The explanations of those "scraps of information" are what the Genealogical Proof Standard http://www.bcgcertification.org/resources/standard.html is for, which consists of: 1. a reasonably exhaustive search; 2. complete and accurate source citations; 3. analysis and correlation of the collected information; 4. resolution of any conflicting evidence; and 5. a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion. Rick Saunders http://genealogypro.com/fsaunders.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.11/121 - Release Date: 10/6/2005

I well know of those standards, and I admire the effort and draftsmanship by the many that resulted in those "rules". Ah, but the devil is in the details, isn't he???? e.g., the tenuous definition of the terms "resolution of any conflicting" evidence", and also the very subjective expression, "soundly reasoned", in #5. ???? Whatever; all of us (or almost all) are attempting, as well we should, to establish readily understandable and reasonable approaches to some very difficult research problems. Paul ----- Original Message ----- 1. a reasonably exhaustive search; 2. complete and accurate source citations; 3. analysis and correlation of the collected information; 4. resolution of any conflicting evidence; and 5. a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion. Rick Saunders http://genealogypro.com/fsaunders.html