General Chat

I confirmed my great grandmother (on my mother's side) a few days ago, based on very solid information from the FreeBMD indexes and confirmed by receiving a copy of my grandmothers birth certificiate.

As soon as I did this, I found a Hot Match in someone elses tree that I'm reasonably certain is a good one - there was only the one person with this name, born in the place I would expect and around the right kind of date, according to FreeBMD.

So I messaged the tree owner, and I can see that she read my message, but I didn't hear anything back. So yesterday I messaged again, saying that all I wanted of her was to confirm or refute the match in the hopes that it would help me carry my search back further.

If people aren't paid members, are they permitted to respond to messages?

Obvioulsy I'm hoping that she eventually does get back to me. But what if she doesn't? I know I can order a birth certificate for this person, but hate to blow 8 quid on what might be a dead-end.

Seems a pity to be a member of this site and not use it to full advantage. After all, I might be able to help her with her tree as much as she might be able to help me with mine!

Im sure if she isn't a paid memebr she can't reply....I would sent another with my Addy & see what happens

A person can reply if not a member, they can't make the first move.

Michael don't be too upset about it.
I often have to have time off just because I am not up to Parr. Many others must be the same.
We all get back to each other eventually.
Don't ever get upset if I don't answer straight away.
I often spend days on the computer, get tired and then need a rest from it.
I cannot be the only one.
Good luck with your tree Michael.
Deanna X

You don't have to be a paid member to reply.

As long as your name is still on here you are a member, and can always reply to a message sent by another member.

Do bear in mind, though, that a lot of people put a basic tree on here only to see what might happen. They don't necessarily expect a response, and if they get one, may have other more pressing matters to occupy their time.

Many people will not opt for GR email messages so unless they log in will be obvlivious to the fact that someone has sent them a message.

My approach is to send a follow up after about a month, assuming the original message shows as 'open' This often prompts a reply, if not, then I just delete the contact.

I have just had a response from a message I sent 11 months ago. I had thought that after a couple of months that would be it, but like others have said some may like a break from tree reasearch.

When I visit relatives I often use their computors to read my e-mails etc I have opened request from the GR site but have not replied until a few weeks later when I returned home. So there can be many reasons why this may have happened .