Howdy Folks - yep, am alive and a lot more well than I was at the beginning of the summer. I should have written you all sooner, but believe me when I say I am busy on a new project. The project is the transcribing of all the 13 volumes of the NJ Archives series. Am expecting this to take me into 2011. At the same time a database is being created whereby all the entries (abt 40,000) are being broken down into segments, such as county, surname, document types, source, file numbers, etc. The management of this database is being handled by 3 members of this list, folks who have 'volunteered' with their time and ability. Each has taken on the responsibility of managing the data as pertains to several counties. Right now, they are quite busy with the material am sending them for sorting. In the future, am hoping they will use both the database entries, and the transcribed items from the various volumes, to answer queries from the rest of you. Another aspect of the transcription and database portions of this project is the assignment of a specific identification number for each testator or individual who is the subject of entries within the 13 volumes. Additionally, a person from RootsWeb's Archives is taking the transcribed entries, and that ID No., and creating an Index with which, future users may be able to locate the originally transcribed entries I am producing, thereby allowing not only members of this mailing list, but the public at large, to find references to any ancestor who might be found in documents on file at the Secretary of State's office in Trenton. I am hoping too that when a link to that transcribed entry is activated, that another link will allow the researcher to request a certified copy from the State, using their online request form. Now, despite the project taking up a good portion of my time, this mailing list, and you folks out there, are still on the top of my interest plate. I did ask one single member to get the alpha game going, it's true, but I failed to acquaint her with the guidelines. These are similar to the ones we all agreed to last year, but if some aspect has been left out, update the membership as you see fit. GUIDELINES FOR QUERY SUBMISSIONS: 1. Keep the 'subject' heading simple - include a SURNAME (in CAPS), a time period and a county. 2. You may post ANY surname at ANY time; you are not limited to whatever alpha letter is the current rage. 3. When writing your message, include some background information on the person about whom you are seeking data on, but also include a question, like 'I am looking for tax records for John SMITH, who migrated here from England about 1789'; or 'Does anyone know where I can find a marriage record for John SMITH and Mary ENNIS of Monmouth County about 1812'? Including some basic information may often spark the interest of new subscribers, or even those get those subscribers who oft times just read through your postings, to get involved. Whether you pull a name from a hat, like I tried last year, or you go through the alphabet in its order, matters little. The point of concentrating on a single alpha letter proved to work better than just a continuous hodge-podge posting of 'brick-wall' names, and seemed to be quite popular. If it ain't broke, why dink with it! For those purists, I do live on a 'ranchette' in Sheridan Wyoming, which is somewhat north central in the state, and up near the Montana border. A 'ranchette' is a local term here, applied to small ranches of fewer than 200 acres. I am only renting here, living in a 12x65 house trailer, but this ranch is 91 acres. I am not a native of this state, but a transplant, coming here from Philadelphia back in 1999. Back east, my work experience was that of professional medical photographer and videographer, but out here, the best job I could get was that of a janitor. My, how times do change for us all. This current life, for me, is much better - simpler, quieter, contentmenter. I've cleaned up my life, and now I clean toilets. Go figure. Anyway, y'all, am doing just fine now. And while I won't seemingly be as active on the list as I've done in the past, know that I am still 'here' if you need me. God Bless... David Tourison NJ Mailing List Administrator [email protected]