As Jack Barron says, there are errors in these books. Even with the errors, both are a great source for genealogists. I don't know of any genealogy book that does not include errors of one sort or another. However, everyone needs a starting point on tracing their family history. It is up to each of us to prove a statement, not take it for gospel as truth since it if printed. Look at all the errors in census records, for example. But, over several decades, a person can pretty well identify 'his or her family members' by using a little common sense. As an example of errors in Early Settlers, David A. Martin's family listed Thomas Martin as age 9 [ ref - 1860 census]. If that fact had been true, it eliminated this Thomas Martin as ancestor of my husband. However, the 1850 census showed Thomas M. Martin as age 2. The 1870 census showed the Martins & Yearys were neighbors. [Tom & Emily Yeary married & divorced. No marriage record was found, but the divorce papers are filed in Lee County Court. The authors of Early Settlers used the 1860 census as a record of persons in the area, and did the best they could with what they had. Even the Bicentennial History has errors, but I 'wouldn't give' for any of these books as a reference to the older generations. Now, can you imagine what a current printing of Lee County history would be like??? So many are working on their surnames, and have access to so many records, it would take over 10 volumes to cover the surnames listed in the earlier books!! Jeanette in Oklahoma

We all know there are mistakes in the various genealogy books, but does it mean we have to continue with these mistakes? Many researchers have put hours in finding and refining the information. Why should we keep passing along incorrect information? I think it would be a good idea, if possible, to have people send to the person preparing to reprint the book, corrected information and have an addendum at the back of the book showing what present day researchers have found. I guess the biggest draw back would be the time it would take to get all of this printed. Maybe a supplement could be printed at a later date with the new findings. Joan Williams > As Jack Barron says, there are errors in these books. Even with the errors, both are a great source for genealogists. I don't know of any genealogy book that does not include errors of one sort or another. > > However, everyone needs a starting point on tracing their family history. It is up to each of us to prove a statement, not take it for gospel as truth since it if printed. Look at all the errors in census records, for example. But, over several decades, a person can pretty well identify 'his or her family members' by using a little common sense. > > As an example of errors in Early Settlers, David A. Martin's family listed Thomas Martin as age 9 [ ref - 1860 census]. If that fact had been true, it eliminated this Thomas Martin as ancestor of my husband. However, the 1850 census showed Thomas M. Martin as age 2. The 1870 census showed the Martins & Yearys were neighbors. [Tom & Emily Yeary married & divorced. No marriage record was found, but the divorce papers are filed in Lee County Court. The authors of Early Settlers used the 1860 census as a record of persons in the area, and did the best they could with what they had. Even the Bicentennial History has errors, but I 'wouldn't give' for any of these books as a reference to the older generations. > > Now, can you imagine what a current printing of Lee County history would be like??? So many are working on their surnames, and have access to so many records, it would take over 10 volumes to cover the surnames listed in the earlier books!! > > Jeanette in Oklahoma > > ==== VALEE Mailing List ==== > Need to reach Colleen, the discussion coordinator? Send her an email at <ladyaudris@earthlink.net>. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

When the two ladies who compiled "The 'Connection' in East Tennessee" published their book a good many years ago they began to get information back about additional descendants and corrected information. They did a reprint with an addendum, leaving the original index, but then adding a separate index for the new part. That way it is all in the same book. Seems to me reprinting the original with no attempt to give newer information and then printing a separate volume with corrected information would mean that too many people would never see the second volume with the corrections. We all know that we have access to better research material today than was available a good many years ago. Here I am giving you advice, and I don't have any idea whether my Edmond PACE is included! Marian