Re: Sue's message on the costs for Yorksgen 2013 - I fully concur with her thoughts on the costs against facilities etc and my main concern would also have been whether there would be some sort of self catering facilities - even to be able to make a hot drink in an area where we can sit as a group and discuss our plans and what we have found etc. (including our search efforts for her Mary - assuming we may still be looking :). York has such a good bus service that getting to the Borthwick Institute or anywhere else from the Racecourse Centre shouldn't be a problem - especially for those of us with a bus pass! I haven't been to the Yorkshire Family History Fair before so it would be something different and literally on the doorstep, although my main interest is in the actual research. This last trip and the research into probate records at the Borthwick has I believe managed to get my direct paternal line back to my 7 times great grandfather Robert who died in 1658 - something I thought I would never achieve because of the common surname and problems with early parish registers. The fact that they were yeoman farmers who left a trail of wills has been a real boon to me as it has been possible to map out their families from the names and places mentioned in the very detailed wills. I have also identified Robert's father-in-law who made his will in 1670 believing that perhaps at the age of about 76 it was time (despite being in good health). The father-in-law would therefore have been born during the reign of Elizabeth 1 and his will shows that he owned land in Staxbie (Stakesby) and Russup (Ruswarp) in the parish of Whitbie which had me really excited as I was smitten with Whitby and that general coastal area on my first visit to Yorkshire in 2001 and hoped for a connection, despite at the time only knowing about links 12 miles inland. Having now seen an original wills book for the first time, I was amazed to find that the very poor quality of the microfilm copy was not down to the age of the original which was in PERFECT condition but poor scanning. From the advice given at this last Yorksgen I need to also get to grips with deeds and Yorkshire Fines - so hopefully something positive will come from this advice in 2013. I think we will have to go with Janice's advice on the accommodation for 2013 and for those who haven't been before and are still hesitant about whether to go or not - go for it. I have now been for the past three years and if you arrive on your own it can be a bit daunting the first time but you soon settle in. Staying in York makes it easy and relatively cheap either by car or public transport to access most of the Yorkshire record offices (depending on your area of interest). Being such a great tourist place with so much history there is plenty to do and see apart from the research so it doesn't have to be all work and no play. Margaret O'Shea (nee Robinson) Oxford Message: 2 Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:45:34 +0100 From: Sue Taylor <sutaylor@blueyonder.co.uk> Subject: [YORKSGEN] Yorksgen 2013 costs To: "YORKSGEN@rootsweb.com" <yorksgen@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <501BB9DE.90503@blueyonder.co.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Have done the sums on each option of accommodation at June/July 2013 costs - parking/WiFi are based on this years costs: Wentworth College Bed and Breakfast: 14 nights ?686.40 Parking (Mon-Fri): 10 days ?65.00 WiFi: Free Total: ?751.40 (this includes Breakfast, is in a peaceful location (according to York Uni website feedback) and I assume can provide accessible accommodation) Halifax Court Accommodation only: 14 nights ?319.20 Parking (Mon-Fri): 10 days ?65.00 WiFi: ?10 Total: ?394.20 (this doesn't include Breakfast, isn't in a peaceful location and can't offer accessible accommodation) York Racecourse Bed and Breakfast: 13 nights ?377.00 Parking (Mon-Fri): Free WiFi: Free Total: ?377.00 (for a fair comparison 14 nights B&B would be ?406) - (this includes Breakfast, can provide accessible accommodation and I assume is in a peaceful location) For non car users the costs obviously changes: Wentworth College: ?686.40 (14 nights) Halifax Court: ?320.20 (14 nights) York Racecourse: ?377.00 (13 nights) / (14 nights ?406.00) I'm more than willing to pay an extra ?56.80 for 13 nights B&B in a peaceful location, in quieter accommodation (no doors banging), with accessible accommodation, which includes breakfast and with no hassle about sheet changing, changing houses etc. I am concerned about the lack of self-catering facilities, that will bump up the cost of the stay, having to eat out everyday is expensive - although to be fair we usually eat quite a few evening meals at local pubs/restaurants. Hopefully Janice can negotiate a self-catering facility for us with the Racecourse people. If my memory serves me correctly I've been attending Yorksgen since 2006 and have enjoyed each one. Where else can you spend 2 weeks indulging your passion for family history research with the support and genuine interest from other like minded people. At the end of a hard day at the Archives It's wonderful being able to share your successes/non-successes with the other Yorksgeners who are so willing to offer help, support and suggestions. Family history research can be a lonely occupation but for 2 weeks a year, at Yorksgen, it becomes a shared experience. Regards, Sue