This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: N_Percival Surnames: Thompson, Beatty Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/7774.456.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: First that is not how you do genealogy. If you want someone to help you you must give them something to work with. Not all people with the Thompson surname are related. You need to know how surnames developed and about how long they have been being used. If I were going to ask someone for help with my Thompson line, I would give them as much as I could, because this helps the researcher look for the correct family. You need to advise the researcher as to what is factual as far as you know and what is family rumors/unproven history. My information might look something like this: 1. Margaret Thompson was born Estimated 1599 in Scotland. She married John Beatty 1619 in Scotland. He was born 1587 in Scotland . Children of Margaret Thompson and John Beatty: i. 2. James Beatty was born 1620. ii. 3. John Beatty was born 1621 in Ayrshire, Scotland. iii. 4. Henry Beatty was born 1623. iv. 5. Patrick Beatty was born 1625. Note: This information was provided to me with no actual documentation for proof..nlp ~~~~~~~~ It is important to get documentation not just copy someone elses work. You might use it as a springboard for researching, but you need proof. I have a true story from my half sister that helps show what thinking you know the truth can do. Mary Jane Gilpin b. about 1928 in KS, went to school, graduated, got married divorced re-married paid taxes, worked had a social security card... bank account and every normal thing a person would have. Jake her second husband wanted to take a vacation in Europe, to do this Mary Jane had to get a passport. Of course she needed her birth certificate... LOL her birth name was not Mary Jane,it was Jaqulene. She choise to remain Mary Jane, but this just proves that you even need to get the documentation on yourself. Now if you really want help, you will back up, figure out what data you have and provide it to this board and as I said I'll try to do some look ups for you. By the way that Thompson line is my actual Thompson. Nelda a genealogy researcher for over 15 years Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.