* Problems with census searches on Findmypast [Solved]

[Gowermick]

Does anyone else abhor the search Criteria used by FindmyPast for Censuses?

Unless I'm doing something really wrong, the Criteria requested is Forename,Surname,Dob etc as one would expect, but then asks where one would expect to find the individual

Why does it not ask where the individual was born (which I know), rather than where he was living ( which I don't know). If you do try entering place of birth, the results are then restricted to that area, on the assumption that is where the person was living! So if someone was born in Dover, then moved to Carlisle, you wouldn't have a cat in hells chance of finding them, unless you ignored the 'where' criteria completely. This deoesn't really help though, as the results are listed with Name, Dob and where he/she was living at the time, with no indication of where they were born!!!

What is wrong with using and showing Place of Birth?

I have to resort to FamilySearch for the search, (which has problem of not matching Dob), then viewing likely results via link to Findmypast.

[ColeValleyGirl]

I always select the relevant record set (census) first rather than just searching censuses so I get a search screen that included date of birth.

[Gowermick]

Helen
I don't have problem with date of birth, but I am unable to specify Place of birth.

[ColeValleyGirl]

That technique gets you place of birth as well, in some granularity -- try it.

[NickWalker]

Mike

I had exactly the same frustrations initially when I subscribed to FMP recently (having previously used Ancestry) and I resorted to finding them first on Family Search too! As soon as I realised that I needed to select the record-set first (e.g. first find the record set with 1851 in the title) then suddenly searching becomes much more powerful and works well. Wild card searches work well too and actually I'm really happy with the searching now. I just have the various census records and others (such as Cheshire Baptisms, Cheshire Marriages, etc.) saved as favourites so I can quickly go to the one I want.

Nick

[Gowermick]

Helen,
Thanks, that's exactly what I want, but how do you get there?

Like most people I think, from opening page, I click Search, then Census and land Surveys, and finally Census, which I assume is where FindmyPast wants us to go, but the resulting search form bears no resemblance to your search form.

Edit:
Found it, but why do they make it so difficult to find? This form is what should appear when one follows the steps above - aaaargh

[ColeValleyGirl]

Search > A-Z of record sets > pick the record set (you can narrow them down using the search box at the top of the record set list) > hey presto, a better search form.

[Gowermick]

Nick,
Now that I've found it, all I have to do now is find out how to get Findmypast to add Place of Birth to the result set.

PS I had used Findmypast previously, but they had changed the search form since then. Glad to be back on track.

[Gowermick]

Having been shown how to correctly search the UK censuses , I then discover that by doing it the proper way, also affects how the results are shown!!

What on earth are Findmypast playing at? Why can't they show results like this ALL the time

[ColeValleyGirl]

I think FMP may default to "lowest common denominator" if you try to search multiple recordsets at once (or to display the results) -- not all recordsets have same data/indexed data so they have to simplify if they're dealing with (e.g.) all the censuses at once including (e.g.) 1841 which has much less data than the later ones.

[Gowermick]

Helen,
I know what you mean, especially concerning 1841, but if one specifies the year one is searching, it doesn't take a lot of effort to adjust resultset accordingly - it is computerised after all. Just lazy programming on their part.

[tatewise]

I sympathise, they used to have a much better search dialogue, but disrupted it years ago!!!!

Why not use the Lookup Missing Census Facts Plugin as that does all the hard work of composing the search criteria for you and correctly adjusted for each Census year, depending on things like whether Place of Birth and other Household Members are included in the search.

Also see plugins:help:lookup_missing_census:frequently_asked_questions|> Lookup Missing Census Facts ~ Frequently Asked Questions under How do I access the new 'FindMyPast' search modes?