LONDON-L Archives

Archiver > LONDON > 2002-07 > 1027712195


From: Liz <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] KILLINGLY/KILLINGLEY
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 20:37:30 +0100
References: <3D40A9ED.DF0CC8A9@tpg.com.au> <011401c234cc$2e4a7700$3120383e@GeoffBlaxall>


Geoff Lewin Blaxall, Hextable, Kent, UK. wrote:
>
> I am very much a newcomer to this List so I am treading very hesitantly -
> BUT - I am puzzled by the comment that Peg is asking an unanswerable
> question as suggested by cemoor -
>
> It looks to me as if Peg is asking a *very* reasonable question - i.e.
> Does anyone out there have any knowledge of anyone named
> KILLINGLY/KILLINGLEY in the Middlesex area of London ?
>
> I note she carefully uses upper case in the text and she limits her
> "Subject" box to the Surname(s) involved - also in upper case, both of which
> I understand is the proper procedure.
>
> It seems axiomatic to me that - if *you* haven't come across any reference
> to this surname, then please ignore the question and please don't bother
> yourself with it any further.
>
> I am therefore at a loss to understand any necessity for a mass negative
> response = Or am I missing something ?

Dear Geoff,

Mmnn. I think you are missing the motivation.

It is not uncommon for new subscribers to ask this type of very
generalised question. It sometimes indicates that they have not tried to
do any homework before asking their question. I think we were not so
much 'being negative' as attempting to indicate how Peg might increase
her chances of a response.

It is not really enough to know that there were some people called
KILLINGLY at some period of time in Middlesex and Devon. Dates would
help a little ... for instance the date (approx would do) of the first
KILLINGLYs to arrive in Australia and the actual names of any of them
known to have been in London, and approximately when. Peg has mentioned
to me in a private email that an ancestor's marriage cert gives
Middlesex London as the venue but does not say if that is supposed to be
his birthplace, what the date and place of the marriage was and what his
full name was..... without these details it is hard for anyone to
advise, or to look up any information on censuses, trade directories, or
other sources that they might have to hand. *With* that information it
may well be that some assistance can be given.

There may also have been a little 'disgruntlement' from our very helpful
List that as well as not being given sufficient information to assist we
were also chided for not responding after seven hours <vbg>

Incidentally ..the answer to the original message would appear to be
'No.' ... no-one here has knowledge of this family. But that need not be
the end of it. With a bit more information someone might well come up
with something useful.

This is an object lesson, if you like, on how new subscribers might wish
to give thought to how they frame their questions. There is a lot of
goodwill here and a surprising amount of resources and knowledge but the
bottom line tends to be .... the response is only as good as the
question.

Liz (Greenwich UK)
Listowner
LONDON-L

This thread: