Robert, Thanks for all your great advice! Where do you have your gedcom? Could I take a look? From the response I've gotten both on the list and off list. I will be continuing my one name study on the surname PEGRAM and all variations. I'm going to do my own thing as you say, to stay in my comfort zone. I'm presently using the LDS microfilms of Parish Records and also the LDS microfilms for the 1841 & 1851 census and Ancestry.com for the 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 censuses. I will more than likely see about adding the gedcom to the Rootsweb site (World Connect Family tree). My only hesitation is that I have already found other family trees online which I feel have mistakes in them. I'm just afraid of doing the same...having mistakes and possibly leading someone down the wrong path. So far no one else has contributed to the project, but I'm more than willing to accept help or advice and corrections. And as to the last comment, this has already helped me to find more in my line. Thanks again! Theresa E. Smith Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA -------------- Original message -------------- > Theresa , and anyone else contemplating a one-name study , I can recommend > running the study as an informal one-name study , and declaring it as such in > postings to lists . That way you can include what you want and not feel obliged > to take on more than you are comfortable with . The crucial points as far as > I'm concerned are: > > Publicise your project on relevant lists > > Make a version of your database available online as a gedcom ( using > GenCircles or some other freely accessible website ) . If you drop out of online > genealogy , at least your work and the contributions from others who've helped > you > will remain accessible for others . > > Put a good , full introduction to your database on your online version - this > way it will be found by Google ( the database entries don't get Googled , but > your introduction will be found and lead others to it > > Always include your data , its sources and your own helpful comments in your > gedcom database . > > Backup , backup , backup . > > Put out requests for info on lists - repeat this from time to time > > When you are provided with info by others , credit them and ( if they want ) > give their contact details in your database notes > > Lastly , plug your project from time to time -eg mine is the Hertfordshire > BIGG Project , covering 19th century and earlier BIGG and BIGGS families . > > You should find that your original idea , to help you sort out your own > family from other namesakes , is likely to meet with success . In any case , > such a > project is FUN . Do it ; enjoy it . > > Best wishes to all listers, > Robert Hillier > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Hertfordshire FHS: > http://www.btinternet.com/~hfphs/index.htm >