Search Engines
You probably have a favourite search engine: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com etc. Using your preferred search engine type JOHN MACDONALD into the search pane. What happens? You will be presented with thousands of results of which the vast majority will be references to men named John Macdonald who are famous. The search results will display a statesmen, a sportsman, an architect, an artist, a professor and on and on; and most likely none of the results will be what you are looking for. That’s the problem with general search engines, the results are non specific.
A better option is to search for the country or area you want to search by typing: Family History Country (where Country is your specific search request) into Google or Bing, or similar search engine. Although these engines are general search engines as mentioned previously, you are restricting the results by defining the search words: Family History. For best results, you need to use genealogy search engines. Most of these engines are fee based.
Ancestry
The parent company Ancestry.com has websites specific to many countries. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ is specific to the United Kingdom which includes Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
However, don’t assume that because you have a membership to Ancestry (or similar family tree websites) that you will automatically have access to the records you want. Some countries, of which Scotland is an example, consider this data to be proprietary, and it can only be accessed from the Scottish Records Office for a fee.
LDS
One of the requirements of being a member of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church (LDS) is being able to cite several generations back into your family history. LDS provides database access to the International Genealogy Index (IGI) at https://www.familysearch.org/ and local family history centres where microfilm may be viewed free of charge. You may have to order the specific records in advance of your visit so that they are on site when you arrive.
A search of the website will display results of different types:
LDS LOCAL FAMILY HISTORY CENTRES
https://familysearch.org/locations/ Use this link to search for centres around the world.
A better option is to search for the country or area you want to search by typing: Family History Country (where Country is your specific search request) into Google or Bing, or similar search engine. Although these engines are general search engines as mentioned previously, you are restricting the results by defining the search words: Family History. For best results, you need to use genealogy search engines. Most of these engines are fee based.
Ancestry
The parent company Ancestry.com has websites specific to many countries. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ is specific to the United Kingdom which includes Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
However, don’t assume that because you have a membership to Ancestry (or similar family tree websites) that you will automatically have access to the records you want. Some countries, of which Scotland is an example, consider this data to be proprietary, and it can only be accessed from the Scottish Records Office for a fee.
LDS
One of the requirements of being a member of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church (LDS) is being able to cite several generations back into your family history. LDS provides database access to the International Genealogy Index (IGI) at https://www.familysearch.org/ and local family history centres where microfilm may be viewed free of charge. You may have to order the specific records in advance of your visit so that they are on site when you arrive.
A search of the website will display results of different types:
- Ancestral files: these are submitted by members of the Latter Day Saints church and have not been verified against any official records.
- Pedigree Source files: this is a linked database of records submitted by individuals through the website and is available on CD ROMs.
- International Genealogical Index: these files should be reliable with the exception of transcription errors. The source data is identified by microfilm number, batch number, source call number and print out number.
LDS LOCAL FAMILY HISTORY CENTRES
https://familysearch.org/locations/ Use this link to search for centres around the world.
- Australia, Sydney: Level 1, The Connaught Building, 185 Liverpool Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000. Tel 61 2-9283-7196
- Canada, Toronto: Family History Center, 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto. Tel 416-422-5480
- Scotland, Edinburgh: 30A Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DQ.Tel +44 131-313 2762