Findmypast is a family history website that stores essential documents from around the world so you don’t have to travel far away or rummage through courthouse documents to do your family research. This genealogy search site has 1.6 billion records from around the world, some spanning back to the 1200s. While the global span is limited to English-speaking countries, this is still an impressive database.
Find my past is a great place to find out where you came from. They have millions of entries that come from immigration, military, parish and census records. They offer a 14 day free trial so that you can try the service for yourself before you buy.
Findmypast is a UK-based genealogy website that counts among its archive’s contents a selection of census, directory and historical document collections--some of which are from over a thousand years ago. It was the first in the world to facilitate online access to complete birth, marriage and death indexes for England and Wales. Over eight billion records, a built-in family tree builder, collaborative partnerships (with organizations like The British Library, FamilySearch, and more), and acquisitions (Origins.net and Mocavo) support Findmypast’s worldwide service, which specifically targets English-speaking countries: the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the US and Canada. Its community features are lacking, but the strengths of Findmypast lie in its exclusive and rare content, and its extensive section containing research guides.
Learn moreIt’s easy to start using Findmypast, especially with a 14-day free trial. When you sign up, you’ll be asked to enter the usual details: full name, country of residence, email, password, and billing information. Take note that the trial allows you access to only two billion out of over eight billion historical records that make up Findmypast’s archive; although you will be able to look through a wide variety of content nonetheless, from military records to newspaper clippings and more. After 14 days, the subscription will auto renew, though you can avoid that by canceling the trial before the two-week period is up.
If after the trial you find that Findyourpast is your cup of tea, you might want to consider upgrading to their premium plan; especially if you’re serious about chasing down family history leads. Not only is Findyourpast a great resource in terms of the contents of its archive, but it’s also known for its very helpful research guides and intuitive search tools. With a Premium plan, you get access to the entire Findmypast archive, and you’ll be delighted to find that a sizable number of their records are scans of original and sometimes even handwritten documents–considered to be the gold standard to genealogy research. Worth noting, though, that Findmypast deals with records from mostly English-speaking territories; if you’re from anywhere outside the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, this may not be the best service for you.
