I performed this search last week while setting up our most recent Casefile Clues contest. I searched for individuals with first name beginning with "Mar," (for Mary, Marie, etc.) and last names beginning with "Fecht*" to include Fecht, Fechte, etc. I even chose a month. The search came up just fine.
Today Ancestry.com indicates there are "too many matches" for this search-even when I have exact search turned on. I just cannot believe that there are that many women named Mary/Marie/Maria Fecht/Fechte/Fechtel coming through New York City in 1868.
Too many matches for Anne Murphy I could understand. Sometimes I just cannot figure things out. Maybe someone can explain to me what I am not understanding.