Getting the most out of SP

[kathyc]

I think I've come to the point where my next step has to be buying some credits at SP. I've exhausted living family memory for family details and have searched out as much as I can find for free. Since I'm in Canada, each 6 pounds (how do you do that symbol on the keyboard?) is going to run me about $14 at current rates. Before I start burning through my money, I wanted to get some input on the best way to approach a search there so as to waste as little money as possible.

I'd appreciate any tips on making the most of SP credits.

I thought I'd start with my great grandparents's marriage because I have details about that, and hoped it would confirm their parents' names so I can then go to their marriages and so on. Does that seem reasonable?

Thanks!
Kathy

[karenc]

Hi Kathy

well the pound sign on the keyboard is on the number 3, just do the same as you do to get the $ sign but press the three.

also searching for your great grandparents marriage shouldnt be that difficult if you know both their names and either roughly when it took place or where it took place.

the price for the credits is quite reasonable, but be prepared for your cedit card to take a beating. once you buy your first lot you will quickly be back for more

hope this helps

karen

[emanday]

One thing I learned from the folks on here - make use of wildcards!

We sometimes forget that many of our forebears were illiterate and the person who wrote these records had to write down what they heard. If the writer was not from the same district as the informant that only added to the problem.

The most common for me is MacDonald. I search using M*Donald and it catches them all. McCrae is another one - M*Ra* finally found one elusive ancestor who'd been written as McRay.

Everyone on here will help you out if you hit a

I'd still be way behind without the help and advice I've had here on TS

[paddyscar]

Hi Kathy:

(on a Canadian keyboard) £ is produced by holding down the ALT key and typing 156 on the number pad.

I think the best advice is to read the 'Help and other Resources' which can be accessed in the opening page of ScotlandsPeople.

When you double click on that topic, you will be taken to the section and look at the purple sidebar on the left which has further breakdowns of subjects of interest.

You can also view some sample records which give you a look at the types of information you can expect to see in the different types of records.

Also, on TALKINGSCOT click on the FORUM tab at the top of the page and scroll down to Tips to help your searching FAQs

Trial and error is a good teacher, but generally you can narrow down your search somewhat before you even use 1 credit. Remember that even when things are cast in stone, they might not be correct, so be flexible.

Sometimes being too specific can be counterproductive.

Everyone is helpful here, so never hesitate to ask for help.

Frances

[kathyc]

Karen and Mary,

Thanks for your help.

Karen, the 3 on my North American keyboard is the number sign (#), not a pound sign. I'm sure there must be a way.

Mary, the people here have been wonderful since I joined, so I know you're right. The wildcard idea is an excellent one. I have Macraes as well, so will try your wildcard suggestion when I get to them.

Kathy

[Russell]

Hi Kathy

Using SP can be an expensive business if you don't do your preparation first.
Marriage entries are great after 1855 because they immediately take you back a further generation but that gives parents without helping for siblings. Sometimes Entries of Deaths will give the name of one of the children that you haven't found up to that point, so they give useful additional information.
Keep in mind that you may think there is a correct way to spell a particular family name but nobody told your ancestors that. Try to think of all possible ways the name could be spelled before you start an SP search.
Look at the advice given on the board here for ways in which wildcards can be used and use them even in what you think are foolproof names.
e.g. MacKenzie may be McKenzie or even McKinzie/McKinsie so using the * wildcard could give M*cK*n*ie. Unfortunately this might also bring up McKinnie so when you first 'search' try changing some of the letters to see if McKinnie has come up. It can be hard to restrain yourself when the results of a search come up but exercise restraint until you are reasonably happy that your search has not thrown up too many similar names.
Once you have worked back to around 1875 use IGI as much as possible to build a picture of a family before spending your SP credits. Their Family Search is very useful for finding possible siblings.
Although many Scottish families stayed in the one village for generations there was a great deal more mobility than many people realise and in the mid 1800's there was a lot of migration from country places into the towns, so don't assume they were stuck in the one parish. Start searches quite wide and narrow them down gradually.
Miners moved from one mine to another (not always voluntarily) so in a family of 7 children each might have a different birth-place.
Use the 'Search' facility here on TS to see if anyone else is researching the same family names. You might be able to exchange information with them.
It will cost to locate specific records but the Statutory Records have so much useful information. Even the names of witnesses at a marriage will probably have significance at some point.

Hope your searches prove economical

Russell

[kathyc]

Thanks, Frances. I've looked at some of the help stuff on SP, but figured the people who've used it would also be worth asking. Thanks for solving the symbol mystery too.

Russel, thanks for the great suggestions. I have already been astonished by the mobility of some of my relatives. I often think about what it must have been like for them.

Kathy

[Lizzie]

Hi Kathy

ALT 156

Lizzie

[StewL]

Kathyc

Just be aware that even when you get more proficient at using SP you can end up "wasting" quite a few credits chasing our lang deid rellies.

Sometimes with very common names it can cost you a few pounds in searching, believe me I know about that one Sometimes you can get a bit carried away too, and that is so easy to do when you get on a bit of a run.

All the best with your searching, and the guid folk on here will try to help you when they can

[trish1]

Hi Kathy

The indexes for the first twenty years 1855-1875 of Scottish births and marriages are on the IGI. This can be very useful for picking up the different spelling (although I assume transcriptions could be different between the IGI and SP). It is also useful because it can be searched for free

If you find any BDMs that happened in 1855 - very good certificates to buy. They have more information than later years.

When you get to pre civil registration, always try the IGI first. I have found many of my early Scottish families are on the IGI. You can then decide whether you want to buy the parish images from SP or order the films from your LDS centre.

Trish