Lemmings!

[3sillydogs]

They make it sound so easy when in reality it can be a very frustrating past time, but then you get pointed in the right direction (usually by a Rootschatter) and off you go again.   

The discoveries are what keeps it interesting and you learn along the way.....

[Gone]

3sillydogs, all the genealogy sites are good as a guide if you can see past the transription errors, but this, roots chat, is the best thing I ever used for getting me past the brick walls.
But there are people in my tree which would never be suggested because they were kept secret at the time. Those are the ones I love to find 

[3sillydogs]

I have to agree with you that this is the best forum. The sleuths here are amazing. 


I too have found  folk in my tree that I didn't know I had until I started searching,  I have two new cousins as a result but they were the best kept secret and probably would have stayed that way if I hadn't started doing the family tree..  

As you say they are the ones that are the most fun to find.....

[coombs]

RootsChat is a virtual ancestry database now as we probably have found out info on hundreds of thousands of people, handy for newbies. This is probably the best ever site for breaking down brickwalls.

I know people who have copied my tree and my photos, and if they are correct in the general info on an ancestor I dont mind, as these people are also other peoples ancestors as well as mine.

I find it annoying when others have a person who is living in 3 places in 1881, all different areas of the country.

[Gone]

I have to agree, I'll never get answers on one part of my family because records are missing. I only found out by asking for help on here. But anyone else looking for the same part of that family will be saved a lot of time and frustration because the conversation relating to them is searchable on here.

As for photos, I've shared with people and got some in return that might not be my direct line but a sibling of, still very much wanted,

And my relative was in 2 places in 1871, but he'd left his wife and children, she for whatever reason, put him on the census when he was actually in a different county, probably hiding from her  she was a bit of a wildcat.

[Maggyanne1950]

I began my researches with a small section of tree from an uncle, which contained several errors. This alerted me to the pitfalls. I seldom look at other trees now, they are so disapointingly full of assumptions. I have spent the last 6 months buying certificates to prove my connections back to 1837. Before that, everything seems a bit more open to error. I do, however put speculative ancestors on my tree, to see what hints come up. If they prove to be wrong, I correct them. I put maybe and on entries I'm not certain of.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I also started with a tree from family that although "good in parts", did prove to have errors - spent ages finding out the correct partners / dates / children etc., and can't see how the "Lemmings" enjoy what they're doing.
It's vital to check everything out. People here are brilliant at helping, and it gives you such a glow when in turn you can be a little help to someone else. Long may it flourish! (Someone once said to me "Oh, that's a quiet, boring, solitary thing to do, rootling out ancestors" - how wrong can it be? All the help, chat and natter on here? Meeting "real registers and records, as well, of course, and, yes, there are real people there at Record Offices etc, and you get chatting to them, too.....) But - who would be a lemming? That's close down your tree in a hurry, as you vanish over the cliff.....

[josey]

I've spent 100's of hours on line and reading every word on certificates, (some illegible)

It's only actually illegible when all the rootschat pundits have declared it as such 

[Gone]

Maggyanne I have bought so many certificates over the years. Not only to prove a connection, but the extra info like witnesses which can throw up unknown family, but death certs are my favourite, having a couple of ailments myself, I know who to blame now