Hi Sandi, How do we convince him that the WORLD needs to have access to these records? I for one find this to be unbelievable in the year 2006. This is a matter of public record. pray tell me why he is able to hold back these records of OUR ancestors? Regards, Marjorie

At 03:08 PM 9/04/2006, JMTsparks@aol.com wrote: > >>>>pray tell me why he is able to hold back these records of OUR >ancestors?>>>> Hi all Touchy one, this! He possibly uses it as a supplement to his stipend. I recall writing to a certain (name with-held) Anglican clergyman in Oswestry back about 15 years ago for some info of my family within "his" registers, and naturally the cost was xxx etc. At the time I was quite content with that, and he did give me some information free for which I was very grateful. After all, it was his own free time I was using, and I expect that one ought to pay for that. But it does bring up a few questions. For instance, if these regs are held at the Pontesbury vicarage in 2006, how is one to get them online without a concerted effort from Pontesbury parishioners or other researchers willing to transcribe, providing that permission is given? It's not as if you are in a city where you have folk from the local genealogical society who can travel in a very short time to the vicarage to transcribe. Pontesbury, is after all, out there in the wild meadows of Shropshire away from fast transport (within context). You've heard this story before, I am sure, but the above reminds me of my antecedants Thomas & Martha Peate of Criggion within the Alberbury parish. Their tombstones were in Alberbury churchyard in very good condition, but a directive came from the Diocese to remove all the tombstones and plough up the graveyard. In the middle of winter the contractor attempted to get the parishioners, etc. to help him move the tombstones to a safe place around the churchyard, but no one turned up to help him, so he had no option, as the weather was against him and he had to move fast, but to follow the Diocese directive and plough in everything, firstly removing the tombstones and giving many of them to local farmers. I found that my Thomas & Martha's tombstones were given to a farmer who used them as ramps for his pigs and cattle. So, no one cared, no one did anything to help. If no one turns up, what can you do? Perhaps Pontesbury is a different situation, I don't really know. But if no one is there to do things, then records certainly will not be made available. As for Pontesbury records up to 1812, I have access to them via the Shropshire Parish Register Society transcriptions, held within our State Library of victoria, and am quite willing to do look-ups for anyone. Cherrio Graham Melbourne Oz