Dear Fauquier County, Virginia Genealogist, I hope that you love Fauquier County and OUR web site as much as I do. It has been my pleasure to get to know and work with many of you who have the same love. Even though we may not live in Fauquier County, our appreciation for its history and heritage can be very much a part of our lives. Thanks to everyone for your contributions, especially to the 1850 Census transcribers. Our census is the largest in Virginia in 1850. I have added a permanent section to thank the twenty six people who transcribed and proofed this census. Some have indicated that they cannot find things on the site. I can understand how you feel. To me this is like reading a new book or visiting a new library. You just have to find your way around. You may have to return several times. I am happy that so many of you enjoy the visit. Please return often. I have added a lot of new sites and information in the last week. Soo I would like to invite you to return for a visit. Turns out we have a huge amount of information available on this site. Far more than many may imagine. So the ones who dig get the value. >From many emails I know that some are missing wonderful parts to the our site. The Gen Connect Wills are very confusing to many. Return there and just visit. Add your ancestors family Bible or Obituary to the sections found there. There are many parts to this site that can really help you. Swems Index, The Virginia State library, the Story sections, Fauquier County books, Family Web Sites, Fauquier County library, Fredericksburg Court Records, War of the Rebellion Records, and many more. USGENWEB will never replace your personal research as we all know. So go back to Virginia and visit the old home place and cemetery. Visit the library and courthouse. Visit John Gott and the Heritage society. Visit the Historical Society, Jackie Lee and the old Jail. Take the Ghost tour of Warrenton. Visit the old antique stores. Above all let us know of your experiences there. Add the pictures you take of Fauquier County so we can all share your experience. Family History is like a love affair. You just have to keep learning about your family and the areas where your family lived. My mother's parents both have roots in Fauquier County. So I am priviledged to say that I have deep Fauquier County, Virginia roots. We are so fortunate to have the records we have in Fauquier County. I am very grateful to the Yankees for not burning the court house. We have wonderful records available to us in those records. As genealogist we should want to preserve and cherish this heritage. I hope that you are contributing to a lot of the other USGENWEB sites. We have to love the areas where our families lived. When you find information on your family let the person know that you enjoyed the visiting their site. Many who have the sites want to share, all they want in return to be thanked for their efforts. If you have data that they may enjoy please share that information with them. Above all give the credit to the genealogist who provided you with the information. Do not indicated that you did the research when you copied it from someone else. With computer technology we have the opportunity to preserve our heritage. I would encourage you to make hard copies of the information you find on the sites that you really enjoy. It is my hope that we can work together for years to come to learn about this heritage. This can be a learning experience for all of us as we share our knowledge together. I know there are some on the list who have great knowledge of Fauquier County who are shall we say are standing on the sidelines. I would encourage you to join us in the game. We need your knowledge and expertise. We will all learn more about Fauquier County, if we all share what we know. Many are concerned that we are giving out incorrect genealogy. We do not have that intent. If you find something that is incorrect let us know. We want correct sources and information. I can tell you who the real winners are in this project. They are the people who have volunteered and helped make this a better site. Just remember that you get as much out of something as you put in. Just in case you do not get the message. I love Family History and Fauquier County. Thanks to everyone who suscribes to this mailing list. We appreciate your participation. Jim Burgess Fauquier County, Virginia USGENWEB PS Sorry I did not know this was going to turn in to an epistle.