Genealogy Chat

Good afternoon grumpy gramps. My, we are in a strop! I have a few relatives that I have described with either an unknown or an O because they are unknown! The LDS site often gives you a christening and puts "Father: Ben Brown and wife Mary" for eg. Now I suppose I could miss out Mary, but someother person might know that Mary married a Ben Brown and have the information. I too have sometimes sent lots of people emails and had few replies. I have also had loads of replies on other occasions so am grateful for what I get. I am due to renew my membership in Nov. but am going to India for 3 months from Jan. so will not renew till I get back. Do wish there was a way to flag this up but since there does not appear to be, no doubt some people may think I am being rude, Hope not. Cheerful grandma Jeanie

And share I do Heather, I share the use of the resources that I have purchased whilst researching my tree by way of look-ups. I have no qualms about helping others where I can and indeed I enjoy being able to help. I do not,however agree with people being put down because the way they decide to use this site is inconvenient to someone. Sue:-)

Oh! dear, did I start this with my first query about dates and places, not to mention the site changes? I didn't mean to stir up the hornets nest. I am so late at trying to sort out my family tree and new on this site so apologies if my post started it. I suppose ther are some who have been researching for years and others like myself who are just starting. This has been a new field for me and find it fascinating, just wish I lived in the same area as my ancestors- that must make it easier to research. A friend who is also researching only has to go to the local record office, and a few churches etc. and all is found within a couple of months. Mine are all over the place so this site has been very helpful. So thanks to those who have helped me. Jean :-)

I also have a few wives in my records where I cannot find the surnames, but I dont think this is what gramps is complaining about. I think we must all have that problem, particularly prior to 1837 marriages/births. I also feel that the idea of this site was to share info and find contacts. I am not particularly worried about finding living rellies, but I do want to know about my ancestors.

Thank you Heather, I too have instances where the information is sketchy. However, If I find that an Ancestor was born in 1842 then 1842 goes into my Info. Not 42 or 184 or 842. Is it too much to ask?

I think the point is that were possible, it would be useful if people's entries are accurate and complete. However, it is clear that many people do not have complete information and therefore assumptions about their commitment are unfair. I would dearly love to have complete information on a particular name, and there are at least 15 entries with no other information but it is likely that no other information is known by the GR member. Also, I think it is unfair to judge how people use this site as everyone has their own reasons for using GR - one reason being no better than another. I believe that if the site is useful for your research - use it, if not, don't use it!

To be honest I joined GR for ME, nobody else. I do all the work, researching, I ask for help sometimes, but I also share anything I have, censuses etc. I do take it fairly seriously, but it isn't my life, I have other interests. I don't keep all my tree on here, mostly it's written, but thats up to me, what I keep on here, and if I only have scant records then again thats up to me. My serious is probably not someone elses, how serious do I want to be about something you can't be 100% sure about? I just enjoy doing it, some people may annoy me when they don't answer when I email, but if there not answering, how good is the info they have, I don't worry about it. We all do things differently, and I like that. Lynda

I have read several Threads where the quality of Transcripts had been called into question. Why am I the bad guy just because I expect GR Members to take care when entering information here? Or should I just email the offenders and say things like "It is the Isle of WIGHT, Stupid? Surely this is even worse than when Transcribers find it hard to read an entry? Jim Not Grumpy,

Hi Jim Perhaps your title, A word to all you so-called Genealogists doesn't help, it sounds a bit offish? just my opinion. Sure you are not Grumpy really. Lynda

Point taken Lynda, I have amended it. Oh, and Sarah, I am not doubting peoples' commitment, just their accuracy. Jim

Hiya Jim Much friendlier I think. Blimey someone who took my advice, will you marry me? Lynda

Lynda, Only if you can keep me in the style to which I would like to be accustomed. Lol Jim

Hi Jim, I wonder if some of the problems are just when people start off. I know when I was a newbie I wasn't sure what I was doing and probably entered some odd details - for which I now apologise. Regarding entries like Rotherhithe, Surrey or Rotherhithe, London - sounds like my tree! I know I've entered this both ways but I always copied exactly what was in the census. I have found areas seem to move in and out of London as well as change Counties. Incidentally as a serious researcher can you recommend a family tree programme? Maggie

I think we just have accept that there are people who have come to GR thinking that they can trace their family tree in a matter of weeks, get stuck, get bored, and give up pretty quickly. Unfortunately their info is still in the system. I think most of us are well aware that some of our info is always going to remain scant, especially as we get further back, but certainly not for the want of trying (and tearing our hair out). It's true to say that it is much, much easier to trace our families now that we have the internet and there is masses more info being indexed and made available at the click of a mouse, but to those of us who have painstakenly spent months, if not years, searching for that elusive ancestor, we all know you need patience......and not everyone has that. Cazza

Hi Grumpy Jim I guess it's just a case of....Too Many Cooks!!! I'm very impressed though that people have traced the family line back to over 4000 Cooks living in Year 0. Don't suppose the two Cooks on your tree are called Adam and Eve by any chance? Only joking, as I do agree with you about the accuracy of information. You'll be pleased to know that my tree is small but perfectly formed!! Best wishes Natalie Will-Be-Accurate-Genealogist

Hi Natalie, As they say, Size isn't everything. lol Jim

Marion, Thanks for your comments. I would only add that I hope nobody keeps their Tree only on here, and that you have it all on your Computer in a Genealogy programme. With backup, and hopefully Hard Copy? One never knows how things will pan out. Maybe we may switch GR on tomorrow, only to find that the site is no longer available, or that all the data was corrupted by a Virus overnight.

Hi, just to add I wasnt complaining about people giving differing descriptions of the places of birth, just hoped that there was someway GR could tie them altogether, so that it would make life easier for us guys! I am also guilty of this too, as you say, I tend to enter just as census or parish records state. Also, I keep a back up taken from my Family Tree program on a CDRW. That way everytime I find new info, I can just update the tree and CD.

I have to admit I had a whinge on another thread last night at the lack of attention to detail of some of the entries on here. It is frustrating, especially when you are trying to do Joneses in Wales! My tree on here is the public face of my proper tree which I keep in proper software. Therefore I keep the info on GR very basic - names, locations and dates. Likewise, when people contact me I want to know their credentials (and I always ask them) before I let them see my tree. Problem is, I take this quite seriously where some people do it for a bit of fun (and why not?). When I started with GR I put up my basic tree and actually only joined (i.e. paid subsription) a couple of months later. I would guess that there are many on here who are not members and put on what they know on some damp Sunday afternoon. Here in lies the problem. If you want to ensure that only serious genealogists may post their family trees on here then you have to charge the subscription upfront. The downside is that it would be very difficult for GR to generate interest in this site if people can't view it properly without paying a subscription. This may also explain the lack of response to emails that some people get. I don't like it much but I'll have to put up with trying to sort the wheat from the chaff on here. Nonetheless it has been a very good £7 spent - mostly for the advice and look ups people have given me. The message boards are generally excellent. Jonathan

I totally agree with you, I had often toyed with the idea of doing my tree, but when you are a total virgin it all seems too greater task. It was only because GR asked if I wanted to join when I renewed my FR subscription that it all really took off. Ok, there isnt much in the way of research material on here and you do have to double check everything but it was an excellent entry into genealogy for me and made it easier to move on to the more difficult researching. I am sure this will be the same for many others on here. Well worth the seven quid and I am most satisfied with my results so far.