Friday, July 18, 2008

New databases at FamilySearch Record Search

I was checking for new databases today, and noticed a lot of reddish stars on the http://www.familysearch.org/ Record Search page at http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html.


The new and/or updated indexed databases include:

* 1841 England and Wales Census - NEW - provided by http://www.findmypast.com/.

* 1850 United States Census - Updated, now 76% complete

* 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule) - Updated, now 77% complete.

* 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule) - Updated, now 61% complete

* 1861 England and Wales Census - NEW - provided by http://www.findmypast.com/

* 1870 United States Census - Updated, now 31% complete

* 1930 Mexico Census - Updated, now 13% complete

There are many other databases, either browsable or indexed, on the list at the Record Search web site.

The big news this month is the index for the 1841 and 1861 England and Wales census records. I tried this out, expecting to be able to see the actual census image. However, when I clicked for the image, the www.FindMyPast.com page came up wanting me to pay to see the image (each image is a unit, 60 units for L6.95, or about 20 cents per unit).
That isn't going to work for many researchers! And it will result in enmity for FamilySearch. This is a "shoot myself in the foot" problem for them. Arggghhh.
I wonder why they don't have the 1881 Canadian and 1881 England and Wales census transcriptions on the indexed database list also? They have the 1880 US census on the list.

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