I have been on the list only 6-7 months and I have at first sight I found no common links to my family tree apart from a similar sounding name RIVIS. All names were in a foreign country with no possibility of linking to me. So why did I stay? I did note from time to time it was not just REAVIS but also RIVIS and REVIS mentioned. Also THE most fascinating thing for me compared to other lists was the sheer volume of postings from a relatively small number of members on the list. It also dawned on me that all names mentioned seemed to be derived from a common source; Edward-1. This is fascinating for me as a genealogist. I am still amazed that all 20,000 REAVIS names in Barbs database and in the USA can be traced back to this one individual. With my research on my own RIVIS name here in England,(BTW my mother was a RIVIS),I feel it is my duty to see if is possible to extend this tree back even though it is unlikely to link to me. However I have to report that my progress may be slow and may in fact be futile for the following reason. >From some of the postings that Barb has made it is clear that the REAVIS name may have been created by Edward after changing his name from ASHLEY. He may have done this to protect a shady past. He is known to have been in Newgate Jail in England. On the following web site: http://www.fred.net/jefalvey/newgate.html There is a list of inmates of Newgate Prison in London. Among them is someone called Ashley but no sign of any REAVIS/REVIS/RIVIS. This lends weight to the theory. There are also very small numbers of people called REAVIS in England but many of us know how early names were easily transcribed incorrectly with the majority of the population at this time being being illiterate. I have found many examples in my tree of how an individual can be called RIVIS on one document REVIS on another and I do have some documents occasionally misspelled as REAVIS! So although there are REAVIS names in England it is more likely that Edward was more likely a REVIS or RIVIS than a REAVIS by birth in England. There are Revis names on passenger lists and also on a list of persons transported to Barbados. I will persist, but do not expect instant results. The records for this period are often incomplete. It was just after our own civil war when the country was in turmoil. The systems of government were often disrupted and the religious institutions who we rely upon for records were themselves under attack. Keep up the good work everyone. This list is still fascinating as it is. Andrew Sefton Pocklington Yorkshire England -----Original Message----- From: James Shuman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 12 November 2000 21:49 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [REAVIS] Setting up a separate List for RIVIS/REVIS At 1:15 pm -0500 11/12/00, sheepshine wrote: [snip] >Maybe there should be a separate RIVIS/REVIS mailing/discussion list on >Rootsweb to keep others from confusing the two lines. What about this >suggestion John S.? * Bill L. > People are always free to request a surname mailing list from RootsWeb. Generally, if the requesting person can show that there are researchers interested in that particular spelling who are independent of the "main" spelling, they will honor the request. At this time, we are finding that *most* of the "Revis rhymes with crevice" researchers are actually descendants of the "original Edward." However, our British cousin, Andrew Sefton, indicates there are quite a few folks in England who use one of the alternate spellings. We have also seen that a few immigrations to the New England colonies apparently bear little relationship to "our" Edward. On the other hand, Andrew feels there *might* be a relationship farther back, and has promised on this List that he will keep searching the early records in England. Membership on the REAVIS Mailing List has stayed around 75 - 85 for the past several months, and it appears that nearly all of the subscribers are, in fact, looking for better information relating to the wide-spread family descending from Edward-1. As anyone can see, the bulk of the messages contributed on this list are sent by 12-15 people, with another dozen or so making less frequent contributions. that leaves 2/3 to 3/4 of the subscribers as "lurkers" -- folks who wish to receive the messages, but have nothing at the moment to contribute. Further, there is already a REAVES list, which has about 50 subscribers, and very low "traffic." Thus, I do not feel that it is appropriate at this time to establish a separate List, as that would tend to confuse most of the REVIS/RIVIS researchers who are just beginning their work. If it becomes obvious that quite a number of them are actually searching a different line or lines, then *that* would be the time to establish such a List -- and I would welcome someone from that group doing so. Perhaps the answers to Barb's "poll" will indicate the degree of interest, or lack thereof. Regards! JS List Custodian -- ____________________________ James Shuman, art instructor Modesto High School [email protected] ____________________________ ==== REAVIS Mailing List ==== ----------------- You can unsubscribe by clicking below for the regular list: mailto:[email protected] Click below for the digest list: mailto:[email protected] In the BODY include only one word: unsubscribe -----------------