Hi, Since the end of April, I have posted querys about my family lines. Through those queries, I have found three distant cousins who I didn't know existed and they have helped fill some of the blanks I didn't have. On one of my family lines, a man answered my email who had access to a genealogy book of the surname I was searching gave me the information I needed. When you network your findings with others, it should make you feel good that you helped them make their family connection. Also folks out there cannot travel to be able to search the records themselves. One person answered my query, she is personally travelling to the area where to one of my brickwalls of a grandfather had lived to help me make that final connection. It is a give and take situation but look on the bright side you may have helped someone. I will leave these two quotes I found last month on one of my mailing list. "Genealogy, the only hobby where the dead people can excite you." "If your family doesn't fork, you might be a Redneck." Jeff Foxworthy Pat Jerry Dafoe wrote: > > Hi, > I have been into genealogy for about 15 yrs and have a large library > of data that I have collected about my ancestors. Most of this material has > been gathered by going out into the field, searching through Federal Census > , digging into county records etc. I decided to go internet as I thought > it would be an ideal way of communicating , getting in touch with those who > may be researching the same family, it would evolve less travel etc. > Now I set back and analyze what I have found viva the internet and I > doubt it is more that 1% of what I have. > There are many peeves I have about genealogy by internet and I was wondering > what others thought about it. > Some of my peeves are: > (1) Why are researchers so reluctant to share their data? > (2) Why is it when you think you have a connection, you never hear from > them again? > (3) Why do they say they will cooperate and then don't ? > I have many others but I would like to know your opinions on the subject. > so > How fruitful has genealogy on the net been for you and how can we improve > it? > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you considered joining the Rootsweb Genealogical Data > Cooperative? > http://www.rootsweb.com/

In a message dated 8/18/99 11:51:47 AM, kellyk7r3k6@msn.com writes: << I am sure there are people on this list researching the name Kelly/Kelley and I also realize their are allot of them out there, I was just hoping some one could make a connection, maybe someday, I quess patience is a virtue. >> I have been searching the internet for about two years and find that throwing surnames out there doesn't work ie, message boards, maillists, etc., but then I have common names also. One thing that has worked for me, is lookup offers.....notice I said "OFFERS"? Many people just think that they should post on a list for a lookup, expecting someone to just do it for them. Politeness does count by the way, and if someone does find some info for you, make sure you let them know how appreciative you are. Research is a lot more than sitting at a keyboard and expecting someone else to do your work; search state and county sites for any info such as census, death, marriages, lookups, etc. Also expect to spend some money for records, phone calls, and such. I guess that's all for now. Eileen

I share your concerns and frustrations. Here are my thoughts: <<(1) Why are researchers so reluctant to share their data?>>There has been a lot of discussion on lists about copyright. I am afraid that many researchers want to write that book some day and fear that by sharing information they will give away data they have researched. The fear might be that someone else may take it the information and use it in a publication, claiming ownership. Many don't realize that all they have to do to is present the information and include the word "copyright" or a (c) at the end of the information to be protected. <<(2) Why is it when you think you have a connection, you never hear from them again?>> It could be that life becomes hectic at the time the connection is established and they forget. This has happened to me, but I save e-mails I want to respond to, and may get back to someone weeks after the original message. Some may not save messages. I wish I had a better answer. I have contacted people for whom I could extend their ancestry back two documented generations and another two undocumented generations and never received a response to my offer of information. <<(3) Why do they say they will cooperate and then don't ?>> Same answer as question 2. <<How fruitful has genealogy on the net been for you and how can we improve it?>> I think genealogy on the net is very fruitful as long as one takes the information at face value. I have "met" many wonderful people, distant cousins among them, through genealogy on the web. But, many, especially those new to genealogy, probably tend to get frustrated when one site gives a birthdate for John Jones as 1751 with a wife Mary, and another source gives his birth as 1757 with wife Polly. We have to keep reminding researchers to take the information as a starting point, that unless one has the information from the original record or a verified source it cannot be taken as fact. And even official records can be wrong. My grandmother was born in 1889, yet she was listed as age 27 on my father's birth certificate (1921) and as age 60 on her death certificate. And we wonder why information on the web is inaccurate!!!!!!!!!!! In conclusion, we should all just keep sharing. Everything we give comes back to us three fold---someday. Mary

Hi, all. I am fairly new at genealogy via the internet. The thing I have found in using the internet is that it has saved me much time in pre-research time or in other words in finding the things that I need to check. I don't think anything will ever replace researching in person. My aunt did research for 40+ years. She did not have the internet and for years she searched for the bible record of our ancestor Edward Ware and never found it. I got on the internet and was sent via e-mail a magazine that had a copy of the bible record without even really searching for it, it just kind of fell in my lap so to say. I have since found a 2nd magazine that had a copy of the bible record. I have found on GenForum where there are church and court records concerning the parents of Edward Ware. The man who found those records has ignored my e-mails requesting where I can find those records even though he is listed on the county site as one to contact for information on the Ware family. It has been very frustrating. I had a shirt sleeve relative tell me last winter that no one owns genealogy. I believe that whole heartedly and like to share what I have and have found most everyone does. I believe on another line I am about to make a major break through thanks to members of a mailing list for that family. They have told what records I need to access. I would have to say over all my experience with genealogy on the net has been good. Marla blarson@ubtanet.com

Overall I have had a positive experience. I haven't made any connections, but the information I have found invaluable is suggestions from the people on lists. I have learned tid-bits about new areas I am researching, research ideas, etc. The only bad experience I have had on the web is from Everton Publishers. When using their supposedly secure server, my credit card number was taken and someone tried ordering things. Luckily, I caught it the same day. The other thing I can't figure out is this: I have access to a database that lists all civil war soldiers in Wisconsin. I have volunteered to do look-ups in various places like the wi gen web and some counties and no one has taken me up on the offer.

Dear Jerry: Since, as you say, your research is far more complete, by your own hard work, than you could ever find on the Internet, most of these comments probably do not apply to you personally. But, they are reasons that have been discussed among professionals, so I thought I'd pass them along. You wrote: "(1) Why are researchers so reluctant to share their data?" I don't think all researchers are reluctant to share their data with responsible parties but this is a hot topic, especially among professional genealogists. Some of the reasons may be: 1) The person requesting the data does not give sufficient guarantees that the material will not be changed, edited, sources deleted, etc. Or that it will not be posted on a website, if that is an objection of the original researcher. 2) That the person will not use the material without giving credit to the original researcher. 3) That the person will not publish or pass along any part of the material without the expressed permission of the original researcher. 4) That the person will respond in kind and reciprocate by exchanging their data as well, with the same considerations. 5) The person has perhaps made an unreasonable request of "give me everything you've got" and the original researcher is not agreeable to that. There are, of course, many other valid reasons but those are a few. "(2) Why is it when you think you have a connection, you never hear from them again?" Again, there can be many reasons but most of the above conditions/answers apply to this question as well. Others may be: 1) They are busy and do not have the time to give the person "everything" they want. 2) They simply don't want to share their family data. 3) They don't feel the "sharing" will be of any benefit to themselves. 4) They paid (or are still paying) a researcher hard earned money to find the documents they have and they don't want to "give it away." An offer of 'sharing' expenses may help alleviate this reason. "(3) Why do they say they will cooperate and then don't?" You'd have to ask them. But, I think that basically, if you lay out for them exactly what you plan to do with their material and that you demonstrate that you will handle it responsibly and give them credit for their work, most will share at least SOME of their data. If you offer to share the expenses they have incurred for documents (birth, death, marriage certificates, wills, etc) and certainly pay for copying expenses and postage, this may go a LONG way in eliciting cooperation. Professionals have a different dilemma. If someone has paid them for the information, ethics demand that they get the clients' permission before disseminating the materials to ANYONE else. And, permission if they plan to publish the findings. I also think that you generally will find that the smaller the interest group (family surname lists), the more cooperation you may find. But, even then there are valid reasons for people not sharing. Particularly if they have been "burned" by someone irresponsible before and have found their material literally 'stolen' and pasted on someone's WebPages as if it were their own work. This has happened to MANY people, myself included. It's even worse when you find your work totally mangled (edited, deleted, out of context, etc.)!!! Believe me, that family member will never get information from me again! I hope you don't get discouraged by this. There are ways to work with others who are serious and respectful of your work and your wishes/requirements as well. You just have to get to know the person and negotiate what is acceptable to both of you. Once the trust is built up, and perhaps the future work divided between you and/or worked on in concert, expenses shared, etc., things usually work out well. I find that the exchange of information is usually free flowing at that point. Best regards. Nancy. NColeman NYC/Long Island Family History Research Services http://www.genealogyPro.com/ncoleman.html http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/c/o/l/Nancy--Coleman/ ncroots@worldnet.att.net NYGenExchange: www.genexchange.com/NY/index.cfm

Hi List: I have been on this list for several months now, and have posted the same question quite a few times, with out any offers for help or suggestions. I do realize my information is vague, but thats all I have to work with. I am sure there are people on this list researching the name Kelly/Kelley and I also realize their are allot of them out there, I was just hoping some one could make a connection, maybe someday, I quess patience is a virtue. This is a good list, and I do enjoy reading the posts. Thanks Carole Kelly

Hi, all, new subscriber with a too-common name to search. However, I'll not give up. Am searching for a link to my gggrandfather, Charles CLINE. According to census info I have compiled, Charles was born in 1855 in NY, married to a Sarah (believe her maiden name was HOWSON (perhaps HOVSON or HOFFMAN). Charles indicated his father was born in NY as well (except for one census entry that states PA). This is the only info I have as to where the Clines may have been. A marriage entry which I believe may be my Clines, from St. Johns Dutch Reformed Church in St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, NY, indicates a Charles Cline & Sarah Hoffman were married in February, 1878. Am in the process of requesting that info to see if any light can be shed as to whether this may be my gggrandparents. The next information I have is an 1880 census entry for Charles CLINE & Sarah, with daughter Lillie (2), in Sac County, Iowa. Next I find them in the 1885 census for Knox County, Nebraska, with two more daughters, Mary & Viola (which is my g-aunt's name) & a son Frederick (my g-uncle's name). My grandfather was born in Knox County in 1886. After that, I have lost them. So, my request to you all is if anyone on this list knows if any CLINES/HOVSON, etc. were in this county. Am assuming that the Clines were of German ancestry. According to census entries, as well as a family story (tongue-in-cheek), Sarah was born in England in 1855. Would appreciate any help you can lend. Thanks in advance. Beth Rutherford Turner, OR

Hi Kelli, and the list. To all who sent me responses: Kelli asked me to send the responses to the list. I will if no one who sent responses objects. If anyone does, I will not send their responses' Jerry ----- Original Message ----- From: Skindzelewski, Kelli <kelli.skindzelewski@doa.state.wi.us> To: 'Jerry Dafoe' <JDafoe2@home.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 9:21 AM Subject: RE: What do you think? > Could you forward some of the responses to the list. I would be most > interested in the comments. thanks

Hi, I am getting responses from my comment on "What do you think' but would those responding please send them to GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com so everyone can see them. Maybe we can improve on the system. Jerry

Please manually unsubscribe me. My initial subscription was under Mountainman@netxn.com but my server changed names. The new address is Mountainman@ncinternet.net I was in Digest Mode Thank You Paulette Williams "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root" ------- Chinese Proverb ----- Original Message ----- From: <GEN-NYS-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <GEN-NYS-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 6:20 AM Subject: GEN-NYS-D Digest V99 #126

Hi, I have been into genealogy for about 15 yrs and have a large library of data that I have collected about my ancestors. Most of this material has been gathered by going out into the field, searching through Federal Census , digging into county records etc. I decided to go internet as I thought it would be an ideal way of communicating , getting in touch with those who may be researching the same family, it would evolve less travel etc. Now I set back and analyze what I have found viva the internet and I doubt it is more that 1% of what I have. There are many peeves I have about genealogy by internet and I was wondering what others thought about it. Some of my peeves are: (1) Why are researchers so reluctant to share their data? (2) Why is it when you think you have a connection, you never hear from them again? (3) Why do they say they will cooperate and then don't ? I have many others but I would like to know your opinions on the subject. so How fruitful has genealogy on the net been for you and how can we improve it?

I, like Jerry, have done the majority of my serious research in library, historical societies, county offices, etc. I use the internet primarily for contacts and those once in a lifetime (have had one so far) connections with a relative. I belong to several lists, depending on what family I'm focusing on at the time. I have enjoyed helping others with information about locales with which I am familiar, mainly central Indiana and central NY. Also, I have a 1902 Chenango Co. Directory, about which I have posted information on several lists and have done probably @100 lookups, some of which have been very beneficial to the recipients. My biggest concern is the proliferation of web sites. It seems like there is a new one every day. Then, occasionally, when I look at a new one, the site is really a commercial publishing company. I haven't tried often, but have not been able to access the LDS "familysearch" site yet, or maybe I'm just too impatient to wait 30 minutes and then my ISP logs me off. Jack, Indianapolis J4777EA@aol.com Researching: ALEXANDER, EATON, INGLEFIELD, LYMAN MCCLURE, WILLIAMS

In a message dated 8/18/99 9:21:57 AM Central Daylight Time, GeriP525@aol.com writes: << Hi Jerry I agree that there are some people that do not like to share their data but will request it from you. I have found the people that I have been in contact with are helpful and share what they have. There have been times that I have sent data and the person didn't even offer a thank you or accknowledge that they received it.This I don't care for. Again these are in the minoroty. Geri >> Hi..I just wanted to piggy back on Geri's comments..I think it is the really rare minority who won't share or even be unknd. Most I have run into are more than helpful..happy hunting! Michele R. Lockwood

Hi Jerry I agree that there are some people that do not like to share their data but will request it from you. I have found the people that I have been in contact with are helpful and share what they have. There have been times that I have sent data and the person didn't even offer a thank you or accknowledge that they received it.This I don't care for. Again these are in the minoroty. Geri

Hi Joe and list. I have meet living members of my family in all branches and even a few twigs. I had no idea they existed. I have been interested in genealogy since I was an adolescent. The information we have shared with valid source information is awesome. You just have to be careful. I have shared my information with those who proved their connection to me and they did the same. My only problem was this weekend I found a site listing information on my living family including minor children by a person who was so far removed plus just by marriage related that they were no one to me. Remember once this information is shared its like a toothbrush don't use someone else's just so your web page will look full, never list the living, what a tacky thing to do in the age of identity theft. And of course never claim the family stories of others, I still remember the flurry of E-mail on one of my Surname lists over that. Jerri Eugene, OR Searching in New York: FOSMIRE

Are these people familiar to you? Buried in the Green-Wood Cemetary, Brooklyn New York in a family plot are the following COLDWELL'S: Sarah F. COLDWELL d. Feb 1852-remains then interred at Green-Wood Jan. 1854 John E. COLDWELL d. Dec. 1859 Franklin A. COLDWELL d. Feb. 1876 George E. COLDWELL d. May 1890 John Henry COLDWELL d. April 1896 Julia HUNT OVERIN COLDWELL b. abt. 1830-d. Aug. 1902 *John Henry COLDWELL & Julia Hunt OVERIN COLDWELL were married & had at least one child-Kate COLDWELL b. 9 Feb 1853 (according to my grandfather they had another daughter.) If you know anything about these people I would appreciate hearing from you, Thanks, Cherylyn Woodall jcjets@juno.com

Are you familiar with any of these people? William E. POPE- d. July 1850 Glorianna POPE-d. March 1863 George POPE- b. abt. 1816 USA ,maybe in New York, d. April 1884 at 378 Cumberland , Bklyn, NY Jane Emslie POPE- b. June 1816 d. Aug 1898 Bklyn, NY *Jane Ann POPE OVERIN - b. 1840 d. Nov. 17, 1880 *known daughter of George and Jane E. POPE They are all buried in a family plot at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. according to George's death cert.- his mother was b. in Ireland & his father b. in England If you know anything about these people, I'd appreciate hearing from you & exchanging additional information. Thanks, Cherylyn Woodall jcjets@juno.com

****************JCJETS***************** I have a grt grt grandmother named Minnie HAUSCHILD b. 1859 in New York d. 1928 NYC, she m. John A. SCHAFFER- b. Dec. 1858 Hamburg, Germany d. NYC, NY, when? occupation cabinet maker & double decker bus driver. They lived at 267 West 27th ST. at the time of their 1st daughter's birth in 1880. Minnie HAUSCHILD & her husband John SCHAFFER are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. Their Children: Minnie Willemina Fredrica SCHAFFER b. Jan. 1880 m. March 1905 to Wm. E. Overin I. She died 1 Aug. 1934. Amrlia Louisa SCHAFFER b. 25 Nov. 1884 John Brauch Clark SCHAFFER b. 17 Feb. 1886 Katir Theresa SCHAFFER b. 20 May 1888 d. 28 Feb. 1889 Frances Edmond SCHAFFER (female) b. 18 Oct 1892 m. Walter ________. Grace Maudr SCHAFFER b. 3 Nov. 1896 d. 5 Mar. 1899 Harry William SCHAFFER b. 2 Feb 1898 d. 15 Mar 1901 (John remarried after Minnie died- his second wife had a daughter named Dorthy Martha _________, b. 23 Oct. 1905 or 1908 Dorthy m. Manuel Renosco ) If you are researching any of these people I'd like to hear from you! Thanks, Cherylyn Woodall

This is to the person that is looking for the BALL family. Have you thought about looking in Chatauqua county ?? There were lots of Ball members there in the early to late 1800s' to my knowledge. As a matter of fact Lucille BALL and her family were from that area. Check it out, as I just visited a cemetery in Forestville NY and some of the BALL family are buried there, they crossed into our CROWELL family somewhere and sometime ago. Hope this sheds some light for you. Best regards, Dorothy Blakeley NY USA