Hi all, I just put together a webpage containing information on the three Bott brothers--Herman, Emrich and Heinrich--who immigrated to York County, Pennsylvania from Germany in the 1740's. The webpages' focus is primarily on these Bott's in Germany. (It's my first attempt at creating a webpage; so, in addition to any genealogical observations, I would appreciate any comments on how it interfaces with your system--or even if it works). www.community.webtv.net/deangen/BottFamily thanks, Dean Sanders

The GenConnect server is back online. Thanks to all for your patience. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

In response to some recent queries: The Genconnect boards are down for maintenance. One of the main components needed rebuilt and they are backing up all data and it is unknown exactly when they will be back online. This means that the "Boards" - Query, Obit, Will,Deed, Pension and Bible will NOT work! Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Hi List I am researching the BOTT's in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England.I have a James BOTT marrying Dorothy INCE in Bromgrove in 1793, when she married James, Dorothy was a widow. They had 4 children and Dorothy died in 1799 shortly after the birth of their 4th child also a James. Does anyone have these names on their tree? If so I would be pleased to hear from you. Thanks Hazel My homepage is now at; http://bott.homepage.com

Does anyone know what became of Jacob BOTT, son of John Jacob BOTT, son of Hermanus BOTT? Carolyn

Hi My great-grandfather William BOTT was born about 1850 in Staffordshire. He married Emily KNOWLES on 17.1.1871 in Pinxton, Notts. He was 20 and a miner. The marriage cert gave his father as Thomas WHITEHOUSE, a brush maker. The Witnesses were John Mason and Sarah Simpson. He died 24.12.1933 in Pinxton aged 83. William had a brother Charles, no details known about him. When William was about 7, apparently their mother died and the 2 boys went to live in the Mansfield, Notts area with relations. I have looked at the 1861 and 1851 census at Nottingham and Stafford but cannot find either William (or Charles), with either surname. Does anything look familiar to anyone? Lesley Staffs

Seeking forebears of Conrad Bott, Hessian soldier who switched sides and fought for the Colonists against the British. I am descended from his son Lawrence. Looking for descendants from his children Catherine Bott-Baugh, Isaac Bott who had 8 children per census records, Elisabeth Bott-LeCount & Jacob Bott about whom little is known except that he reportedly was living or died in Montgomery Co, OH. I have considerable data on Lawrence' descendants and recently acquired a copy of the Francis Hanaway's work on William Butt's descendants. Willing to share ... Russ Ehler

Hi Listmembers: It sure is a dreary day in Indiana. Seems like the type of day for running some roll calls to get some data on this mailing list! For the new members, a roll call is simply a request for everyone to get their queries on the list for the best possible results. In doing this please remember a few items and guidelines. PLEASE DO NOT JUST HIT REPLY AND SEND THE POSTING TO ME...SEND IT TO THE LIST. Let's begin this roll call right now on Monday January 29th 2001 and run it until next Monday night at midnight February 5th 2001. To make your query work harder for you... keep in mind the old rules of news reporting and include as many of the following as possible: SUBJECT FIELD: To get the most from your query and make your query command attention, place the SURNAME, LOCATION, YEAR in the subject field. Remember ! ! ! ! Many subscribers belong to multiple mailing lists; therefore, many go through their mail looking at subject fields... only reading those that have descriptive subject names. Unfortunately, messages entitled "Question", "Help", "IMPORTANT!", "My Family", "My Line", "My Grandfather", etc., are deleted without ever being opened. WHO: State the names of people as completely as you can. WHAT: Try to limit your query to one or two specific questions or bits of information. Post other queries with additional questions rather than load all your questions into one query. In this way, each of your questions will stand out and get attention. WHEN: Dates are important, if you don't know the day, month and year try to put in a period (1790s, late 1800s etc.) WHERE: Mention the location of events (birth, marriage, death, etc.) in the body of the query. Include their migration path if you can. WHY: Why are you searching for this(these) individual(s)? Describe your connection to him/her. HOW: How your query appears will often get subscriber's attention. Check spelling, grammar and format. REPETITION: Once you have an acceptable looking query, save it and update it as necessary. Use it again bi-weekly to touch base with new members. Also, you may use it on web sites that accepts queries. REMEMBER: Your goal is to get information. A list server (discussion group), such as this, is an excellent forum for helping you get that information. Make your query work! By following these recommendations, your query stands a better chance of being read and you may make that great contact that you need. GOOD QUERIES CONNECT... CAUTION... You may wish to consider withholding personal data on living descendants. Because, at the moment, once your message has been archived on RootsWeb, neither the data within nor the message can be removed from the archives. ALWAYS: Be sure to thank the person(s) who answer your queries, whether or not their answers have any usable info or not. Remember, they might not have any info now, but just might obtain some, and be reluctant to send to an ungrateful person. TRY: To answer as many queries as you may be able to. In this I mean ones that you have info for. NOT just to say "I don't know anything". Also make certain that if your answer doesn't apply to more then a couple persons, please send it privately and not to the group. Many of our lists are set to reply to the group, so check the address before sending. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Although I have checked the various references to this man in the writings on York county PA, I am still searching for the town of origin in Germany of the Hermanus BOTT line. I am hoping that since my last posting someone may have found something new.Hermanus immigrated to the US in 1743 on the ship, LOYAL JUDITH from the Palatine area of Germany. He settled in the York county PA area. Hermanus BOTT married his second wife Anna Catherine HAHN on June 13, 1749 in York county PA, but his children were from his first wife who remains unknown and he apparently married in Germany. The last child is thought to have been born about 1739-1740, so the first wife died about or after this time frame. Any help is appreciated. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Happy New Year Listmembers: I trust that everyone had a great Christmas season. I would like to welcome all the new subbers to the list recently. I am going to be running the roll call I spoke of a while back. For the new members, a roll call is simply a request for everyone to get their queries on the list for the best possible results. In doing this please remember a few items and guidelines. PLEASE DO NOT JUST HIT REPLY AND SEND THE POSTING TO ME...SEND IT TO THE LIST. Let's begin this roll call right now on Monday January 1st 2001 and run it until next Sunday next night at midnight January 7th 2001. To make your query work harder for you... keep in mind the old rules of news reporting and include as many of the following as possible: SUBJECT FIELD: To get the most from your query and make your query command attention, place the SURNAME, LOCATION, YEAR in the subject field. Remember ! ! ! ! Many subscribers belong to multiple mailing lists; therefore, many go through their mail looking at subject fields... only reading those that have descriptive subject names. Unfortunately, messages entitled "Question", "Help", "IMPORTANT!", "My Family", "My Line", "My Grandfather", etc., are deleted without ever being opened. WHO: State the names of people as completely as you can. WHAT: Try to limit your query to one or two specific questions or bits of information. Post other queries with additional questions rather than load all your questions into one query. In this way, each of your questions will stand out and get attention. WHEN: Dates are important, if you don't know the day, month and year try to put in a period (1790s, late 1800s etc.) WHERE: Mention the location of events (birth, marriage, death, etc.) in the body of the query. Include their migration path if you can. WHY: Why are you searching for this(these) individual(s)? Describe your connection to him/her. HOW: How your query appears will often get subscriber's attention. Check spelling, grammar and format. REPETITION: Once you have an acceptable looking query, save it and update it as necessary. Use it again bi-weekly to touch base with new members. Also, you may use it on web sites that accepts queries. REMEMBER: Your goal is to get information. A list server (discussion group), such as this, is an excellent forum for helping you get that information. Make your query work! By following these recommendations, your query stands a better chance of being read and you may make that great contact that you need. GOOD QUERIES CONNECT... CAUTION... You may wish to consider withholding personal data on living descendants. Because, at the moment, once your message has been archived on RootsWeb, neither the data within nor the message can be removed from the archives. ALWAYS: Be sure to thank the person(s) who answer your queries, whether or not their answers have any usable info or not. Remember, they might not have any info now, but just might obtain some, and be reluctant to send to an ungrateful person. TRY: To answer as many queries as you may be able to. In this I mean ones that you have info for. NOT just to say "I don't know anything". Also make certain that if your answer doesn't apply to more then a couple persons, please send it privately and not to the group. Many of our lists are set to reply to the group, so check the address before sending. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Hello List Family Member, To make your query work harder for you... keep in mind the old rules of news reporting and include as many of the following as possible: SUBJECT FIELD: To get the most from your query and make your query command attention, place the SURNAME, LOCATION, YEAR in the subject field. Remember ! ! ! ! Many subscribers belong to multiple mailing lists; therefore, many go through their mail looking at subject fields... only reading those that have descriptive subject names. Unfortunately, messages entitled "Question", "Help", "IMPORTANT!", "My Family", "My Line", "My Grandfather", etc., are deleted without ever being opened. WHO: State the names of people as completely as you can. WHAT: Try to limit your query to one or two specific questions or bits of information. Post other queries with additional questions rather than load all your questions into one query. In this way, each of your questions will stand out and get attention. WHEN: Dates are important, if you don't know the day, month and year try to put in a period (1790s, late 1800s etc.) WHERE: Mention the location of events (birth, marriage, death, etc.) in the body of the query. Include their migration path if you can. WHY: Why are you searching for this(these) individual(s)? Describe your connection to him/her. HOW: How your query appears will often get subscriber's attention. Check spelling, grammar and format. Apply the KISS system: Keep It Simple Simple. REPETITION: Once you have an acceptable looking query, save it and update it as necessary. Use it again bi-weekly to touch base with new members. Also, you may use it on web sites that accepts queries. REMEMBER: Your goal is to get information. A list server (discussion group), such as this, is an excellent forum for helping you get that information. Make your query work! By following these recommendations, your query stands a better chance of being read and you may make that great contact that you need. GOOD QUERIES CONNECT... CAUTION... You may wish to consider withholding personal data on living descendants. Because, at the moment, once your message has been archived on RootsWeb, neither the data within nor the message can be removed from the archives. ALWAYS: Be sure to thank the person(s) who answer your queries, whether or not their answers have any usable info or not. Remember, they might not have any info now, but just might obtain some, and be reluctant to send to an ungrateful person. TRY: To answer as many queries as you may be able to. In this I mean ones that you have info for. NOT just to say "I don't know anything". Also make certain that if your answer doesn't apply to more then a couple persons, please send it privately and not to the group. Many of our lists are set to reply to the group, so check the address before sending. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Good Monday Morning to all Listmembers: It is brutally cold in most of the midwest this morning. In sitting here posting the Christmas posts and pondering all the possibilities of the new subbers in the coming new year; I am contemplating looking through all my old queries (the unsatisfied ones)and sorting them out. I thought I would pass along a few items and posting suggestions so we can be ready for the new year. As much as I would like to make the New Year's resolution that I am going to find ALL of my "missing" persons, I know this is an unrealistic resolution. I will be running a roll call shortly after the Christmas season in order to take advantage of any info that new subbers might have. So with that in mind, this time period might be a good one to stop and look at all of your queries that you use and make the changes and updates for them to be ready to go out. It will help all of the new subbers greatly if the postings are made in the format that we all find most helpful in order to set a good example and promote the new subbers to also sending out good queries. I will shortly be sending out a post regarding the best formatting of queries. I will place THE BEST POST in the subject line, so those of you wishing to delete without reading may do so. I will be adjusting the welcoming letters for new subbers to include the Best Way to Post Queries, so as to start them off the right way. I would also like to take this time to remind everyone that in addition to new subbers stumbling through the lists with queries and to treating them with consideration, we also remember: In the excitement of the "new Christmas Computer" and the research, the new subbers may or may not be aware of the dangers of the potential for viruses. I caution all current subscribers to be wary of any and all attachments that they recieve. We all know that the new year seems to be a great time for new viruses. So lets all check our best postings, dust them off and get them ready for the New Year roll call. Make any adjustments necessary for the best results. Be sure to include the who,what,when where,why. Everyone please also check your subscriptions for the mailing lists and make certain to unsub from any you have an incorrect address for or no longer wish to be on. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Listmembers: Here is one more Christmas item I always like to put on the lists at Christmas time. CHRISTMAS MEMORIES IN KENTUCKY I am sitting here at the computer,watching the forecast for possible snow flurries and the wind is exerting itself strongly.I like to post around Christmas time on something that would be like a gift to you, yet one of some genealogical value. Today my thoughts are of all that has happened in the world. But, that would be a too far-reaching topic so let's narrow it down from 1792 to the present when Kentucky became the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now I'm not going to list all the wars, county divisions, and statistical information. I'm thinking of people; those known and hidden ancestors of ours who called Kentucky their home during the past almost 207 years. What would happen if all these family tree members of ours could spend one day here again? What if those brave pioneers born in the 1700's could be "beamed dowm" for a 24 hour period to where they used to live here in Kentucky? And, what if you and I were appointed to gather our family together and try to explain what all these strange sites were? Let's see - what HAS changed in 208 years? You're welcome to eavesdrop on the conversation. Ah yes, we explain, the day of the old horse and wagons are long gone. Those horses in the pasture? Oh, they're just used for pleasure riding or for racing in the Kentucky Derby. Can they pull a plow? Well, no, but some of them can pull a surrey and some look awfully fancy in all their finery in the horse shows. Where are the steam boats? Well, you don't many of them anymore unless it's in a special 4th of July celebration when the Belle of Louisville races once again. No, there's not too many ferries left either - there is one over there on the Green River outside Mammoth Cave. What's that? Oh, that's just a jet plane going over flying someone from across the continent to land at the Louisville Airport? And that strange looking contraption? That's a helicopter. Police and hospitals used them a lot. And that's a 2000 model Honda LX coming down the road. No, it's made in Japan and goes about 65 miles an hour in speed zones. No, can't rightly say I've seen a carriage for a long time ... except maybe in the 1992 bicentennial festivities. Well, there are few cabins left in the county I think. Oh, that's a condominium, and over there is an apartment building. The thing sticking up in the ground. That's a satellite dish so we can see television from all over the world. Television? We'll talk about that later! Do you want to come inside? Oh, this is where your cabin used to be? How neat! That's ok, come right on in. We call this the living room; no, not too many houses have parlors or sitting rooms anymore. Ah, ah ... that's the bathroom .... you know ... the replacement for the .... privy? And that's called the bathtub. No, we don't have to heat water anymore and put it in a tub. Oh yes, it's well used, people take baths or showers every day pretty much anymore! Here's the kitchen; no, it's in the house now. Over there is a microwave oven. Well, that's something that cooks food really quickly, just takes a few minutes. There's the refrigerator. No, that's what keeps the food cold now, that top part there is called a freezer and you can freeze enough meat or tv dinners to last for a long time. Oh, that television contraption? Here, let me turn it on for you. Don't be scared! That's CNN, we can see news as it happens all over the world now. This station comes from Louisville - yes, they're talking right now as we hear them. Oh, here's the weather channel. We can now tell what the weather is going to be all over the world for up to a week ahead of time. Let's head into the bedroom - this is called the master bedroom. Go ahead and sit down on the bed. Don't worry, it's meant to do that, it's a water bed! That's a radio, it's sort of like a television without a picture. That? That's a clock, tells us what time it is. No, not too many people have sundials any more. Yes, we have plenty of churches. Well, here's one thing that hasn't changed too much over the years has it? It has? What's different? Oh, it's cool in here because the air conditioning in on. That's a device that blows cool air everywhere; when it gets a little colder the central heat will kick on. No, there's no fireplaces anymore or old wood stoves. Hmmm... you like the padded pews huh? No, they didn't have to chop any wood to carve out the pews, machines make them now. Up there? That's a wide screen television so people in the back can see the preacher if the church is packed. What? That's the baptismal, we don't take people to the mill pond much anymore. Sure is fancy isn't it? The preachers don't have to shout too much any more, they have microphones to broadcast their voice all over. One thing hasn't changed though ..the old time Gospel preaching churches are still preaching the same message! I don't know when Crutcher's General Store was torn town. Now a lot of the stores are all inside what's known as a mall. This is our big mall here in town, has over 100 stores. It does look kinda strange to see trees growing inside doesn't it? Why you can buy almost anything you need in one place now. No, there's no pickle barrels around and haven't seen a spitoon since I was a boy. Yes, everyone seems to be in a hurry don't they, not much time for chatting anymore. I've shown you about everything that I can think of - those are telephone lines so we can call everyone all over the world. Those are power lines - all of our homes are electrified now at the flip of a switch. We keep those old kerosene lanterns though in case of power losses. Candles are still around; we use them for decorations. Oh, I forgot! Here's a computer. A computer? That's awfully hard to explain. You turn it on and you can get messages from people clear across the country in a matter of seconds. You can read magazines and newspapers, get medical advice .... about everything you can think of. Is there anything else you would like to see? Oh, yes; I should have thought of that. Let's get in my car and I'll take you there. It's still there although a lot are gone now. It's such a shame too, plowed under, cattle grazing through them ... but yours is still there. Someone in the family goes there as much as they can and keeps it all cleaned up. Here we are - see we even have a sign with your name on it. If you like, I'll just let you walk around by yourself if you'd like to be alone. Ok, I'll walk with you if you like. Tell me about the people buried here. Were they your friends? What happened to them? I promise that I won't forget what you tell me; I'll write it down and save it for your great grandchildren of coming generations. It is time to go now and as suddenly as our visitors appeared they are gone. What changes they have witnessed; many they would never be able to understand. You didn't have time to tell them that we've walked on the moon, sent probes to Mars, have telescopes out in space. I chose not to tell them about the wars, of children killing children in school, or political matters. But, we have the chance to remember them and preserve their memories. Every time we work on our family tree, take a photograph of their old home, meet a distant cousin - we keep their names alive into the 21st century. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Dear Listmembers: The following is a piece I saw a few years ago on another mailing list.I have changed a few items here and there. It never fails to make me stop and think at Christmas time. I always like to send it out at Christmas, sort of like "Its a Wonderful Life" always plays at Christmas. WEARY FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW Again, before the Christmas holidays descend upon us in a few days and the year 2001 rolls around ; As I write this, no snows have graced our countryside though in the forecast more frequently now. Christmas Eve perhaps? No matter our ages, no matter where we live, there is something childlike in us that wants to rush from the warm bed covers on Christmas morn to be greeted by a coating of snow to make the world all safe and pure again. If we bundle up like our mother told us to, complete with sweater, coat, scarf, hat, mittens, and boots, maybe we can look outside this Christmas morning. There is not a sound as we close the door behind us. It's as if the world were still asleep. The only sound is the whispering of the winter breeze through the bare trees. We stop and listen and suddenly realize that it is the wind we're hearing. It is the whispering sound of voices from our past - those dear family members we talked to last week, desperately attempting to explain what life is now like in the town they knew so well. Their voices are muted but yet clear in your heart. They are arguing amongst themselves about what all this means. As suddenly as the whispers wafted through the air, they cease. We glance down in the drifting snow and there are footprints ... weary footprints in the snow. They are walking determinedly down the road as if they were on a quest to find something - anything they might recognize. Almost afraid to take a deep breath in the cold morning air lest they see the steam escaping through our lips, we walk as quietly behind them as we can putting our footprints within theirs. As they come to the end of the street they stop, uncertain which way to turn. Slowly, some with a noted limp which we know came from an old Civil War wound, they proceed They are making their way down town, a long walk in this frigid air. Something akin to a gasp is heard from one of the old warriors as he espys a statue on the courthouse lawn. They make their way to the bronze figure sheathed in ice and an old man's fingers trace out the wording engraved in the plaque below. A tear drops from his eye as he traces out his name, his rank, his outfit! As he looks upward he is taken aback for a moment as he looks upon his own likeness. "Killed in the line of duty with the Orphan Brigade." As his shoulders begin to tremble, an old pioneer lady walks slowly to his side and takes his hand in her. Gnarled in pain, she gives him the strongest squeeze she can and whispers, "They remembered you John,they remembered." The tear, now frozen upon the wrinkled cheek is soon melted by the smile that breaks forth on his face. A child steps out of the crowd now, a beautiful little girl who had been stricken in the peak of her childhood with cholera, and she dashes across the street to an empty lot. "Papa, papa," she cries out excitedly, "where's our house." "What happened, Papa?" The group carefully walks across the street to stand before this gaping hole, each remembering all the wonderful things that they had shared there. "Martha, all of our children were born there and during the big earthquake, all our neighbors took shelter in our parlor." "Remember when we watched the big circus parade as it passed our house?" Another stronger voice is heard now as he stands before a large store. The lights had been left on all night for Christmas Eve, it's garish neon lights flashing out "Season's Greetings." Red, white, green and orange lights flashed off and on around the window as a pudgy Santa Claus rotated round and round squeaking out a "Ho, Ho, Ho." Mini skirts graced a blindly staring mannequin; leather jackets draped over the shoulders of a young man astride something that looked like a monster in chrome and black. Signs announced that ear piercing and tattooing were available by appointment only. The group steps back not believing what they are seeing. They stand back as if hypnotized by the sight. Finally, they approach the courthouse. The door is unlocked as if welcoming them in. They cautiously enter the old oaken door and start walking down the hallway. They are greeted with a wall of pictures of the former county clerks, circuit clerks and lawyers. All of a sudden the age and weariness seems to be dissipated as they eagerly go from picture to picture "William,come here!" "Here's your grandfather!" "Why that no good .... he should never have been elected, fixed the election he did!" Mothers reach out and trace the outline of the faces of the famous men who held court in this building. Memories of trials, precious remembrances of marriage licenses,and those dreaded taxes. Hearing a noise, the group darts into the shadows as they watch a well dressed young man hurrying down the hall with a box in his left hand with some sort of a handle on it and hear a sound coming from it saying "you've got mail." He grumbles quite out loud about having to leave his family on Christmas Day to handle this drug case. Drug case? Did he need medicine? Was he a doctor as well as a lawyer? After his passing, the settlers turn down another familiar hall and come to the Sheriff's office. Whose pictures are these they wonder? FBI Most Wanted it says. Murder, non child support, bank robbery? Who are these awful people and why are their pictures in our courthouse? Has the world gone mad? Growing weary, the group makes their way back outside. The precious stillness of the morning has been broken now by sounds of rushing carriages, strange though they seem. Beeping horns and screeching tires have broken the solitude of their memories. People were dashing here and there on their way somewhere. Did they still go to grandmother's house for turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie on Christmas Day? "This is surely a strange world now," they uniformly say to themselves. Somehow they don't feel at home here anymore. Their time is past. To a person, the small group prepares to leave. Suddenly they are jostled by a crowd who doesn't sense their presence. These new people are rushing to the steps of the courthouse and gathering in some pre-determined pattern. The settlers pause, curious as to what is happening. Suddenly everyone seems to be where they are supposed to be; each is holding a candle and a book. A man steps out of the crowd and stands before them and raises his hands. Suddenly, the group's voices break forth into the old time Christmas carols; Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Song after song rings forth and the visitors to the times find a place to sit on benches around them. No one seems to notice that there are a few more tenors and sopranos singing in the back of the gathering crowd. No one hears the excited cheer when the visitors recognize someone who is their great-great-grandchild and praises God that they are singing and not in that group of strange pictures in the courthouse. They clap and sing, joining with the heavenly hosts that Christmas morning and now they knew the answer to their quest. They had been important, each in their own way. They had helped mold the next generations and some of them were holding in, honoring the family name. A unanimous shout of victory went up from the visitors and it was loud enough to stop the singing and cause the crowd which had gathered to turn around. "Season's Greetings?" It's "Merry Christmas" They all know they heard those exact words but strange, all they saw were some weary footprints in the snow. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Go to this link to see if any of the lists being upgraded and therefore shutdown tomorrow from 7AM (PST) to about 10 hours later. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lindv/move3 Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Dear Listmembers: Rootsweb has notified me that on Friday, December 8 2000, there will be an upgrade done on some of their mailing lists. These are lists categorized as lists3.rootsweb.com. I have been sent a listing of the lists affected and THIS LIST IS ON IT. This upgrade is expected to begin at 7:00 A.M. (Pacific Time) and is estimated to take about 10 hours. During this time, no items posted to the lists will be made. Or rather any postings made will be delayed and not show on the list till the upgrade is finished. Simply put, starting Friday morning at 7AM (PST) any posts you make to this list will not appear until about 10 hours later. Please be aware of this and know that there is nothing in error with your subscription or the lists. Please adjust accordingly for your time zone as to the starting time for this. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Listmembers: I don't know about where everyone else is, but in Indianapolis it is a blustery cold morning. About the time for me to really "dig" into all the little items I have stored all summer for my winter time research. Let's have a roll call. Please DO NOT send these to me personally, POST THEM TO THE LIST. As always, for the most effective posting please include: Who,When,Where, and most of all WHAT it is you are trying to find. Please try to make your subject lines as relevant as possible, and DO NOT just place "ROLL CALL" in the subject line. I am certain that we have had alot of new subscribers to the list since our last roll call, so dig out those queries and maybe we will make a connection. Good Luck in Hunting Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

I just thought to post this to the list as to a lot of people the probate records are a mystery. Also, as puzzling as it may seem: I have found persons in my own line that although they were JP's in their areas, and they were admins for other persons estates,therefore showing a healthy interest in the judicial system of the time period, they have no will recorded. What this tells me though, (as I obviously am a person with an imagination), is that since this person exhibited all the qualities of someone who would most likely have made a will or understood the significance of one.. possibly the absence of one is explained by: 1.It was lost in all those "loose papers" 2.Maybe he "meant" to make one and died suddenly 3.Record keeping then was not a efficient as now.Perhaps it was misplaced. 4. Maybe it was never recorded. As with marriage records, persons WERE married but if the official never recorded it or registered it from the remote areas, then the records state "no return" giving the impression there was no marriage. 5. Perhaps there were verbal agreements with the children. In essence, I am trying to say, that if there is an ancestor that shows signs that he should have/would have made a will, then chances are he did. It may not have been registered and therefore finding that will is the problem. I always look for land changing hands or newly acquired land of the children of someone, showing possibly a verbal agreement. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

Recently I received a letter from a relative who also is doing family research. The letter reminded me of an error genealogists always make, although we don't realize it. You might (and probably do) have the following info on your 8th great grandfather: dob,birthplace,marriage,military records, political affiliations, church records,death records and burial, also any occupations, and sometimes any important papers copied and any newspaper articles. And you most likely have some info or maybe a photo of the family reunion of Elizabeth, who is related somehow, and several times removed.You probably have all pertinent info on her also. BUT, have you taken the time with researching all the old records, to stop for a moment a collect the obvious? Do you have all, or any of this info on the current members of your family? Do you have any of this info on your brother or your parents who are still living? Sometimes we are so wrapped up in history that even though we talk with our siblings or other close family members who may also be researching, that although we know they have 4 children and "about" when they were born and we "think" this or that one is on a second marriage and set of children, we don't stop and retrieve that info. I know this is the simple stuff to get, and therefore removes the challenge, but getting this info now will make the research for future generations (who hopefully will continue) so much easier. So take a few moments and see if you have as intense and detailed records for some of the living as you do for the ancestors. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG

When a person dies, every state has laws that provide for public supervision over the estate that is left, whether or not there is a will. The term "probate records" broadly covers all the records produced by these laws, although, strictly speaking, "probate" applies only when there is a will. Family history researchers often turn to probate records only after they have exhausted everything else they can find. But sometimes an earlier look at probate records would greatly shorten their search. Probate is a minor judicial procedure to prove that a will is valid. Traditionally, it required the witnesses to a will to appear before the probate officer and swear that they saw the deceased sign it, and that he or she was mentally competent and under no duress at the time. More recently, the witnesses have been allowed to sign affidavits (sworn written statements) to those facts at the time the will is signed, and probate requires only that the affidavits be filed with the will. The maker of a will is formally called a "testator," but "decedent" or "deceased" are also used to refer to the original owner of an estate, whether or not there was a will. The official responsible for probate is known by different titles in each state, and the records are found in the office of the responsible official. The titles include probate judge; surrogate, county, circuit or district judge; register of wills; and county or town clerk. In England during the American colonial period, probate was a function of the ecclesiastical courts of the bishops of the Church of England. In the colonies, there were no bishops, and some colonies had established churches other than the Church of England. Therefore, each colony developed its own civil procedure for proving wills, leading to the present variety of offices. If someone dies, leaving a will that names the person who is to administer it—pay the bills, collect debts owed, and distribute the proceeds—that person is called an "executor" (masculine) or "executrix" (feminine). The terms are from law Latin, which, unlike English, did not use the masculine form as an inclusive gender applicable to both men and women. A person who dies without a valid will is called "intestate," and the property of an intestate estate goes to surviving relatives according to formulas set by the law of each jurisdiction. When someone dies intestate, or for some reason a named executor or executrix cannot serve, the probate officer appoints a personal representative, traditionally called an "administrator" or "adminstratrix," to represent the estate. Today, some jurisdictions use the gender-neutral term "personal representative" as the title for the position as well as to describe it. "Personal" in the term emphasizes that the representation is for only personal property-movable items, cash, accounts receivable, and securities. Interests in real estate go directly to the heirs without passing through the hands of the personal representative, with two exceptions: when the will directs that the property be sold, or a court orders its sale to meet debts of the estate. When real estate passes to heirs as a group, they are the decedent's "real (property) representatives," and tax records may list the landowner as "estate of" or "representatives of" the decedent. Partition is the process of dividing land among people who owned it as a group-jointly or in common-and it too is subject to judicial approval, but sometimes by a court other than the probate office. A caution you should always keep in mind is that some probate records, like those copied into bound will-record books, are transcriptions from the originals. Published compilations or abstracts are available for many states, especially before 1800, but these are two times further removed from the original, once when they were copied or abstracted, and a second time when they were set in type. Each recopying introduces a chance of error. Debbie Jennings debbiej@iquest.net "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,NC,PA,NJ,VT,NY,MA,MD, VA,CAN,GER,ENG