If you have ancestors from Transylvania Co., you may be interested in this. Last year I with the help of a couple of other very good researchers we created a email list that has become one of the best mailing lists ever. Transylvania Co., NC was in 1791 Buncombe Co. being formed from Burke & Rutherford In 1828--1851 Macon Co. included present-day Hogback & part of Eastatoe Twp of Transylvania Co. In 1838 Henderson Co. was formed from Buncombe In1861--the present day Transylvania County was formed from Jackson & Henderson In just a few weeks our Transylvania County's Internet genealogy group will celebrate its first anniversary. Our TransylvanCoGenList was founded on January 3, 2000 and has quickly grown into Transylvania County's largest, most active research resource. Today, almost a year later, the group has grown to 93 members! If numbers are an indicator of success, then this group is a smash hit. Yesterday, December 14, was a milestone day for this research group. At midday yesterday, the mind boggling 14,000th message was posted on the group's e-mail list since Janaury 3, 2000! Even more important than impressive quantity is the quality of the individual members -- among the nicest and best researchers found anywhere. This unique, privately owned research group was founded to create a warm, nurturing, sharing genealogy community in which information could flow freely between both newcomers to research and seasoned pros. The intentions have been realized many times over. Miraculous discoveries are the norm for this group because of the amazing level of communication and generous sharing. There is no charge for membership and neither is there ever a charge for the information that is shared freely among the members. Commercial, for profit or fee-based research activity is not permitted within the group. TransylvanCoGenList is organized around a central vehicle of communication, its e-mail list. But this is not the typical e-mail list which is very limited in scope and function. The e-mail list is linked to a members-only website and provides an array of support services and member benefits, such as downloadable historical files, stories, articles, and a constantly changing display of historic photographs from across the past of Transylvania County and from most of the old founding pioneer families. Many group members have discovered priceless surviving photos of direct ancestors and other family members through the collection. As an added benefit, the group's e-mail list gladly accepts attachments so that researchers can share large data files with the other members. Most members have made major discoveries through reading these shared files. 14,000 plus pieces of Transylvania County genealogy and history are preserved in the easy to use, searchable archives maintained on the group website as yet another valuable service for the members. The research community functions through fair and simple membership policies and guidelines that are nothing more than good manners and common sense. To preserve the sanctity and well being of this research community, all potential members must agree to abide by these policies before being accepted into the group and must work within our simple lines for continued membership. The group and its very unique approach is not for everyone, but for those wanting the richest and broadest possible experience exploring the past of Transyvlania County and its people, this is the very best resource available. Immediately following the holidays, the members of TransylvanCoGenList will begin a group-wide project to reintroduce themselves to one another as well as reintroduce their ancestors and lines. There's no better time for a new member to come aboard and be on hand for the detailed reintroductions. It's like starting the list all over again and giving everyone a chance to be a part of it all from the beginning. Just to name a few, among the many surnames represented in the group are Aiken, Allison, Anders, Alexander, Ashworth, Allen, Breese, Ashe, Barnett, Batson, Beard, Baird, Barton, Brevard, Bird/Byrd, Bishop, Bagwell, Blythe, Bowen, Bracken, Brown, Bryson, Butler, Burrell, Bowen, Cagle, Cantrell, Chapman, Case, Cooper, Clayton, Conley, Cisoon, Cox, Chastain, Denton, Davis, Davidson, Duckworth, Dunn, Erwin, Essary, Fisher, Freeman, Fletcher, Gash, Galloway, Garren, Gillespie, Glazener, Graveley, Grogan, Hamlin, Henderson, Hightower, Holden, Heath, Hefner, Henry, Hogsed, Johnson, Johnston, Jones, Justice, Justus, Jordan, King, Kitchen, Kilpatrick, Kuykendall, Killian, Lister, Lance, Loftis, Lyday, Mauldin, Mackey, Miller, McCall, McCrary, Mason, McGaha, McMinn, Merrill, Moore, Morgan, Morris, Mull, Neill, Norman, Norton, Nelson, Pettit, Nicholson, Orr, Osteen, Osborne, Owen, Pickelsimer, Phillips, Patton, Paxton, Patterson, Parker, Powell, Pridmore, Raxter, Reese, Sentelle, Siniard, Shipman, Sitton, Smith, Shuford, Summey, Swayingame (and variations), Trammell, Thomas, Tinsley, Underwood, Waters, Woodfin, Wetzel, Whitmire, Wilson, Wood, Young, and many, many others. Sorry we left out anyone! Too many to remember them all! For more information about membership, please write to the administrators or TransylvanCoGenList at <[email protected]> Your brief application for membership takes only a few moments. Please note: TransylvanCoGenList is a privately owned research resource. Membership is offered and maintained solely at the discretion of the administrators of TransylvanCoGenList." Wylene Alston, List Owner