>From - Mike Disbrow, Listowner Subject - I guess I asked for it, didn't I? This mailing list is a place for discussion and there's been a good one going on here, pertaining to the roots of Thomas Disbrow (OUR own Thomas? Who knows for sure?) and the Disbrows of Eltisley. There's been some differences of opinion stated here between Steve Squires and Carl Dunn, which has unfortunately turned sour, and now I feel I must jump in, though I don't feel my role here is one of mediator. You gentlemen have both been posting some interesting and thought provoking material and I, for one, have enjoyed reading every bit of it. I hate to see it come to an end over something trivial. The list of Cambridgeshire baptisms, etc., was indeed posted on this list two years ago and is still available in the archive, just as Carl states. Anyone can look at that list and come to any conclusion they wish as to James Sr., Jr., Elder, Younger or what have you. We can't go back in time and decide what was in the clerks' minds as they made their entries, or whether they were consistent in their appelations. It may be aggravating, but it can't be changed. All we can do is make our best educated guess based on what we now know, which both Steve and Carl have done, coming to different conclusions. I would ask both of you to PLEASE keep posting your thoughts to this list, but PLEASE try not to make personal statements that will "rankle" the other. I will stay out of that discussion for now. I don't have access to all the different records Steve and Carl do, so I can't make any deductions as to who is who. The more information we can dig up the better, and if Steve can get ahold of more of those old wills, etc., on his return trip to England, maybe we'll be able to glean even more valuable information from them. I am in accord with Steve when he talks in one of his recent posts about "history" vs "genealogy", if genealogy is taken to mean just names and dates. There is nothing of interest in dates except to place someone in context. It's the stories (history) that make this all so interesting. When I was compiling my books on the descendants of Thomas and Mercy Disbrow I tried to find something personal when I could, but unfortunately for so many people there is nothing left but the barest of facts - birth, death, perhaps a marriage and children, and burial, and this of course was particularly true of the women. ! I too prefer the term "family history" to "genealogy". I'd like to see more of our members get going on some discussions on different aspects of our Disbrow family history. Perhaps many of you are more interested in your more "recent" past ancestors, and would like to post stories or even short anecdotes relating to them. Please feel free to do so. This is what we're all about. I will try to get something like this going very soon, by posting a story my grandfather, Arthur Wellesley Disbrow, wrote about his own boyhood in Steuben County, New York. I hope others will follow the lead. Mike