Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
Click on the following questions to read the responses below:
QUESTIONS:
1. How do I use the "Search" function?
3. The link in the Results takes me to a page. How do I find the name on that page?
4. How do I research my family on this site?
5. I am interested in the history of Jamaica. What should I look at?
6. I am taking a trip to Jamaica to do research. What should I look at on this site?
9. What is the subscription fee?
10. How do I subscribe to this site?
11. How do I pay in British £ or other foreign currency (other than in US$)?
12. How soon will I get my password?
1. How do I use the "Search" function?
Inputting a name or names will result in a search of this entire site, including Members' pages. The system searches for letters only. It does not search for numbers, apostrophes, hyphens, or words of only one letter. Start with the broadest request, for example just a surname. Remember when doing searches, "Less is better&". If you get too many results, narrow the request by adding a given name or one or two other items.
DO NOT use sentences. The search engine will be looking for pages on which all the words in your request occur. If even one of the words is not there, you will receive a negative response. This Search engine, unlike some help desks for computer equipment, for example, does NOT answer queries that are couched in question form. For example, a question "Where do I find the Harrison family?" will only get you a negative result.
DO NOT include the word "Jamaica" in your search request. Since this site is almost exclusively about Jamaica, the word is not included on each page.
In the Jamaican records one name may be spelled as many as 10 or twelve different ways. Try spelling variations.
On the Results page you are asked whether you want to see the Index for the site. Be forewarned that the Index is long, but you can browse through the Index looking for variant spellings, which will be very useful.
If you use the form at the bottom of the web pages to request a name you will get only that whole word in the results. For example if you insert "coy" you will only get the pages on which "coy" appears as a word. If you used the form that appears on the 'Search Results' page you would also get a list of words in which the word "coy" is embedded, for example "Mccoy, decoy, coynter, etc." It is an advantage to use the 'Search Results' page when looking for French names that start with de, des, d', l', etc., and type in the name leaving off that first part. In some records these prefixes were combined with the rest of the name, and in some instances they were not.
The Results will give the title of each page on this site on which the requested name appears. Below the title it will put the requested name. The number following the name is the number of times that the name appears on that particular page.
3. The link in the Results takes me to a page. How do I find the name on that page?
You have clicked on the blue underlined link on the results page. The link has taken you to a page on the website. To find the name on that page your browser probably has the word "Edit" as one of your choices on the top Toolbar. Click on Edit. One of your choices should be "Find" or "Find on this Page". Click on that. You will then see a Pop-up Box in which you can type the name, and click enter or Find in that box. Your browser will then take you to the name on the page. If the name occurs several times, click "Find Next." If your browser does not have a Find function, go to msn.com or some other browser.
4. How do I research my family on this site?
Read the page "Where do I begin." Then do a Search for the surname. The Search Results will include pages that will be in the free pages ("Samples") or in the pages which are only accessed by subscription ("Members"). If your ancestors were property owners you can also check the property name to see if it is listed in an Almanac or Directory. If your ancestors were business people they may appear in the 1878 or 1891 Business Directory. If they were slaves they may be in Manumissions or the Private Acts of Assembly. All of these categories may also be in the Registers and Wills section. Roman Catholics, including French refugees would be in the Roman Catholic pages. Jewish ancestors would be in the Jewish pages as well as Directories. Their burials may appear in the Monumental Inscriptions. Pursue all the answers on the Results page. This may require paying a subscription, but you may be saving yourself years of research work.
5. I am interested in the history of Jamaica. What should I look at?
Read the historical outlines in both the free and the Members' pages. Browse the old newspapers--the Gleaners, the Royal Gazettes and the Gall's newsletter. Read the selections from Caribbeana. Read the books on this site, the History of the Parish of Trelawny, the Memoir of Thomas Callender, or the introduction to the Monumental Inscriptions of the West Indies. Look at the old drawings and maps that are in the Photo Album and the Members' pages. Browse through other excerpts and original articles mentioned on the Home page.
6. I am taking a trip to Jamaica to do research. What should I look at on this site?
Go to the Announcements page and use the links to the Daily Gleaner online, the current Exchange Rate at the Bank of Jamaica, the Time in Jamaica, and the weather in Jamaica. Look at maps of Jamaica. Read the page Where to do Research in Jamaica, and look at the photographs of the IRO, Archives, National Library etc. in the Photo Album. Do as much research as you can before going. Your trip will be more meaningful.
Go to the Plan of the website. There are "Lead Pages" to various sections of the site, for example: Almanacs, Registers, Roman Catholic, 1878 Directory, Jewish, Introduction to Monumental Inscriptions, 1891 Directory, 1910 Directory, Gleaners, Gazettes. Further comments may be found on the Members or Samples pages. These lead pages explain how to read the pages in that section, and provide links to them.
To obtain a password to the Members' pages on this site you need to pay a subscription fee. When you have paid the fee you will receive your by e-mail a user name and password that will give you access to all Members' pages.
9. What is the subscription fee?
You have a choice of subscriptions: $8 for one month; $20 for 3 months; $40 for 6 months; or $70 for one year. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
10. How do I subscribe to this site?
You may subscribe in one of two ways. You may go to the Subscribe page on this site and pay by charge card. This is a secure page. Alternatively, you may by a Money Order in US$. Write to Family Search mail for the mailing address.
11. How do I pay in British £ or other foreign currency (other than in US$)?
You may subscribe to http://jamaicanfamilysearch.com by going to the Subscribe page at http://jamaicanfamilysearch.com and paying a subscription fee by credit card, as outlined on the Home page, near the bottom of the page. Your credit card company will automatically pay me in US$ but charge you in British £ on your charge statement. You get the best exchange rate by using a credit card. The rate fluctuates daily on the foreign exchange. For current rates, see Federal Reserve exchange rates.
The subscriptions to http://jamaicanfamilysearch.com are payable in US$. If you do not use a credit card, you will have to purchase the Money Order at a bank, or some other place that sells international money orders. They will apply the exchange rate on the day you purchase it. Subscriptions are $8 for a month, $20 for 3 months, $40 for 6 months, and $70 for one year. You have a choice.
For the address to which to send the Money Order please write to Jmail@jamaicanfamilysearch.com
12. How soon will I get my password?
Your user name, password, and expiration date will be sent to you by e-mail, to the e-mail address that you put on the subscription form (or send with the Money Order). You will receive the notification in between one to twenty-four hours from the time you submit the form. The notification will be sent as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that this site is run by an individual. Logistically I may be sleeping when you are awake on the other side of the globe and submit the form.
GO TO:
Help - Frequently Asked Questions
Members List of all pages to which Members have access
Registers (Church of England, Dissenters, Civil Registration)
Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies
Samples - fast access to pages with free access
Subscribe or renew your Membership