Marriage Witness Index .. IMPORTANT

[joboy]

I know that I have raised this subject before (many years ago) and feel that it is about time it is aired again.
The late Ted Wildy of NZ compiled such an index which was a wonderful resource in which interested people would post the names of witnesses to marriages and by so doing anybody who viewed the index could identify other relations in that tree.
When Ted died the list did,in part, died with him.
Hugh Winters (God bless him) of NZ did hang on to the NZ portion of the index and it is still active.
The UK and Australian portions have been sorely handled and what you can find of them via rootsweb MWI Index is only a shadow of what Ted was striving for.
The thought occured to me that such an index would be worthwhile in rootschat.
At over 80 I am afraid that time is running out for me to even think of how this may be accomplished so I throw it open to the court of public opinion.
Take a look at rootsweb MWI to get an idea of what it's all about.
joboy

[Caseyfnz]

The UK Marriage Witness index was given to Faye Guthrie of Australia. She and her helpers had it Rootweb for a while without any reference as to where it was from, and with the names of the contributors missing. After some pushing Ted's name was added, then a few month later the database was removed by Faye.

A lot of extra data was contributed after Ted died.

Now it sits unused, which is not in keeping with what Ted intended.

Those who want a look up can write to Faye via her website, not that I am aware if such requests are processed.

The URL is

http://members.optushome.com.au/guthrigg/

I am very annoyed that this database fell into the hands of those who see it as their preserve to do with as they wish. Sharing resources and information is what this hobby is all about.

Ada Ackerly of Melbourne, Australia, has the Australian MWI.

Keith Flinders

[joboy]

OK ....... we are getting a lot of readers of this topic but only one 'taker' (Keith) so perhaps some more information is in order.
Have a look at this site to see how important this resourse can be:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvic/mwi.htm
Joe

[Caseyfnz]

I might be wrong but the link to http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvic/mwi.htm contains the early data from the Australian MWI, and not much or any of the data added after Ted's work was passed to the new holder.

Keith Flinders 

[Caseyfnz]

Good news re the UK Marriage Witness Index

It will soon be hosted at  http://www.genealogy-britain.org.uk/

with some 80,000 entries.

Keith

[jethorp]

would this mean that I could enter the names of the witnesses that are shown on the marriage certs of my rellies,if so this is a wonderful idea.Sorry if I seem "dumb" but its been a long day!

[joboy]

Great News indeed Keith .......... we have been waiting far too long to have them where they truly belong.
Joe

[joboy]

would this mean that I could enter the names of the witnesses that are shown on the marriage certs of my rellies,if so this is a wonderful idea.Sorry if I seem "dumb" but its been a long day!

You sure can .......... start getting them ready now ... I've started already and every one of us 60,000 rootschatters should think seriously about it too,
Just a simple worksheet with the following headings;
Groom     Bride    Marriage place and date    Witness(es)
Quite easy really.
Joe

[Dancing Master]

I don't understand this, if someone has donated some work to an individual upon their decease then it becomes the property of that person and presumably all rights to it becomes theirs'

Why would other people want access to it. have they contributed to it in the past?   

If I leave my work to an individual or organisation without such provisos that it is available to all and sundry, then there are  no rights of access. 

I think that if this is the sort of problems that come up when you donate work I won't be doing that apart from direct family with full and detailed instructions as to who is allowed access it.

I just find it all very strange indeed.