fact they charge double the normal price to obtain a certificate is enought to put me off joining. Jacqui

THANK YOU so much Twinkle, Jacqui and Kat..... Reading throu the info on the St. Caths web site, it does seem to be a good money making site. Like you mentioned Twinkle, the certificates are double the price and the 1881 is free to use online, etc. I only wanted to gain access to view the Parish or Vital Records section because thats where my cousin said the librarian had apartently found 'James Covell'..?? (I have the BIVRI disc's and they are not on there). He was named as my G-G-Grandfather's father on his marriage certificate. And believe me I've searched high & low for this gentleman and I have come to the conclusion that he did not even exsist (a kind GR member has serached throu the Parish Records for me at the NRO - plus he's not on any of the censuses, his name just turns up on his 'sons' marriage certificate). I am sure that I have found my Alfred Covell's birth, instead of being born in 1851 in North Walsham (so the 1881 census says) or Norwich (so the 1891 & 1901 census says) - he was registered as Alfred Coville, born 1849 in Felmingham, Norfolk (a stone throw from North Walsham). I obtained his birth certificate and followed this line...Elizabeth was Alfred's step sister and James was his half brother (they are the death reference's that you found Kat, I have these certificates) and Alfred was born illegitimate because James & Elizabeth's father (Alfred's Mothers husband - he was George Covell) died sometime in 1846. I strongly believed that Alfred made up his fathers name on the certificate to cover the fact he was illegitimate (his Mum died, when he was 4 years old in the Workhouse). Now, my cousin has thrown me out of my slippers saying he did exsist and he was found on the St. Catherines site but hasn't anything on paper to show me. Please don't think I'm saying she's telling porkie pies, I'm NOT...after 3 and a half years on this 'father & son' case...I just need convincing...!!! THANK YOU again to you ALL for your time and advice. I will have to find another way on seeing this piece of info that James did exsist...I hope this finds you's ALL keeping well and Happy Hunting. Hugs, Dawn.

I wouldn't use this site, or recommend it to anyone who hasn't got money to burn. The GRO indexes used to be held at St. Catherine's House in London, and if you google 'St. Catherine's House'......guess what comes up first? To a novice who knew that's where the indexes once were, just reading the FAQs could easily lead them to using the site, thinking this is the only way to access the data now. Carole

If you have access to a computer freebmd/ancestry civil reg (same info) should be first port of call as they are free. They only go up to about 1910 at present and aren't 100% before that, though. If still online you can pay at www 1837online com for the convenience of online searching through the indexes. Or you can find the nearest library/records office to your home which has the indexes on microfiche and search there. The FRC in London has the big book indexes and the Nat Archives at Kew has them on microfiche. nell

Certainly won't be using St Catherines then! Can I just recommend the Ancestry.co.uk site. ( I don't often see people mention the '.co.uk ' bit as apposed to '.com' ? - - - seems subtly different? I've had fantastic success with them - - 100+ in my tree in first five weeks and back to pre 1800. On the charged side I think it's really good value cos as a newbie I answered all the crucial questions just using the £6.99 trial offer - - 20 searches over seven days. More importantly I got a lot more than the 20 searches for that. A search only counts for certain stuff - - viewing images I think but don't quote me. In addition you can still view all other family members in each household for all available censuses 1861-1901. ! That last bit was really useful in putting together the tree for a newbie. Other subs are £30- quarter - unlimited searches or about £70- year same. Throughout £6.99 trial they offered to offset that against the cost of either of the other subscription options - - no lose situation but I couldn't afford it at the mom. Better still they are offering a free 14 day trial at the moment - - unlimited access. You have to watch out for this offer it just appears on screen at random - - alternating with other subscription suggestions and offers - - but seems a brilliant opportunity. NO, I don't work for them!! Just thought you'd like to know.

I was just looking at another commercial site. They are charging £49.95 for a certificate with 28 day service and £89.95 for 7 day service! I have been ordering quite a few certificates online recently from the GRO (at £7.00) and they usually come by almost return of post. I am not surprised that GOOGLE gives the commercial St Catherine House website. GOOGLE is very bad at giving such commercial matches to searches and ignoring the correct match. Often I am trying to find the site of (for example) Bloggs Ltd. GOOGLE will give me loads of matches for sites where I can buy Bloggs' products but often no sign of their own website. Other search engines like VIVISIMO will usually give Bloggs' website as first match. I did an experiment once whilst on the phone to a friend who lives in a very small village in the Western Isles. I put the name of the village into GOOGLE and got loads of matches for supposedly where I could find a plumber, electrician, solicitor, tanning shop, car hire etc etc in this village. There is not even a shop there. MB