Do you have an excessively big ancestry.com tree? Do you have enough hints to keep you busy for the rest of your life, and possibly your descendant's lives? Curious to see if you've missed any of those key older census records, or maybe you are just looking to search for birth/marriage/death records among the thousands you have? Here's the answer:
Each record database in the ancestry card catalogue has an identification number. Once you know that number, you can plug it into the following link:
You can find your tree number by clicking on "All Hints":
Your family tree number is the number that shows up in your browser (circled in black):
To find the record database ID number, go to the card catalogue:
To find the record database ID number, go to the card catalogue:
Roll your mouse over the record database your are looking for - in this example, the 1860 census record - then, without moving your mouse, look at the bottom of your browser window:
7667 would be your record database identification number.
You can do this with every single record database in the catalogue:
Since it's not easy to remember the links - I recommend using bookmarks - one for just the standard record database link (without the record number) -
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/yourtreenumber/hints?hf=record&hdbid=
Then another bookmark folder for all the census (or type of record database search you are interested in):
This can also be a good way to clear out the hints that fill up your "All Hints" list that you aren't as interested in.
Happy genealogy hunting!
You can do this with every single record database in the catalogue:
Since it's not easy to remember the links - I recommend using bookmarks - one for just the standard record database link (without the record number) -
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/yourtreenumber/hints?hf=record&hdbid=
Then another bookmark folder for all the census (or type of record database search you are interested in):
This can also be a good way to clear out the hints that fill up your "All Hints" list that you aren't as interested in.
Happy genealogy hunting!
This is GREAT! Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Sarah! Hope it helps!
DeleteThis is not sorting 'hints' by record type, but searching from a tree through a particular database. It is not possible to sort existing 'hints' by record type.
ReplyDeleteThis search method certainly is useful.
Hi Geolover - This is true - however, it is possible to use this method if you are only interested in, for example, searching for census records. Using the record identification number, you can filter out all record hints other than the specific record you are looking for. Does that make sense? Thanks for the feedback - I am curious to know if anyone else is using this functionality.
ReplyDeleteActually - I see exactly what you are saying. I am going to re-title. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for writing this up, Lauren. I share this tip all of the time but have never done an Ancestry.com blog post about it. Now, I'll just point people here! :-)
ReplyDeleteOne minor correction. The "record number" you refer to is not actually a record number (those are specific to a particular record ie. the 1880 census in Bibb County, Alabama for Sally Jones). They are correctly called a "database id" - hence the "hdbid" in the URL. Record types are things like census, birth, etc. A database is a specific collection of records like the 1880 Census or the Pennsylvania Town and Church Records. Make sense?
Thanks, Crista! That makes complete sense and I did not know what hdbid stood for - you learn something new every day :) I'm going to update my post now!
DeleteBetween you, Russ Worthington and History Chick ( the writer of Genealogy Musings) is why I keep my Ancestry account and my FTM 2012 on my computer. Thanks for sharing these tips.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly helpful. I cannot believe ancestry.com does not have this type of filter available on their website. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo if say you wanted to look at ALL hints that were for Census & Voter Records, no matter the year, would you be able to enter the "category" number that pops up?
ReplyDeleteExample: when you go to the Search dropdown box, &hover over Census & Voter Records, the end of the address is "cat=35". Would it be accurate to replace the "hdbid=" with "cat="?
MusicWheelie - Great question! I just tried and didn't have any luck but it may be a matter of placing it elsewhere. I'll keep trying!
ReplyDeleteIt's worked for me thousands of times, but I can no longer get it to work...
ReplyDeleteSame here. This was crazy useful. Anyone know what's up?
DeleteLooks like there was a change made that disabled this hack. I've pinged the product manager and she is checking with the developers to see what can be done to get this functionality back. I'll keep you posted.
ReplyDeleteHi, any news on getting this to work again? Would love to filter out unwanted hints from the near 10000 that have accumulated on me.
DeleteFix here - http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.ancestry.ancsite/13332/mb.ashx
ReplyDeleteOr not, this no longer works either.
DeleteThe hint filter works again!!
ReplyDeleteList of Hint filters for Find A Grave
ReplyDeleteReplace “MyTree” with your tree number.
Alabama
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70507
Arizona
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70499
Arkansas
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70054
California
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70500
Colorado
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70501
Connecticut
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70057
Delaware
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70503
District of Columbia
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70502
Florida
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70504
Georgia
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70505
Hawaii
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70506
Idaho
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70508
Illinois
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70509
Indiana
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70510
Iowa
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70511
Kansas
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70610
Kentucky
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70633
Louisiana
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70611
Maine
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70612
Maryland
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70583
Massachusetts
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70582
Michigan
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70581
Minnesota
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70613
Mississippi
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70614
Missouri
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70596
Montana
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70615
Nebraska
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70616
Nevada
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70617
New Jersey
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70609
New York
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70572
New Hampshire
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70618
New Mexico
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70619
North Carolina
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70634
North Dakota
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70620
Ohio
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70559
Oklahoma
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70621
Oregon
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70622
Pennsylvania
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70573
Rhode Island
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70624
South Carolina
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70625
South Dakota
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70626
Tennessee
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70636
Texas
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70580
Utah
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70627
Vermont
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70628
Virginia
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70635
Washington
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70629
West Virginia
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70630
Wisconsin
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70631
Wyoming
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70632
International
trees.ancestry.com/tree/MyTree/hints?hf=record&hdbid=70699
Thank you for this! I had Alabama's database # & couldn't find the others in the card catalog!
ReplyDeleteThat's terrific! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIs this still working? I keep getting redirected to your tree, Lauren. What am I doing wrong?
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! It's still working - you just need to replace the "tree number" with your tree - the link provided has my tree number.
DeleteAnyone know how well this still works with the new Ancestry layout?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, my links have not been working since yesterday. I'm hoping this gets resolved!
DeleteJ Anonymous - You are my hero! Thank you!
DeleteThis works to a point. However, now once you add a record to your tree it takes you back to your FULL list of hints, whereas before it would take you back to just the list from that database. Disappointed...
Delete@musicwheelie - I completely agree. This is a new issue - it never used to happen. What I do is right click on "review hint" and then open in a new tab. Then I refresh the list of hints after I've added it. Definitely a pain, but better than the alternative!
DeleteThanks! I'll have to try that and see how it works!
DeleteFWIW, mine seems to be working fine with the new ancestry layout. :-)
DeleteCan this be used to stop the reappearance of hints after they have been "ignored?" Another Ancestry user downloaded hundreds of my photos and documents and then, I believe, uploaded them to her Ancestry tree, thereby changing the attribution from my username to hers. I continue to receive these photos/documents as hints even after I have chosen Ignore. They continue to periodically clog my hints. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLinda Wagner
Does this still work as of May 10th, 2018 or is there an updated link? For some reason I cannot get it to work. Thanks, Tyler
ReplyDeleteIt was working about 2 months ago. I used this method frequently.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have a new URL?
Hi Richard - The new link is:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ancestry.com/hints/tree/XXXXXXX/hints?hf=record&hs=last&hdbid=YYYY
XXX = Tree Number
YYY = DBID
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much !!!!!!
It works.