Hello to all on this FERGUS list! Nine months ago when this list began with Shirley/Barney FERGUS in Harrells, North Carolina I never imagined that we would have so many subscribers that I would need to post the following . . . but I must, if you are to communicate with me with the expectation of receiving a reply in the near future. I must ask all to post FERGUS queries and questions to the list, which of course, I do read - and NOT to me personally, unless it is a personal matter involving ONLY me. I simply am NOT able to keep up with the 100+ posts I receive each day. No, they are not all in regards to this list. But, many are. In addition to this list, I also am listowner for the DODD list (my grandfather Guy Carleton FERGUS married Dorothy Mae DODD) and my middle name is DODD. And, when I became involved with online genealogy I was looking for a way to contribute something since so many people shared with me and gave me a boost when I was trying to "stand up". So, I do lookups for 2 unrelated, but important books that pertain to Northern Ireland . . . one is the Northern Ireland Phone Book - I seem to have the ONLY one who is online, or perhaps who is willing to do lookups. And, the other book is the newly-published book "the Tombstones of the Omey" by my friend Bill McGrew who lives in Omagh, Co Tyrone. Bill and his family spent a number of years transcribing 15 cemeteries within a 5 miles radius of the town of Omagh - all of the readable tombstones are listed and many tombstones have multiple listings (husband, wife, and many children - some of whom had emigrated). The list covers 1690-1900. I subscribe to the Scotch-Irish list, the Northern Ireland list, the Co Tyrone, NI list, the Co Antrim, NI list, the Shamrock list, and the Ireland list in order to continue my FERGUS research overseas. So, I am explaining this to let you know that I have A LOT to read, most is deleted, and some I send queries or replies to . . . it all amount to taking up a lot of my time. The last week of April I am planning on returning to Belfast and Omagh to continue the FERGUS research there. I must prepare to go so that my time is well-spent while I am there. I will spend most of my time in the libraries and will be at PRONI (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland) on Thursdays when they open at 9:15 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. But, I must be prepared. We have been accepted for a Rootsweb FERGUS website - and this will take work - and VOLUNTEERS - I cannot do it with the help of only one or two persons - first of all, I do not know HTML - is there a volunteer? And secondly, I am gathering the information that needs to be posted. Therefore I cannot also input or manage the site - WHO IS WILLING TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME? If many help the work will be light, if not I guarantee you it will not get done. Now, I know that many of you are not familiar with online genealogy and it is at times intimidating . . . yes, even for me. But, I have invited, coached, encouraged, begged for you to post and to help . . . the rubber must meet the road for this FERGUS information to become accessible. Hey, jump in! Join the volunteer force! Hoping to hear from all of you . . . soon, and very soon, Cynthia FERGUS Website http://www.traverse.net/people/crussell/fergus_family.htm FERGUS Newsgroup FERGUS-L@rootsweb.com Rootsweb Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl