Dear cousins, First, let me warn you this is my not-well-researched fears and not about a name in particular, so you can delete now and save yourself a minute or two. I apologize for coming in here so much after the fact. I'm old, okay? LOL When I went to this URL, as far as I can tell after a quick read of all of Ancestry.com's many rules is Rootsweb is no longer of value to me, because I have to register and pay a fee to access everything that's offered. After Ancestry.com made a joke of data I submitted to the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I can't trust what I might find there. I did NOT submit data to Ancestry.com and never gave my permission, but whomever extracted this sacred data and made it available to Ancestry made a mockery of my family because just about every single entry was incorrect. When I complained, they were nothing short of arrogant in their refusal to make any type of correction. To think that they charge for making such a record available makes me sad and angry. I have never complained to others who choose to support them -- it's their choice and I am eager to encourage people to research their families and don't want to discouragre them from using any source they find helpful. For myself, I've stuck to the free sites -- there are so many, afterall. In the past I've loved referring new researchers to Rootsweb, but after this morning's quick read, I don't think I want to do that anymore. It appears possible that greedy-butts have infested our wonderful Rootsweb. I sincerely hope I am wrong in this regard and that one of you will straighten me out -- off line, please, so we don't offend everyone who is up to date on this subject already. I'm short of time lately and didn't study the new rules thoroughly. But my quick read led me to believe that even though I've lots of ancestors in Russell Co., I would need to register and pay in order to access this particular tax record. BTW, I consider this Russell Co. list one of the most treasured and take this opportunity to congratulate everyone responsible. As long as I've taken up this much time, I might as well add one more thing: The more of us who become involved in Indexing, the soooner a lot more records will become available to everyone absolutely free of charge. I believe that, as a group, genealogists are the most generous and helpful! They can further prove it by being part of an effort to extract public records and put them before the public without charge. Hurrah!!! Here's the Indexing site in case you'd like to know more: www.familysearchindexing.org Carlyine Ritter Researching JESSEE, HEBURN, MONROE, BROWNING & others from Russell Co., Va.; and BLACK, PARSONS, RAY & others from Ashe Co. NC & NE Tenn. from the beautiful Oregon Coast where we've gone from freezing to roasting practically overnight, but last night God watered and all seems back to normal :) ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 6:57 AM Subject: [VARUSSEL] June 1866 Tax assessment > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Author: MichelleWilsonLigon > Surnames: > Classification: queries > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.russell/7434/mb.ashx > > Message Board Post: > > See attachment. > > 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. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1430 - Release Date: > 5/13/2008 7:31 AM > >

Carlyine, I saved the tax images to my computer hard drive. I then uploaded my images to the message board for Russell County where they should be available to whomever is reading the board. If that is not the case, then I suspect I goofed when loading them. If anyone ever needs lookups at the courthouse in Watauga Co., NC, I do that for free also! Michelle

In response to the tremendous power of big corporations to take all intellectual materials and make others buy it, I agree! Our historical society walked all the graveyards (209) and one person bought all five volumns and typed them into findagrave.com. We had the names in the books of all the people who documented every last stone. Too bad. Copyright lawyers are few and far between. I contacted one and they said that in my state, no one had ever yet brought forth a copyright lawsuit. In any case, it would be frightfully expensive. The internet is there for the taking and it appears that anything is fair game. I am sorry for everyone that had databases stolen. All researchers know to look in all the free places first like www.familysearch.com and various rootsweb websites. As we speak the LDS corporation is preparing to make everything that they photograph free, like they always did, and rootsweb is all volunteers, as well. Yes, sponsored by the BIG ONE but still free. I have refrained from paying $155 a year but all my friends want the easy way out and pay for it. I, too, have ancestors in Russell Virginia and we all share various tax forms and other data FREE because it should be! Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing your story. It is one of millions that are being stolen every single hour. You are not alone! LOL