Re: My Finding a Cousin. This is how it came about. An ancestor of hers, William Boyd, and a ancestor of mine, William J. Boyd, were cousins. During WWI, they enlisted. They must have gone together to sign up because their service numbers are consecutive. They were killed one day apart. This information came from Margaret. Both are on the memorial plaque that hangs on the wall at St. Paul's church in Belfast. While I was there I took a picture of the plaque and offered pictures of the plaque and a similar one at St. Anne's on this list (still available for those who would like one). She asked for a copy and the rest is history. Her info met my info and the connection was made. While I was taking pictures of the plaques my wife was kind of shaking her head, but I explained how it was not just for me, but others who could not get there might like it too. Thus is the importance of sharing your research with as many as possible. Not just offering, but actively soliciting contact. It is like the difference between fishing with a hook and with a net (pun not intentional). My wife does not really understand because her family is fairly well researched, and goes back to France in 1600. Being born into a Catholic family, there are terrific records available. Ireland is a whole different kettle of fish and we all need all the help we can get. It was an unbelievable blessing to be able to get to Ireland in general and Belfast specifically. When we are given gifts, it is proper to say "thank you." Disseminating what we were able to find is just another way to say that. Andy Airriess

Dear Andy, Hear hear. I have had so much fun sharing and connecting as a result of the sharing - I couldn't begin to describe it. The more I share, the more I learn. Although my web site takes an indecent amount of time, the rewards have been great. And who knows, if I find a BOYD in a tree, it may be your BOYD (I think to catch this far-stretched pun one might need a Bostonian accent which I can only pretend at). Cheers, Sharon Oddie Brown Roberts Creek, BC, Canada http://www.user.dccnet.com/s.brown/index.html