In a message dated 11/13/99 4:46:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, eoakley@ezaccess.net writes: << ... (a couple of stories of what family connections were made...) ... >> << Just wait and read the mailing list and check every possible clue it helps Earl >> Earl, I think your message pointed out a couple of things: 1) you were using a "combination" of online tools and contacts with "real world" actual visits to libraries, using books, etc... It was this very "combination" that I thought held the most value... (not "either/or") 2) I have both "recent arrivals in the USA" (Irish and german in the 1870s and 1880s) and those where I had "stopped" in the early 1800s... in Niagara Co, NY.... and "that" with a significant number of "holes" in my research... For the latter, I have since being online brought the NY PRATT surname over to VT then down to CT - and the NY HOSMER surname to a diff part of NY - then down to CT. Both - with a significant number of researchers - and documentation - back to the 1630s. Now "that" being said --- certainly it was "exciting" -- and certainly due to "online connections". However, it also didn't mean I could just fill up my FTM program!!! I am "still" in the midst of "learning" all the basics for each of the "geographies" - and "timeframes" and "record availability", etc - let alone the US history at that time, etc. It provided "clues" for me to work - and people to talk with - not an instant tree! Because I was in "earlier" USA time - I learned about US military records - etc. So, the online connections - gave me the opportunity to "learn" much of the "traditional" research methodology - since I now had "reason to know and use" different sorts of records, etc.... It's all a big circle!! And of course - the ability to order NY probate records "online" - then receive them in the mail has been wonderful too! debbie (have to run ... just found out I have "hundreds of bees" in the ivy near a roof corner! Not relevant, I know - but apparently they've been collecting descendants out there! <g>)