What's gone wrong with Search?

Paul W

I have always been quite happy that by checking "Exact" has filtered my results list to something close to what I am expecting - albeit, there might be one or two mysterious inclusions. However, in the example below, I am being offered 57 results, only ONE of which relates to a John Harrison who was resident in Kent in 1861:

(See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.birthLikeDate.from=1808&q.birthLikeDate.to=1812&q.birthLikePlace=England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=john&q.givenName.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1861&q.residenceDate.to=1861&q.residencePlace=Kent%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.surname=harrison&q.surname.exact=on&f.collectionId=1493747)

Repeating this search, but changing Residence Place to Surrey gives me 5 results, 4 of which are for Surrey.

(See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.birthLikeDate.from=1808&q.birthLikeDate.to=1812&q.birthLikePlace=England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=john&q.givenName.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1861&q.residenceDate.to=1861&q.residencePlace=Surrey%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.surname=harrison&q.surname.exact=on&f.collectionId=1493747)

One more "test", based on a Lancashire residence, provides 38 results, ALL of which relate to a John Harrison who was living in Lancashire in 1861:

(See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&offset=20&q.birthLikeDate.from=1808&q.birthLikeDate.to=1812&q.birthLikePlace=England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=john&q.givenName.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1861&q.residenceDate.to=1861&q.residencePlace=Lancashire%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.surname=harrison&q.surname.exact=on&f.collectionId=1493747).

(Not illustrated: 2 out of 2 correct returns when using Norfolk as Residence Place.)

I wonder if anyone can provide an explanation for such inconsistency? Otherwise, I would be grateful if a moderator would escalate this to the appropriate team of engineers for their investigation into this erratic behaviour.

(Note - I did try this out as a general search, too, i.e. using the same search criteria, but not using the 1861 England & Wales Census filter. Same problem.)

Áine Ní Donnghaile

@Paul W I tried running your same searches and got the same baffling results.

Unrelated, but I've also had similar strange results on that other genealogy website - specifying a state of birth and looking for a marriage record in the same state but getting results from several unrelated locations.

Have you flagged your post to make sure a moderator sees it to escalate?

Maile L

I will send this on for investigation.

Maile L

I heard back on this one. The residence field contains street names and that has affected things. Engineers are looking at what has caused that field being dropped or converted incorrectly. Thanks.

Paul W

Thanks for that update, Maile.