What is "truth"? Pontius Pilate asked this question. If he had been a genealogist or Family Historian, ( in my view there are significant differences), he would have found the task of defining it in that sense very difficult. So in relation to finding our ancestors I will put in my two pennies' worth. WILLS. If you have access to an original or a certifiable copy of a Will I believe that when the person who wrote it refers to some one you can be sure he/she existed. REGISTERS. ( Births,Marriages and Deaths).To a fair degree these can be considered accurate as regards dates but getting names right is another question. In this group the question arises and while it is fairly certain that many CHASE/CHACE have the same roots it is quite possible that there are those who come from entirely different lines. In the days when the majority of people were illiterate the spelling of a name was left to the person doing the writing. In my own instance my I have seen, on official records my surname spelt 4 different ways and because of other evidence there can be little doubt that the reference was to my line. CENSUSES. Can be considered fairly accurate but as many were recorded by people not specifically trained as record keepers the possibility of errors, in my opinion, is greater FAMILY LETTERS A very goofd source for finding the truth but even then people get confused with names and particularly dates. MILITARY SERVICE . These records can be considered to be in very largest part accurate. However it was an army record that fist showed my name spelt as it is today. In the UK MANORIAL RECORDS could be considered as as near accurate as you are liable to get. I would like opinion re PLYMOUTH COLONY and similar records There are probably many other sources I have missed and I could list them hear but they may be a bit long. (They include such records as Quilt Makers Groups!), quite common in early America, I believe. So in case anyone does not already know where I stand I consider myself a Family Historian and as such I believe I should record everything I know, whether or not there is any "proof". However I should also make it clear rhat what I record may require further investigation. In favour of the Genealogists, despite my warning on the intro to the database, on my web page, some have quoted it as if it was "the truth". This is the danger. However you can only warn the Lemming that there is a big drop ahead. You cannot deter him from his inevitable demise.. So there you have it. I know that some of the most knowledgable and dedicated in the Group are Genealogists. One thing is for sure we cannot be compartmentalised by just referring to us as either Genealogist or Family Historian for I will guarantee there are many "shades" of us and we probably have our own views on what we consider "proof" So lt us hear from you and do not forget everyone is entitled to a view, Keith Hume, Bexleyheath,England CHASE/CHACE web page http://www.surnameweb.org/centers/c/chase/index.html