Dee - Genealogy is a great hobby. Sometimes we have to spend some $$$, but it's worth it. I guess the biggest length I went to a few years ago, when I lived in Conn, was to fly to VA, rented a car, and drove to an address (private farm land). I traipsed across a huge field, waded two big streams, found a little grove of trees, and underneath, was a single, weather-beaten headstone of my ancestor, John Lewis....born in Wales1652. My 2nd excursion was from Conn., to VA, and through the So. states, and all around Texas. Years ago we could write a request to any county, in any state, and for a couple of dollars get copies of old Probate, Land, marriage, records. But Clerks are busy now days. Anyway, I assume you've looked at the LDS site on-line, Ancestry.com, and Google....among others. If you have a question about something, let me know. Maybe I can help you. Regards - Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Denise McAllister" <damcallister@centurytel.net> To: <CLANBOYD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 11:13 AM Subject: Re: [ClanBoyd] > Good for you, Jan. I just began my family research last fall and am > having lots of fun doing it. I am > finding very little has been done in my family and most of my direct > cousins aren't interested. I have, > however, found a couple of third cousins who have put some data out > there and I have emailed, called, and otherwise > shared information with them and been blessed to find them! I > encourage people to put some kind > of information out there for us newbies so we have a starting point. > Even if it's just an email address > for those of us looking for long lost family. > > I don't have the money to spend on ordering death certificates and > documentation research but have had > success through my library and kind people on the net who have given me > clues. My greatest source of > information so far has been my ancestor's civil war pension records. > For $37 I got death and birth records, mother's maiden > name, family, service, physical description, occupation etc. It gave > the best "bang for the buck". > > Meanwhile thanks for everyone sharing and, even if you are not related > to me, it's fun to read about your > discoveries and enthusiasm! > > Dee McAllister > Still Looking for Cousins > Descended from John Boyd & Nancy Carson >