How cross would you be, or am I over reacting?

[justmej]

Even nicer when they acknowledge the person who it came from (as I do) 

I agree and my information has just been acknowledged, even though it was not quite what I expected!

I was delighted to find a tree, which matched one of my family lines, so I contacted the owner and outlined my connection.  I waited impatiently for a reply and I didn't have to wait too long... I eagerly opened the message to read 'Thank you, I'll update my tree'... and they have!

justmej

[Jellis]

Dear Justmej

The very same thing happened to me quite recently.  No answer to my questions, either.  I did get another message from this person thanking me for the information!

It's not the same 'cousin' is it?   

[justmej]

It's not the same 'cousin' is it?   

It could well be!   Most annoying, but their loss, as I have lots of information I could have shared with them.

justmej

[shan42]

I agree with what some people have said already about the fact that you have done the research, and you KNOW that it's you who put all the hours/months/years in, and you have achieved something wonderful for your efforts, but I'd feel a bit precious about mine too... 

I have to add 'fair play' to all of you who have the patience to add thousands of tree members, I'm only trying to do direct links (at the moment) and nobody seems to share my tree, boo hoo! 

[lesleyhannah]

I have to add 'fair play' to all of you who have the patience to add thousands of tree members, I'm only trying to do direct links (at the moment) and nobody seems to share my tree, boo hoo!

That happened to me - which is why I started to expand sideways. I couldn't get any further back with my direct lines, so I started to research siblings and the marriage partners. The amazing thing is I started to get contacts much more often from these 'distant' relatives, and gradually added information to my more direct ancestors. Also it does build up a fuller picture of the lives my ancestors lived. I expect the scandals that affected my distant relatives in Yorkshire also affected my direct ancestors - my great-grandmother's cousins all ended up with criminal records - she must have known them as they lived very close. I'm glad I did that research because it explained an awful lot.

So while you're waiting for the 'important' information you need, it's well worth while looking at cousins and inlaws. Finding out about the people isn't the same as just adding the names - it really does add to the enjoyment of the research.

Lesley

[Nick29]

Yes, that's exactly what I do Lesley.  Sometimes researching the branch lines can bring clues which may not break down the wall, but might put some cracks in it 

[cassofromdyers]

Well I answered a little while ago about how I had been lucky about my information not reaching the internet without my knowledge. Well it has happened. I don't know if I'm cross, angry or just upset. While posting another message about my husband's ancestor in the 39th Regiment of Foot, someone suggested a site with information on him. Quite excited I went straight to the site and found all my research on this ancestor there. Even mention of an aunt (95) who remembers her family talking about this soldier. Now this aunt (Matriach of the Family) turns 98 today so this has been there for the past 3 years. My annoyance was that I had only distributed this information within the living cousins (7) and told them some facts had to be proven yet. Now all the wrong information has been put on the internet. The authors e-mail address is now invalid, so I still don't know where it came from. Am contacting everyone just to satisfy my own curiosity. It did make me CROSS, but then as everyone said 'We are researching for our own personal reasons and our own enjoyment.' If people want the glory, without the research then they are missing out on meeting new people, getting help from others and enjoying the pleasure of finding something that happened to people they have never met. Over the years many, many people from all different backgrounds have helped me in all different ways. I know that if I wish to retrace any steps they would be very glad to help me if they could. That is what I think its all about. Looking, finding, solving, proving and all the other ings.
So now I have written this I feel better. If people look at this information and take it as gospel without checking then that is their problem not mine. I did contact the site owner and explained I would be willing to furnish correct information with source documents if they were interested. Haven't heard back yet.
Wendy

[shan42]

Thanks Lesley & Nick, oh believe me I want the juicy bits from my family, lol!! 
Cassofromdyers - I totally agree, having help from intrested people no way detracts from the excitment of piecing the puzzle together, but just copying other people's info must be incredibly dull! I've just found a distant family member on this board tonight, I'd never have known if I hadn't got stuck searching 

[Jellis]

There's a branch of my tree on Rootsweb.  They seem to have descended from my 3xg grandparents but goodness knows how they've managed it as they think they descend from a son who died in childhood.  The whole thing is a mess and I did wonder whether to try the email address and tell them but I decided not to.  I doubt they'd thank me for it!