For atleast a year now I've been noting quite a few hiccups at Ancestry, especially in the translation of uploads from various sites like BDM's.
Names and dates on BDM sites end up mangled in the upload leaving researchers at dead ends.
Names like Robert upload to Foloert on Ancestry.
One name on BDM was Georgina and age 72yo. Ancestry's version was G'gino aged 7yo.
Be careful with Ancestry's weirdo upload translations and always check with the states BDM or Archives site to verify before paying for anything or dismissing anything.
Something I found very good at FMP is the BDM index especially for NSW.
When there is multiple registrations of an event (BDM) the FMP index has a R notation so you know there is another registration. NSW BDM doesn't have this wonderful asset but the NSW CD's do.
Say I'm searching for a child born to an unwed mother and find him listed under his mothers surname.
1888 SHAW John....Father BLANK Mother Julie at Cootamundra
That's all you get on NSW BDM and it's always hard finding out who the father might be BUT on FMP you might find
1888 SHAW John....Father BLANK Mother Julie (R)
which lets you know there is another registration for that birth so you search for the name John and the date 1888 and Cootamundra and get something like
1888 RANKIN John.
Even if it doesn't name the father atleast now you have a surname to play with.
Another excellent asset at FMP that other BDM's don't have is where available the year of birth and not just the year or registration.
FMP may have name and date of birth as 1895 and the year registered as 1900.
NSW BDM only has the 1900 year of registration.
I have been using FMP on and off for many years as it has always been upgrading and evolving but lacked any real Australian indexes. Now it is really on the move for us Aussies. It's cheap, easy to use and has many extra benefits that neither ACOM nor BDM's/states archives have.
I'm only using the Australian version for now as I'm having a break from USA research.
OK, so I got tired after my rant and I'm not making much sense. LOL
I'm going back to the boards for half hour then going to bed.
I have to get my typing speed up up up.
Cert III Business Managment Admin only required 40wpm which was easy but now I'm looking at perfecting 60wpm with zero errors. Diploma here I come!!!
