1 Less is more!
When you’re searching online, don’t be tempted to fill in all the boxes on the search screen. The more fields you complete, the greater the chance that you’ll eliminate the record you’re looking for. Instead, try to enter as few details as possible; try diff erent combinations of name, age and birthplace or try searching using just the first name or just the surname.
Remember that the data you’re searching is the result of someone’s attempt to read the original document, so be flexible in your approach. Wildcards can be a very powerful tool and can help you to find some of your more elusive ancestors.