Genealogy Chat

I'm pleased for you! I nearly passed up this type of thing too. I exchanged a couple mails with someone who was building a database of the name I was researching. Considering the amount of people there are with this name I didn't give him details of my great grandparents. Then one day, for some reason, I decided to. Turned out our grandfathers were brothers. I inherited about 50 living relatives in the space of 24 hours. The funny thing is that at one point we lived within 10 miles of each other in Manchester, even though our grandfathers were from Wiltshire. Being an only child with no cousins, this person is my closest blood relative after my children, mother and one and only aunt. He's on the other side of the world but we're hoping to meet up in the summer. Now if I hadn't decided to give him those names...

Jan (took me a while to type my message, saw yours after I posted). Isn't it frustrating when they won't write? My aunt's aunt "took" the family bible when a relative passed away. Then, when I wrote to her a few years later (when I started researching), she WOULD NOT write back, nor would her daughter. This was about 25 years ago and I know she has passed away by now. And of course I don't know how to find her daughter. Jan, perhaps your cousin will contact you eventually? Hope so, anyway.

Andrea and Carol: How exciting for you both! What a treasure -- you were able to expand your trees AND find living relatives! Andrea - have you asked him things about the family that cannot be found through research? I would LOVE to know personal things about my ancestors: what did they look like, were they tall, short, light hair, dark hair, etc. Were there any family traditions? Are there any family tales that have been handed down? You are both very lucky to have found people! Makes all those hours of frustration seem to disappear. :o)

That's wonderful news, Andrea, I'm so pleased for you. I contacted a cousin who might have some information, she didn't even bother to reply. Jan.

I recently joined a family history society and one of their members had the same surname as one I am researching. Discovered we were related and I received loads of info going back about 12 generations. Still sifting through it all, but what a gift. Incidentally, I did thank the person and sent some info I had that they didnt.

Andrea - Wonderful news, how amazing for you - it just goes to show that sometimes you just have to take a chance! S.

I managed to get hold of an address for my Grandad's cousin - the only living relative that I knew of on that branch of the family. It was a bit hit and miss as the address book was old and I didn't know if the guy was still at the same address or whether he had moved (or even died) but I decided to try it anyway and sent a letter. He wrote back straight away and said he would gladly help me out. So I sent him a questionnaire with all the questions I could think of and I have just this minute got his reply. Not only has he answered all my questions but he has also sent me copies of all births, deaths and marriage certificates that he has - 7 in total !!!!! He has also given me other dates of births and deaths, but he doesn't have these certificates, but I can apply for them myself as he has given full details. I am on cloud nine and cannot believe that I very nearly didn't bother writing to this man. I cannot believe my luck. This guy is my pot of gold at the end of my rainbow and I am delighted!! I just thought I would share that with you all and to say that if you have living relatives that you know of, don't be afraid to ask them for help. Just think what you could miss out on!!!!

Please see WONDERFUL message below!!!