Another Method of Using FamilySearch.org

Newsletter reader Sandra Quinn sent an e-mail describing her new web site. She has found a user-friendly method of using Batch Numbers. Sandra writes:

I discovered a way last year to search just the vital records at familysearch.org by using the state and county specific batch numbers and have created a new website with a clickable map and links that take the researcher directly to these record indexes.  I have also included links to any other public free vital record index databases that are online.  This is such a great tool for researchers and I wanted to share it with you and your readers. You can locate ancestors quickly and easily from this site.

Your friend in genealogy,

Sandra Quinn

Her new site is available at http://www.ohgen.net

Comments

[Robin M]

Hugh Wallis figured out a batch method for www.familysearch.org several years ago. You can view his web site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbersNA/CountryUSA.htm#PageTitle

[Laurie B.]

Hugh Wallis's site is quite different from this new site. This site takes a researcher directly to the courthouse death, birth and marriage vital records that were copied by members of the LDS church. It also does not require any middle step. Once on a county batch site one only has to put in a first or last name to search through the records or leave the boxes blank to see all the county records to find relatives. Finding ancestors this way is so quick, and if a family search index does not exist for a county and other databases are free online they are linked to also. I found about one hundred relatives in different states in a matter of minutes. Now I can happily order the vital records.

[Myrna]

Thanks this is great. I've used the IGI but you can look for family members easily this way. I appreciate your sharing this.

[Marilyn]

Am I missing something? When I go to the site and click on a state, all I get is a picture of a state with no active links.

[Dick Eastman]

I think you are missing something.

The number of links will vary from one state to another. For test puposes, click on New Hampshire and see the 30 or 40 links there. Scroll down the page to see them.

Other states may have fewer links or even more links.

[Marilyn/Mom]

Many of these batch numbers contain only data from a specific church. Some are even for a different state! Instead of wasting time searching for individual names, I would suggest leaving the names blank and entering only the region (which is required). This will show you where the records came from. Then you can search for the name you want if it is an appropriate source.

[Chris]

BUT
Hugh Wallis site works for British Isles' batches and he has created an index for Middle names in the British Isles.

[OHGen.net]

Hello all,

I've been constantly updating the site for the past week, and will continue to do so. I recently fixed the links I found which were directing to other states.

A problem that some might run into is that their browser might have cached the page in its history which will show sometimes instead of the corrected page. To fix that, hold down on a keyboard the "Ctrl" key and press the "F5" key simultaneously while you are on a page of the site. Hitting the refresh button of your browser usually won't re-cache the page, though sometimes it will. Since it isn't dependable, I recommend using this other method instead.

I've added new listings for Vermont over the weekend, and have some more for New Hampshire today. On top of that, more links will be added to most states. I even have links to databases other than family search for many states, and I have chosen the highest quality free resources for those states.

Your friend in genealogy,
Sandra Quinn
OHGen.net