The purpose of this list is to assist fellow researchers in finding their Prussian origins. There are many subscribers who donate their time and experience in answering queries with the hope that those replies will save time (sometimes a lot of time!) for those posing the query. Some post database findings as replies and others post how to find the record. Regardless of the type of reply, it takes time to do the looking and write it. Those receiving the benefit of those replies should be courteous enough to at least send an acknowledgment of the reply to each person that sent them an answer. Posting a blanket, "Thanks to everyone who answered," on the list is just plain LAZY. These people took enough time to read your query and suggest a (sometimes lengthy) answer possibly saving you 100s of hours of research and you can't even send them an individual acknowledgment? That's nonsense. The acknowledgment can be sent privately, and should be if you received multiple replies so as not to clutter the list. Before posting a question, see if you can find the answer first. Over the past week there have been more than a few geography/history queries that could be answered by simply using a search engine. Answers about German geography and history are not precluded from search engines - try them! Try and help yourself. Remember, Google is your friend . . . Don't forget using the LDS Library Catalog - doing a "place search" will yield answers that show the country/kingdom/state/city which may answer many, many questions. People like to help those who help themselves. In fact, a person needing help who demonstrates in their query that they've tried to find the answer before posting the query is likely to get more (and better) replies than someone who simply posts, "Where is . . ." Don't be lazy. Look for the answer yourself first, and if you truly can't find it step right up and there are many on this list who will try to help. Finally, genealogy is self-taught. You can't learn how to research on this list, or any other mailing list. Buy a German Genealogy how-to book. Attend lectures locally (many are FREE). Read the FREE German Research Guide available to download at the LDS web site. German records are far different than records from other countries and contain a WEALTH of information. But, if you don't know what that record is, how will you ever find it much less find your ancestors? And, if you do some of these things, then you, too, can begin to answer queries on this list in the future! ;) Good luck, LGO