I have been doing on line genealogy search since last January. So I am no longer exactly a novice, but neither am I an expert. However, I think if people want real help, they need to do several things. First they need to say what they have already tried. Then they need to tell more about the family members in question. Place of birth, death, or where they lived for much of their life is a start. Next it always helps to list all the names in the related constellation of family members, which may not always give you a direct answer to the question but it helps to bring to you people with knowledge. I would also recommend to any of you unfamiliar with him, Robert Ragan and his Treasure Maps http://www.firstct.com/fv/tmapmenu.html. Mr. Ragan will for a small donation--I gave $15--send you all his newsletters which are packed with tips on how to use the internet to to get specific information on your family. I am still working my way through his emails, which continue to come irregularly every month or two, and I never fail to be pleasantly surprised by new information. Diana Researching Crawfords from Illinois and Massachusetts, and related families SCHMITT, CLARK, DESMOND, TOMLINSON, BIRDSEYE, SCHNEIDER