Searches

BRIAN LAKE

I have noticed lately that your search function seem to be getting worst and worst. When I search for someone I know in your files it often comes up with nothing related to who I am looking for even though I know the person in in your files (sometime more than once).

Above is my most recent search and I know he is in your files at least twice because I have seen both in the last few days. I believe the results shown were the same before I added his spouse and I thought the first one at the top might be him due to the Mt Vernon Cemetery note. But it wasn't. There must be hundreds if not more James Lakes in your files and can't really tell why it has only selected these few?

Am I doing something wrong? Are there instructions somewhere that tell me how to search?

Thanks....Brian

genthusiast

I believe you are searching Records when you appear to want to be searching Tree?

Does the following search results get you what you are looking for?

https://www.familysearch.org/search/tree/results?q.anyPlace=Brant%2C%20Ontario%2C%20Canada&q.givenName=James&q.spouseGivenName=Jane%20Elizabeth&q.spouseSurname=Stover&q.surname=Lake

BRIAN LAKE

Well that certainly helped find that person but doesn't help with other searches (or does it?).

When should I records and when should I search tree?

genthusiast

@BRIAN LAKE

Search Records when you want to find/attach sources to Tree profiles/people in Family Tree. Search Family Tree when you want to find people/profiles in Family Tree. Once you find a person's profile you can do a Search Records on the Details page:

Or as you mention - you can just Search> Records at any point for any reason - which will return record collection Results which you can then apply filters to - in attempting to narrow Sources to the results you want. Here are some Search tips:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/when-i-am-searching-historical-records-what-are-the-best-practices-and-tips

The James Lake profile has no Sources attached - so yes hopefully at some point some can be found/attached - so searching records is a good place to be focusing. But I don't know if the timeframe/places you are searching just aren't yielding results or if there actually aren't any to yield (I have not attempted searching).