This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: mjancestor2 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.walworth/2440.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Yes, it is hard when we have to deal with "what someone said" "what someone heard" " what someone wrote" and "what someone transcribed". Not only that, it depends on who was giving the information! I haven't used Heritage Quest very much - I found it great in moving around the image though. I try to search with wildcards too. * = 1 missing letter ? = 1 missing letter ** = more than one So I might try: Harm** to get Harm or Harms or Harmes if I don't find them that way, I might try: Har** - and that would have gotten the Harris Remember when Lalch was transcribed as MATCH Or Schul*z for both Schulz AND Schultz Johns** for Johnson, Johnsen, Johnssen, Johns Sometimes I search on 1st name and a 2 year window on age/birth year. If I get really desparate (I don't like the page by page!) I will search on a location and all males born in a specific year, then one year earlier, then 1 year before. It usually limits to about 20 in each year if I have a location. Or, I give up on the actual family member, and look for the spouse, kids, or siblings. Sometimes I can find them, and the person I want is there, but not indexed as I would have expected. I have a World Deluxe Ancestry subscription - and it is $250 a year. To me, that is less than a dollar a day for something I do every day. I like the World, since I have family I search there, and it is only $5 more per month to have it all. I like the census - although you have to be creative in searching there as well, but the WWI Draft Cards are really great. Every male born 1870-1900 had to register in at least 1 of three years (1916, 1917, 1918) Each of the 3 cards are different, but they often have physical descriptions, where they were born, next of kin. AND - their signature! The cards aren't a transcription, but the actual card. I have found a few things in the newspapers (subscription), but it is pretty dull work to go through them. Some of the other books on line are worth it though, especially if you have 1700-1800 east coast connections. Lots of great New York, New Jersey and Virginia info. You might see if there is a free trial, when you can test it and see if there are things worth while to you. Definitely sign up for the free newsletters, they have lots of helps. For census, when you get stuck, post on a county, surname, or even the census message boards. The census board queries get answered right away. County Historical Societies are GOLD too. I had one county that gave me 90 pages in less than 20 minutes, for a cost of under $5. (I was there in person & made the copies myself) Another gave me 60 pages for $18. Another had photos. Another had a family bible. Still another had old plat maps, one from 1732, which had the family on it, and identified roads, which I found on current maps, to find the house still standing! Everyone in them loves the stories and history as much as we do, so they are a big help. Don't forget to donate your research to them as well! I really enjoy the research, so I have a few spots where I like to do look ups. I figure that it helps make my subscription worthwhile. I get to talk over genealogy with people, find interesting stories, and it sure keeps me out of trouble! :-) I also have had lots of help from others across the years, from people doing courthouse look ups, newspaper searches, and even going to cemeteries to take photos of headstones. I think we all understand how frustrating it is to know that the info we need is out there, but we just can't go in person to do it. Good Luck! 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.