Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Free Access Ancestry & FindMyPast, Remembrance Weekend 2019

Free Access Ancestry & FindMyPast, Remembrance Weekend 2019 (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:58:21 +0000

Hi all,
to recognise Remembrance Weekend both Ancestry and FindMyPast websites are offering free access to their Military records and apparently more besides, including it seems the 1939 Register.

Today I received an email newsletter from the "Who Do You Think You Are ?" website confirming the FindMyPast free access;

"From 12pm on Friday 8th November until 12pm on Remembrance Day on Monday 11th November, all records on Findmypast, excluding newspapers, electoral rolls and the Periodical Source Index, will be completely free to search and explore. This includes more than 85 million military records covering the British, American, Canadian, Australian, Irish and New Zealander armed forces."
I can confirm the 1939 Register is included within this free access, and it's search engine works very well, I think FMP is better than Ancestry for the Register. However as of Friday afternoon the FMP site is slow and keeps hiccupping but does eventually work - presumably due to heavy demand, hopefully things will improve later in the weekend.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/free-access

Browsing the web shows details are more sketchy for the Ancestry free access, except to say the advertised access "for wartime records" is also available until Monday. I can confirm this access has already started, and does also include the 1939 Register.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access?o_iid=102975&o_lid=102975&o_sch=Web+P...

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In the usual manner any new users will need to register their name and email address beforehand, but nothing more and no requests for payment, unless you stray away from the free datasets when using the websites. Registering will also mean you'll receive occasional and useful newsletter emails advising of events such as this, or informational research guides and so on, but no spam.

Hoping this helps, Jeff.

Free access to UK 1939 Register etc, Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

Jefff — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:25:07 +0000

Hi all,
just heard that Ancestry are again offering free access to all their UK & Irish Records this weekend, from now until midnite on Monday night. Records include all census records including the 1939 Register, plsu all military records.
As before, new users will need to sign-up their email address but shouldn't be asked for card details etc.

Open this link in a new window or tab to search.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/freeaccess?o_xid=96819&o_lid=96819&o_sch=Email+Ca...

Full list of available record sets is here;
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/uk_irish_records/

Free Access to FindMyPast UK records until Sunday midnight (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:41:48 +0000

Hi all,
I've just received an email newsletter from the "Who Do You Think You Are ?" website advising that the "Find My Past" website are offering the following free access starting today.

"Findmypast is one of the leading family history websites, with 2.7 billion records to help trace your ancestors around the world.

Now, Findmypast is offering free access to its records from 09.00 BST on Friday 7 September to 23.59pm BST on Monday 10 September 2018, although you will need to register for an account.

The free access includes parish records, criminal records, the 1939 Register and much more, but does not cover the British Newspaper Archive.
To view them, users will have to register for a Findmypast account but will not be charged."

These links refer, probably best opened into a new tab or window;

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/blog/5-reasons-why-you-should-visit-findmypa...

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/family-story/

I'm not 100% certain but I believe their land survey records are not available on Ancestry, for example. The FMP military records are certainly better if researching pre WW1 British Army.

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In the usual manner any new users will need to register their name and email address beforehand, but nothing more and no requests for payment, unless you stray away from the free datasets when using the FMP website. Registering will also mean you'll receive occasional and useful newsletter emails advising of events such as this, or informational research guides, and so on, but no spam. The same applies to the WDYTYA site, I recommend joining both sites.

Hoping this helps, Jeff.

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

Jefff — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 20:51:40 +0000

Sorry bit late posting, as per previous posts on this thread Ancestry are offering free access to UK records this weekend from now until midnight Monday.

Use this link https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access?o_xid=91446&o_lid=91446&o_sch=Email+C...

Free Access to Ancestry All Military Records This Week (reply)

Jefff — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:44:15 +0000

Hi all,
sorry for posting a bit late, but today I received an email newsletter from Ancestry advising they're offering free access "to more than 30 million military records. Find out where your family fought, the experiences they had and the places they had them. Free access to service records, medal cards, casualty lists and much more."

Access to the records in the featured collections will be free from NOW until midnite of Thursday 9th August, 2018.

Use this link to start, best opened in a new tab or window
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access?o_iid=91106&o_lid=91106&o_sch=Web+Pro...

As well as WW1 the list of available collections include both earlier and later ones, including WW2 POW lists for example. The full list is here
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/uk_military_records?o_iid=91103&o_lid=91...

In the usual manner any new users will need to register their name and email address beforehand, but nothing more and no requests for payment, unless you stray away from the free datasets when using Ancestry website. Registering will also mean you'll receive occasional and useful newsletter emails advising of events such as this, or informational research guides, and so on, but no spam.

Hoping this helps, Jeff.

EXTRA day for free 1939 Register Ancestry, now ends Tuesday (reply)

Jefff — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 16:26:54 +0000

Hi,
I'm pleased to be told the ongoing free access to Ancestry UK and Irish records, including 1939 Register, has been extended an extra day. It will now end at midnite tomorrow night, end of Tuesday 10th July.

Great news for me as haven't yet had chance to use it, hopefully good for others too ! Maybe this was due to delays accessing it last week.

Free access LINK to 1939 Register etc, Ancestry this weekend (reply)

Jefff — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 19:24:00 +0000

Hi again,
I've just belatedly found an Ancestry email which I only received abt 2pm today which included the link below. It's just worked perfectly for me without any issues whatsoever, hope it does for everyone else.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access?o_xid=90201&o_lid=90201&o_sch=Email+C...

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

Jefff — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 18:30:31 +0000

Hi gents, sorry for slow reply.
They do usually give direct links on their emails which I copy to these posts, but I didn't get one this time, sorry.
Like you I've never had to re-register or anything to access their free access, and have aways used the same email address etc etc since I first started FH and joined Ancestry in 2010, altho my Ancestry membership has only been occasional during those years and not for ther last 18months or more.
Maybe you were trying to use it before they set up the offer (they didn't give a start-time on the email) ?.
Anyway, do hope all is well now, I've not tried to access it myself yet but will do soon.
atb J

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

obscurasky — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 11:04:50 +0000

Thanks for this. I've had to create a new account, using a different email address, but it works now :) Have had free trials before, so maybe you don't always get them?

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

probinson — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 09:47:20 +0000

Maybe try logging out and accessing it as a guest. I just tried that and it worked for me.

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

obscurasky — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 08:35:58 +0000

Hello Jeff,
I can't seem to access this offer. I'm already a registered as a member, but if I search for a name it always comes up with payment options. Was there another link to register specifically for the free access?

Free access to 1939 Register etc on Ancestry this weekend. (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 17:11:09 +0000

Hi all,
I've just received an email newsletter from Ancestry advising they're offering

"Four days Free access to ALL UK and Irish Records including the 1939 Registry"
Free Access starts tomorrow, Friday until midnite of Monday 9 July 2018.

Full list of available record sets is here, best open link in new window/tab, it takes a while to open;
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/uk_collections?o_xid=90204&o_lid=90204&a...

For just the 1939 Register try;
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61596&o_xid=87490&o_lid=87490...

In the usual manner any new users will need to register their name and email address beforehand, but nothing more and no requests for payment, unless you stray away from the free datasets when using Ancestry website. Registering will also mean you'll receive occasional and useful newsletter emails advising of events such as this, or informational research guides, and so on, but no spam (altho' most of their emails nowadays are promoting their DNA service).

For anyone as daft as me who forgot to record a few 1939 Register records that I found last time, initially disregarded as thought irrelevant... this is very welcome news.

Hoping this helps, Jeff.

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

Jefff — Mon, 14 May 2018 19:09:38 +0000

Yes thanks Mike, very helpful. Hopefully you all enjoyed this access, I found it very interesting and helpful, especially AFTER I'd worked out the rather odd location results I was getting for some of my wife's tree was because the children had been evacuated far away from their homes in London's docklands !

However I do have one frustration related to how the National Archives decide which records are closed, or not. I was initially confused as to why my father's record was closed, and also one of my mum's brothers, despite them both having passed away at least 10 years ago, not as recently as some of their siblings who WERE visible.
I then realised it's (presumably) because the wives of my father and my uncle are still alive, and the records are closed for privacy reasons. Which seems odd as maybe they woudl like to see what their beloved partners were upto before they were married, I know my mum would ?. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this sort of "anomaly" ?.

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

probinson — Thu, 10 May 2018 09:49:43 +0000

That's an interesting page Mike. Explained a lot.

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 10 May 2018 00:48:27 +0000

Thanks guys for making me feel a lot less daft than I thought I was this morning !
Also for your kind words & very helpful link, I see the Register continued to be amended for marriages long into the 1950s Cold War !

I also wondered why my Aunty Joyce (aka "Loyce" in traditional Ancestry speak lol) was apparently married while still at school aged 4 years - now I realise the "6848M" also on her line (and in same colour ink!) corresponds to her marriage date 6/8/1948.

I'll enjoy searching this over next few days !

PS For years when using road atlases I've invariably found myself annoyingly located on an edge or join between pages. And now I know why; even in 1931, mum's family are sprawled across 2 pages. AND to further spoil the look of this document, my Uncle is just an ugly black "closed" band, despite him passing away almost 10 years ago.
Great info, but this skinflint with a liking for neatness is glad he never paid for it ;-)

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Wed, 09 May 2018 21:25:39 +0000

This site provides a reason. Apparently the Register was a working document closely linked to the issue of identity cards. If someone’s name changed they would need a new card.

https://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters2/1939special.htm

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

probinson — Wed, 09 May 2018 20:55:22 +0000

No idea why but my Mother was similarly updated with her married name and she married in 1949 - ten years later.

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Wed, 09 May 2018 19:51:32 +0000

Out of curiosity I searched the 1939 Register to see where my mother was living at the time. (It turned out she was living in exactly the same house she occupied for the rest of her life.) She was originally entered as JONES, her married name at the time. However, in an amendment which seems to be dated 30/06/1947 the name JONES was crossed out and her new married name (PINCHIN) substituted. This new marriage took place in Q2 1947. It puzzled me why someone should do this eight years after the Register was taken and for what purpose? There are other examples of similar amendments so someone was evidently taking an interest and following up subsequent developments. Does anyone know why this should be thought necessary?

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

probinson — Wed, 09 May 2018 15:36:12 +0000

Thanks for that Jeff. I didn't realise it was on Ancestry either. You've just saved me a few bob. Shame Ancestry doesn't allow searching by address like FMP does though - unless I'm missing something.

Free access now to 1939 Register on Ancestry. (reply)

Jefff — Wed, 09 May 2018 12:53:48 +0000

Hi all, I've just received an email newsletter from Ancestry advising they're currently offering

"Free access to the 1939 Registry – 32 million new records to explore. The 1939 Register is one of our single biggest collections, so we’re celebrating with free access all weekend. The 1939 Register collated the names, addresses and key details of everyone in the UK. With the 1931 census destroyed and the 1941 census never taken, it’s a vital and significant source of information on the UK population from the mid 20th Century."

Free Access to the 1939 Registry started today, 9th May, and continues until midnite of Sunday 13th May 2018.

Use this link to start: https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61596&o_xid=87490&o_lid=87490...

Note that our parents and their generation may not be visible, if it's thought they may still be alive. Least I hope that's why my efforts failed when I tried to find them a few years ago. (Edit: Yep, found them now, yay!!)

Ancestry notes,
"Images have been redacted to protect the privacy of those still alive and we will be annually adding records for those with birth dates older than 100 years or if a record of the death has been reported to The National Archives. Images will also be updated to reflect the opening of the record. All indexes have been created from redacted images as provided by The National Archives and as such, some indexes may not include all information as originally recorded, where it is obscured from view."

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This comes as a pleasant surprise to me as I thought the 1939 Register was only available via FindMyPast, and was about to take-out a short FMP subscription purely for the Register.

In the usual manner any new users will need to register their name and email address beforehand, but nothing more and no requests for payment, unless you stray away from the free datasets when using Ancestry website. Registering will also mean you'll receive occasional and useful newsletter emails advising of events such as this, or informational research guides, and so on, but no spam (altho' most of their emails nowadays are promoting their DNA service).

Hoping this helps, Jeff.