From grandfather's sister when I asked where her father was born "can't remember the name of the place but there were green hills and a river"
since it was in Ireland that wasn't much of a clue
"Sorry the records were lost when the town hall burnt in 1853"- to query about records from 1920s
From a researcher wanting information "it doesn't matter if it's for the right person my client is in Canada and won't know the difference" (they know now because about 6 months later they wrote to me directly
)
"It's in a suitcase of my mother's that's under the guestroom bed" in response to asking for family information, photographs, etc. Would have thought it was a myth but 2 things have actually been produced from this suitcase
"The family Bible gave names and dates and the places they came from in Ireland... but I burnt it after mother died" Anyone like to guess how hard it is to trace a family named Kelly from Ireland that went to New York City without details
"I met someone who said they're related to us the other day, they knew all the details on the family...no, I didn't get their name or phone number but they were buying dog food so I think they must have a dog"
"You never said you wanted to see photographs"
"Did I say that? I don't remember saying that."
"your information can't be right because my father told be something different" despite of the fact that I have 1) birth and marriage certificate giving birthplace and 2) father didn't own property until after child was born and 3) house was not built
Unfortunately all true but names have been left out to prtect the guilty
