Free Weekend Websites

This week's edition of Family Tree Magazine's online newsletter contains news of free access to two subscription websites during the Labor Day weekend. According to the writer, the new wills collection on Ancestry does not include every state at this point but it is worth a look. It also seems that Ancestry now has two different ways to view records: a free basic account and a free trial. Since we subscribe, I am not sure what each entails. Note also that Ancestry has another "new version" for its users. I have copied the announcements below.

• In celebration of its new collection of indexed wills from all 50 states,Ancestry.com is opening up its US birth, marriage and death records (which include the new wills) for free through the end of Monday, Sept. 7. When you click to view the actual records, you'll be prompted to sign up for a free basic account, which is required to see the record. Note that a free basic account does not require credit card info, and is different from a free trial. (You'll also get offers to sign up for a free trial, but it's not required to view the record.) Another important note is that the wills collection is viewable only in the new version of Ancestry.com. If you're in the old site, look at the top right corner and click the arrow by your user name to switch to the new site.

• And to commemorate the Labor Day holiday, the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is giving free access to databases in its Census, Tax, and Voter List category on AmericanAncestors.org. This category has 40 databases mostly focusing on New England families between the 18th and 20th centuries, but it also includes databases such as Ohio: Tax Records 1800-1850 and Free Negro Heads of Families in the United States in 1830, and Germany: Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1890.
  
  The free access runs through Wednesday, Sept. 9. You'll need to set up a free guest registration (or sign in if you already have a free guest account) to view the records.