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Archiver > ILROOTS > 1999-12 > 0944097193


From: "Tina Hall" <>
Subject: [ILROOTS] re: request concerning the TH !
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 17:13:13 -0800


I have a request to make of those who are sending names in for the Treasure
Hunt. I am one of those who are doing lookups on the surnames that come
across the list, and I've run into some problems while researching the
names. I'd like to ask you all to give a time frame that you want checked.
If you are looking for the parents of a person born in, let's say, 1850,
then you could let us know that you need the 1800's checked. Sending you
records that you already have won't help you, and is frustrating for you.
Sending you data from the 1600's or 1700's might not help you for years to
come.

Here is what I'm facing, if I get a hit on your surname in a military
database, am I looking for a revolutionary solder? a civil war soldier?
perhaps a WWI vet? Let's say I find a listing of civil war soldiers with
your surname, and your family didn't move into the area until after the
civil war. In this case, I've sent you information that is useless to you. I
want to give you what you need, not what you don't.

Marriage databases go up to about 1850, with some exceptions. If I know that
your search is for the late 1800's to early 1900's, I won't check these
databases, and can spend more time looking elsewhere for you. It also let's
me know that I won't find who you are looking for in the census indices
either. IL census indices at Ancestry.com only go up to 1870, and only list
the head of household. Chances are I won't find yours in there, and you are
saving me some research time.

If I have a time frame for the folks you are looking for, even if you don't
know the county they were in, I can streamline my search and concentrate on
the databases that will give you the best possible matches. This is what I
strive for - a good match! I seem to have this uncanny knack for finding
other peoples ancestors. Don't ask me why! I have several brick walls that I
am up against in my own lines and in different eras!

Please help us researchers to help you better. %^)

happy hunting,
Tina Hall


Tina's Family Genealogy Page at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~thall/

Steve and Tina's Home Pages at:
http://www.netos.com/hallfamil

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