Are you struggling to find families when searching census records on Ancestry.com? Do you think they must be in the census records but you simply cannot locate them? Do you wish there were more options available? If so, CenMatch may be the answer for you.
CenMatch is an easy to use Excel template that will help you find those hard-to-find families. The template is designed to match either 2 or 3 people that appear on the same census page together or a page following person # 1. You have the ability to Sort by Name, Birth Year, Census Parish, Census County or Matching records. It is then simply a matter of clicking on the icon to go to the page in question. It is the capability to quickly sort and filter hundreds of records that gives CenMatch its power.
The CenMatch template works with the following Ancestry.com databases:
1850 United States Federal Census
1860 United States Federal Census
1870 United States Federal Census
1890 United States Federal Census Fragment
1900 United States Federal Census1861 Channel Islands Census
1871 Channel Islands Census
1881 Channel Islands Census
1891 Channel Islands Census
1901 Channel Islands Census1861 England Census
1871 England Census
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census1861 Isle of Man Census
1871 Isle of Man Census
1881 Isle of Man Census
1891 Isle of Man Census
1901 Isle of Man Census1861 Wales Census
1871 Wales Census
1881 Wales Census
1891 Wales Census
1901 Wales Census
Of course, to make this work you do need to have a subscription to Ancestry.com and also have Microsoft Excel installed on your Windows computer. According to the program's web site, CenMatch has been tested with Excel 2000 and 2003. Other versions are not guaranteed.
CenMatch sells for $7.50 Australian dollars, approximately $5.75 in U.S. dollars. There is no trial or free version. Then again, an Excel spreadsheet that sells for this low price probably doesn't need a free introduction.
To read more about CenMatch or to order the program via a safe and secure shopping cart system, go to http://census.freewebpage.org/html/cenmatch.html
Did anyone else have trouble getting the CenMatch program ordered?
I went to their page, tried twice to put it in the basket (that worked OK I guess), then was flipped over to PayPal each time. Even after I signed in on PayPal nothing came up to complete the CenMatch order.
Posted by: Di | August 22, 2005 at 03:50 AM
Hi -
After having some issues with the server and evidence of unauthorised downloads, I have taken the file off the server.
Now, after the payment has been processed, the file is sent within a matter of minutes.
Sorry for the confusion.
Sean Williams.
Posted by: Sean Williams | August 22, 2005 at 12:06 PM
I had no problems obtaining a legit copy of the program. Tonight's DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour internet radio show will feature a telephone interview with Sean Williams.
The show will be available in DearMYRTLE's audio archive at: http://www.ourmedia.org/user/33644/track
I found the ability to obtain a larger hit list than the presets and alternates provided by Ancestry the biggest benefit. Anyone with Excel MUST look into this file. Its going to make matching and searching a LOT easier.
Posted by: DearMYRTLE | August 23, 2005 at 08:37 AM
The direct link to the .mp3 file of the show is now located at both:
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/46468
or
http://www.archive.org/download/DearMYRTLEs_Family_History_Hour_Internet_Radio_Show_23_Aug_2005/DearMYRTLE2005Aug23.mp3
The lineup for the show includes:
Value of 1908 letters
Frank or Fred Dittmar?
Maggie Stewart, editor USGenWeb Archives
KUDOS to Jim Laird & Joy Fisher
Blog topic: What is your personal secret for happiness?
MightyMouse Tour - USGenWeb.com
John Vilburn, creator of PAFInsight
Sean Williams, creator of CenMatch
The page for the show with clickable links appears at:
http://www.dearmyrtle.com/05/0823r.htm
Posted by: DearMYRTLE | August 23, 2005 at 04:34 PM
cenmatch\freewebpage
does not work.
Posted by: sandy smith | August 24, 2005 at 02:57 PM
The link was working on August 18 when the article was posted here but obviously has stopped working since then.
If you read several messages above this message, you will see a note from CenMatch creator Sean Williams that explains the recent changes.
Posted by: Dick Eastman | August 24, 2005 at 04:46 PM
Please note that the new address is:
www.empiresgenealogy.com
Sorry for the confusion.
Posted by: Sean Williams | August 26, 2005 at 01:31 AM