Genealogy Chat

Most people who have contacted me for access have been genuine - agree with everyone to check them out first - as would I be genuine. But I had a dodgy request not long ago, someone "needed to contact" Mr X who was the grandson of Mr Y. It so happened that I know who Mr X is (but he is not in my tree for viewing as he is still alive), and I also happen to have Mr X's current address. But this Mr X is quite far removed from me, I made contact with his wife years ago as we share a mutual great aunt who was featured in a magazine, but apart from that I don't know her at all. So no way was I giving out any information.

I replied to the person asking for his private email address and said I would "try" to pass this on to Mr X - and I heard nothing more.

I think we have to be very careful not to assume that every enquirer has genuine motives, and as Evie says, giving out any information is an infringement of their personal rights.

Take care

Maggie

Most people who have contacted me for access have been genuine - agree with everyone to check them out first - as would I be genuine. But I had a dodgy request not long ago, someone "needed to contact" Mr X who was the grandson of Mr Y. It so happened that I know who Mr X is (but he is not in my tree for viewing as he is still alive), and I also happen to have Mr X's current address. But this Mr X is quite far removed from me, I made contact with his wife years ago as we share a mutual great aunt who was featured in a magazine, but apart from that I don't know her at all. So no way was I giving out any information.

I replied to the person asking for his private email address and said I would "try" to pass this on to Mr X - and I heard nothing more.

I think we have to be very careful not to assume that every enquirer has genuine motives, and as Evie says, giving out any information is an infringement of their personal rights.

Take care

Maggie

Definitely worth saying twice, Maggie! ;)

I was just thinking -- I have never ever initiated contact by asking to see someone's tree. That just seems awfully presumptuous to me, and wouldn't occur to me.

I have always started out by saying something like:
Hello, possible cousin! You have so-and-so in your tree. My so-and-so, born this year in that place, is the father of the mother of my grandmother. The child I am descended from is such-and-such, and the other children were these and those. Does that sound like your so-and-so? If so and you're a descendant of so-and-so, then it seems we're cousins; but you may be more distantly related?

Then they can tell whether we sound related. I guess it's that I'm usually thinking about finding cousins, rather than about finding dead ancestors!

I do something similar to Evie


I say the name of the mutual person, and how I think he is related to me (my great grandfather was called xxxxxx born ca .??? in xxxxx, he married xxxxxx and had children, including xxxxx who was my grandmother) ..... and then ask "do you think we might have a match?"


Soemtimes the answer is no, sometimes yes


If yes, I will then go on to exchange information on that particular branch of my tree ...... I have only opened my tree to about 5 people, and then only after quite a period of email exchanges.


In actual fact, I have a very small percentage of my tree on here, so I couldn't give people much information by opening it!



sylvia

Linda am i right in thinking that you have allowed this person access to your tree?
if so the damage is likely already done. he could have copied/noted all your rellies already?


bob