Hi folks, Nothing important really, just a thought I wanted to pass on to you all. Most of you may already be aware of this, but it came across to me almost unexpectantly. I was just answering some mail and thought about it and wanted to pass it on to you all. I have been posting marriage, after marriage record. I know that some folks will grow bored with seeing the announcements posted so much. But here is the kicker. You may only be researching say a few names, directly related to you. One of the reasons I place each surname mentioned on the record, into the announcement is to catch your eye so you don't disregard the message simply due to the two that are marrying. Example on how they can work for you: My Willis G. CRANFORD who I have documented from 1850 upwards in time to 1880, I lost him after the 1880 census. Figured he had died sometime after the census taking. No known gravesite, etc. 1890 census being not available, I only had that to work with. I had resigned myself to never knowing when he died. Then lo and behold! A marriage record that Lea Morris and I copied on my last trip to Montgomery County, showed my Willis as being still alive when one of his daughter's married. Also I find him as a witness to a marriage later than 1880 census, in a early 1890's marriage record. So that not only helped me to realize that he was still alive after the 1880 census and that he was still able to get around somewhat, to attend a marriage in the early 1890's. So what I am trying to get across to those like myself, who never thought to check out the witnesses so closely, or folks who may be new to all this, is to check out the witnesses closely. My own Willis G. Cranford signed earlier then that to a marriage record for a black couple, as witness. Confusions on how to spell our surname has always been an issue, but never have I come across a misspelling by a CRANFORD themselves! Sure enough, he spelled his name wrong, Willis G. CRAFORT. Did he sound it out how he said it, himself? Who knows. So that is another thing that we need to make ourselves aware of. How folks spell names by how they sound to them when they speak them. I mangle the surname of Ailstock (with a vengeance, haha, but that is another story) but I lose the A in the speaking of it. I speak is as "Elstock, or Lstock" and that is my southern speaking pattern coming forth. So if you don't find your person under the correct spelling pattern, try other forms of spelling, sometimes the not so obvious will be the key, as in CRAFORT. By the way... I say the name Cranford as Cranferd. Good thing I was never a census taker..... Sorry if this is a repeat to most of you, but I wanted to get this out to some who may find it of use. Plus the fact that you will see me trying to make sure I am listing the names correctly when I title the pages that I am making up for the list. Always feel free to jump in and discuss anything that comes to your mind concerning genealogy on the list. Again, this is our list, not mine. We are here to help each other as much as possible, and what might be deemed not important to one person may be the key to opening up someone else's research further. Answers back to the list when concerning genealogy is a wonderful avenue for folks to learn more, I think. Others may be sitting on the list just waiting for the answer to come forth. On the marriages, I will start adding two marriages per post, to keep from bombarding the list with one after another. So keep an eye to the subject line to see the main surnames mentioned. But this will not help you in the other surnames that are mentioned in the records, as you will have to open the message to see those names. I am also about to make a Death Page. In order to add some death records that have been sent to me for the list. If you have some that you would like added, you can send by email or snail mail. Just contact me off the list. They can be transcribed or copies of the originals. Either will be just fine. Now your long winded page maker, list keeper will hit the send button before she thinks of something else to talk about. Good luck folks, Cathy Cranford-Ailstock pastseeker@nc.rr.com http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cranford/cathy1.html Listowner for Montgomery County, NC http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cranford/montinfo.html Listowner for The A*I*L*S*T*O*C*K, B*R*U*T*O*N, C*R*A*N*F*O*R*D, F*O*X*H*A*L*L, H*A*T*H*C*O*C*K,J*U*R*Y & O*Z*I*E*R Lists *** To see one's self more clearly One needs to seek the past. C.C. Ailstock