Genealogy Chat

Whether or not we help others is a matter of choice, but I do get a bit narked when someone asks how they can find something out and on being told the only way is to go to a records office or buy a certificate [ie spend some of their own time and money] they just go on repeating the request which is unanswerable. I'm not talking about people who CAN'T get to a records office etc. But I've discovered that there comes a point when you have to order some certs, or turn off the computer and get to an archive. nell

How dare they call you old Merry!!! Vanessa

Snowdrop!! You have helped me more than you will know and i greatly appreciate it! Vanessa

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I've noticed that over the last few weeks there are more and more people who, in the wake of WDYTYA, have decided they will research their family tree. Great stuff! Except, they don't actually seem to want to do the research - they get other people to do it for them. The most they do is post requests for census searches, BMDs etc and sit back quietly gathering all the information supplied by eager-to-please Genes members. I just don't understand what is going on. Half the fun of genealogy is doing the searching. Asking other people to do it all for you is the lazy option. I can understand perfectly well people who have hit a brick wall, or are having difficulty locating someone on a census or BMD - yes, that's what these boards are for. But there are some who literally want each ancestor searched from 1841-1901 - and more! Come on folks - if you are intending on taking up genealogy then you must be prepared to do some of the leg work yourselves. It costs very little to subscribe to websites such as Ancestry or 1837online. The rest of us need to spot these freeloaders and nip this in the bud - I've been caught a few times myself where I've answered one search only to be asked for another, and another, and another...and often with very little thanks (if any!). I'm all for helping folks with their family mysteries and searching for the elusive ancestor - I love it, in fact - but I don't like being taken advantage of. Sorry for the rant - maybe the heat has finally got to my head LOL

My thoughts have been running on the same lines.........particularly during the past few days. Reg

I actually enjoy doing look ups as at mo my tree is quite quite and get the same buzz when i find others and most times the people I have helped have said thanks as well Jeanette

I agree Athena and Reg. I find so much satisfaction in finding my own info though must admit to being very grateful for help in my brickwalls. Ancestry is such good value now less than £1.50 per week. Nothing like finding that link for yourself. Perhaps some people don't know if they will carry on and that is why they won't subscribe. But if you are going to go into this seriously I think it is must. Germaine x.

I'm another who gets really enjoyment from searching my tree or others for that matter be it census findings or other data. I think its about re educating the mew ppl. Perhas they are unaware that we're just like them?? Maybe there not , but I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt. Once informed then I'd take a different stance on the matter. What does spoil the fun is when we're so carried away in our look ups we give the poster a mini tree............LOL............. taking the shine of it all for them and perhaps making it too easy for them to ask for help next time around. Much happiness debi

Yes indeed Athena and Reggie! I have been quietly watching a particularly cheeky poster asking for 1881 lookups! Its FREE its FREE its FREE - why cant you do it yourself? Sadly, as soon as the 'regulars' realise who these freeloaders are and quietly withdraw their services, along comes someone else who doesnt know and enthusiastically helps them. OC

Yes, that's what I mean, Deborah. Those of us who really enjoy researching can quite easily be taken advantage of without even realising it half the time. I'm not going to stop helping people entirely - there are some genuine researchers on here who get stuck, just the same as I do from time to time. But I will be keeping my eyes open and avoiding anyone who posts continual requests for look-ups, one after the other on the same day - for various surnames - for all of the census years. If anything, I shall just mention to them that they can easily search the censuses online by subscribing to one of the websites - and that searching for yourself is a lot more fun - but that if they do get stuck on anyone in particular then by all means I'm more than willing to help.

I've had the same thing with BMD look-ups. I have endeavoured to point out that these are free and anyone is capable of doing them, but still the requests keep coming. I've been doing this for about a year now so I know a bit more about it than a complete beginner, but I'm by no means an expert and no more likely to find a particular entry than anyone else. No, I cannot find a marriage between two people with common names, date only known to within ten years or so and place not known at all; and no, Ancestry membership is not a magic wand which can conjure up certificates for free.

********Guilty as Charged********* LOL!!!! ..........Of giving people their whole tree when they didn't ask for it. I'm sorry. I am an addict! LOL The other problem is that it's sooooooo much easier to give them a result than to EXPLAIN what to do, when you only type with two fingers (like me) .................................................................................................so, I leave that for the better typists! LOL Merry

Anthea. I love looking for my rellies and the thrill of finding one is great. But i have one side of the family that are driving me up the wall with the misspelling of their surname over the years. The further back i go the different wording of their name.When i get a result i shout the house down!!! I will still stuggle and struggle untill i admit defeat and then i come on here on bended knee for help. I apprecieate the help and advice given and would like to say a big THANKYOU to all that do help. The village of BRICKWALL is in every county and i understand that there are a few amongs us that are LAZY. What is the point of them doing their trees if they are only going to let others do it for them? Are they going to tell their famlies that it was they who did it or the marvolous people on this site? Vanessa

As I said on General yesterday......someone wrote to me and said, ''Stop doing my tree for me, you old bag'' LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry

Completely agree with what everyone says (both sides, I like to sit on the fence). Then I go to records and think 'oh, it's so much worse on here for freeloaders!' Never mind helping anyone (whether it's a quick look up or a more involved one for someone who's struggling) BUT, when it's the same one's again and again and again asking for great reams then my head hurts from being hit with the hammer. Snowdrops (who tries to help in small ways when she can)

''Middle aged bag'' doesn't sound right though............. Merry

As I keep on pointing out (seemingly to deaf ears) not subscribing to Ancestry is no excuse for not looking. I don't subscribe to Ancestry, but have legitimate access to 1841 - 1891 indexes via the National Archives website, which also gives access to the 1901 index now owned by GR. Although the Ancestry indexes don't reveal every field, they will give the answer to the question posed. There may be too many John Smiths to identify the correct one, but families with less common surnames can often be readily found. As for 1881, there are no less than THREE separate websites, using different search engines and producing the data in slightly different ways. If we want people to improve their skills, we should be asking HOW they have searched for individuals, as well as where. Judith Smith daughter born Southwark 1860 may yield no results, while Jud* born Surrey 1858 - 1862 finds her.

Merry!! You are only as young as you feel!! That`s what my mum used to say. Vanessa

I also often use the search facilities for the 1861 and 1891 census on 1837online because you can search by occupation etc etc - Makes looking up the final entry on Ancestry much easier and costs nothing! Merry (Old Bag)