Sharon asked: > Paul, if you are reading - would you kindly expand your comments about > Ancestral File. I think it would be enlightening to read more about how > records can and do get into the LDS File and why we should always 'consider > the source.' I completely agree with you, but I think the List could > benefit from your knowledge and familiarity with Ancestral File. Actually, I can't enlighten anyone on the use of Ancestral File as I rarely look at it! My problem with it is that it's composed of information submitted by individuals who may or may not have researched their family carefully. Other than telling you the name and contact details of the person who submitted the information (which in itself is useful in that you can try to make contact) it gives you no idea where the information comes from. I've seen pedigrees in it going back centuries that are all based on unreliable publications or pure fantasy. It is useful if you want a general outline of a fairly prominent family but it's not a record, just a research tool. It's one I'd remove from FamilySearch.org if I was in charge of that excellent site. That's all I can say about it. Paul Gorry

I would like to add a few comments on Ancestral File. Last year I found entries for an ancestor and contact details. As a cousin had found out some info on the ancestor and as she does not use the internet I found out some more. So I gave her the details and she wrote to the submitter in America. It took some time to get a reply. When she did she got a very terse reply stating she had it wrong that this person was a decendant of another of the same name and area of England but not the one mention by my cousin. I have checked the web site and it still has the same info. The only reason I can guess is that this lady submitted info on someone else and forgot about it. It puzzles me why she would be annoyed and why she did not check the website before replying. After reading the letter my cousin is reluctant to contact anyone else. I have explained that LDS members often submit files on their family as part of their church duty and are not necessarily interested in genealogy and contacting living relatives. Bev Johns ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Gorry" <gorry@indigo.ie> To: <IRL-WICKLOW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 9:09 AM Subject: [Wicklow] Ancestral File > Sharon asked: > >> Paul, if you are reading - would you kindly expand your comments about >> Ancestral File. I think it would be enlightening to read more about how >> records can and do get into the LDS File and why we should always > 'consider >> the source.' I completely agree with you, but I think the List could >> benefit from your knowledge and familiarity with Ancestral File. > > Actually, I can't enlighten anyone on the use of Ancestral File as I > rarely > look at it! My problem with it is that it's composed of information > submitted by individuals who may or may not have researched their family > carefully. Other than telling you the name and contact details of the > person who submitted the information (which in itself is useful in that > you > can try to make contact) it gives you no idea where the information comes > from. I've seen pedigrees in it going back centuries that are all based > on > unreliable publications or pure fantasy. It is useful if you want a > general > outline of a fairly prominent family but it's not a record, just a > research > tool. It's one I'd remove from FamilySearch.org if I was in charge of > that > excellent site. That's all I can say about it. > > Paul Gorry > > > > ==== IRL-WICKLOW Mailing List ==== > Stick to the lists Golden Rule and you will never go wrong, Co Wicklow > genealogy~history~news~ and be nice to one another. > > ============================== > New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors > at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: > http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 >