Genealogists' most hated phrase

[majm]

A couple of years ago I ran across a tree where a fellow's wife's name in the listing had had the words "I dunno" inserted where her maiden surname should have been.  Someone else, I discovered, had taken that literally (?) and put her into their own tree as "Lily I. Dunno" 

Oh I am having a grand laugh Deb D .... I reckon Lily I Dunno could most likely be related to AKA       ... reminds me of the time I read about John Smith Alien .... he was of course NOT  found on any Naturalization Certificates in various archives in Australia.   

(Well he didn't need to be naturalised, he was already a British Subject, born in England, emigrated to NSW (came free) 1820's .....

I did ask that particular tree owner if the surname was " most likely" SMITH and they assured me it was Alien because that's how it was in those days.  They were Aliens in NSW .... They had letters to prove it, he had signed them  " I remain your obedient Servant, John Smith Alien in a foreign land"

Cheers,  JM

[Les de B]

I have a dislike for RootsChat Topics headings similar to "HELP NEEDED URGENTLY!!!" - Yes, we all need help, but do we need it  " URGENTLY!!! ". Your ancestors have been dead for that many years, so what's another couple of days, weeks, etc......... A polite request is all that is required.

Les

[rotosis]

MAJM  your tale gave me a good laugh, it shows that it doesn t matter how much you explain, they still dont get it.

My pet heateis like Spidermonkeys.  "Oh yes i remember that" well alongthose line anyway and it is always after the fact.  I also dont like it when you do research on what little info given and they get back to you...."Oh i knew that, and that" etc....grrrr.

I wish my mother would write down all she remembers, and my dad for that matter, it would be wonderful.

Rotosis

[majm]

Well you see I do have a very long list of quirky things as I am a direct descendant of a John and Mary Smith ....

    

I think my top pick would actually be a transport question "Did they come by horse or did they walk all the way along those roads"  I was sharing information with someone who seemed to be quite sensible .....I had written about the (sea) roads.  I wrote back "They were under the command of Captain Middleton on the Harmony arriving 27 Sept 1827 from London 4 June"

So if you ever perhaps read about a horse named Harmony who was led by Captain Middleton all the way London to Sydney in 1827, pay NO heed, it would be someone MISUNDERSTANDING...

Cheers,  JM   

[jc26red]

Think Lily I Dunno and AKA must be related to Ditto, I've seen loads of them around  

I have to admit I go along with Guy and don't mind seeing not known/most likely etc., its when a name is put down as copied in stone and is blatently wrong that object to or getting mails from people who INSIST they are right when they have no proof whatsoever.

I try to make sure I double check everything from other  sources anyway.  On the whole though, I've come across more fellow researchers who don't mind a healthy discussion on a "not known or most likely" than the head in the sand name collectors .

Think my dad must be of the same generation as your MIL spidermonkey!  That phrase "of course I knew that, didn't think you wanted that kind of info" is the most frustrating sentence I've heard.

[Wiggy]

Well I really wish my gran were still alive - she knew so much family history in her head and I wasn't listening when I was 30 - dammit!   She knew who was related to whom and how - oh Gran . . . tell me all again!!!   

[Tephra]

I don't mind possibly, unknown, thought to be or could be, I could put up with I Dunno and even AKA........ the thing that gets me is The Blank Space........  you know the one, you see it all the time on certs                       that one, through the bit where the fathers name should be     

[mlr0663]

So funny some of these stories ~ my hated phrase comes from members of my own family "..............I NEED a copy of the family tree, my Mum tells me that you have done "some" research and I WANT a copy" 

Arrgghhhh - "some" research amounts to over 15 years and lots of hard slog and eye strain reading various mircrofiches etc and travelling many miles to records offices ~ which has led me back to the time of Henry VIII.  The one time I replied to a cousin and let her have a copy I found it faithfully reproduced on a website the very next day with her taking plaudits for all her hard work and extensive research ~ never again and never do I publish my family tree online!!!

Also hate the blank space on a birth cert where the father's name should be........ that would solve so many puzzles.

Nothing can replace your own joy and satisfaction at making a small hole in that brick wall off the back of your own research and persistence ...... keep the faith listeners

Margaret
x

[Billyblue]

So funny some of these stories ~ my hated phrase comes from members of my own family "..............I NEED a copy of the family tree, my Mum tells me that you have done "some" research and I WANT a copy"
 Margaret
x

Aren't they the pits?!  My favourite aunt turned out to be my cousin - not dad's sister but his sister's out of wedlock child.  Two of her children accepted the news with equanimity, but the eldest (girl) said I must be wrong and demanded a copy of all the certificates etc.   I asked for a contribution towards photocopying etc. and have not heard from her since though I still send a Christmas card and letter each year, and correspond with her siblings (who also think she's lost the plot)       

Dawn M