LONDON-L Archives

Archiver > LONDON > 2002-07 > 1027728888


From: Joe Bissett <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] KILLINGLY/KILLINGLEY Eulogy
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 19:19:15 -0500
References: <3D40A9ED.DF0CC8A9@tpg.com.au>
In-Reply-To: <011401c234cc$2e4a7700$3120383e@GeoffBlaxall>


Hmmmm.....???

I seemed to have fomented a tempest with my initial reply suggesting that
the new lister try to supply additional information.

As some of you know, I ' try ' to provide questioners with as much
information as I have time to dig out. I've also left several TIP type
messages, hopefully showing newer searchers how to optimize their
efforts. I must admit that when I see a request message the next day that
easily could have been avoided, or improved dramatically by reading my tip,
my frustration level does a quick jump.

BUT - I then must remember my very first queries on the old CompuServe
Forum ... when I could not even spell London ....... So, in most cases
where Lyn doesn't beat me to the punch, I try and provide some type of
response. Since I did not remember the original message, I reasoned that I
probably just deleted it due to a lack of useful clues to help with my
search. Since the name in question is rather uncommon, I now can not even
fathom why I deleted it. No matter.....

For the questioner ... and all newbies who are researching in the UK:

It would be WONDERFUL if you would simply say " I looked in Free BMD
without success ", or any meaningful statement to show me what I DON'T need
to waste time with because you have already ' been there - done that '.

In this case, a search of Free BMD using KILLINGL*Y for ALL TYPES, LONDON
1837-1901 produced ZERO hits. However, when I changed LONDON to ALL
COUNTIES, then several pages of B,M and D records became available. The
search took all of 15 seconds, and I now feel a little sad that I didn't do
it earlier.

I would like to suggest to the list owners that the URL for Free BMD, along
with 5-10 words of enlightenment, be added to the TAG line of every list
message. I believe that EVERYONE researching in the UK should be made
aware of this marvellous resource from the first moment that they receive a
list message. Then I, and others, can spend time more productively,
suggesting ways to optimize search techniques, etc.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the tempest....can I now ask that we all get back to
what we do best? That is -- newbies asking frustrating questions ;-) and
oldbies trying to remember where they filed the newbie's question?

Thanks, Joe Bissett, PIGGOTT List Administrator/Rootsweb






I use Archive CD Books in my genealogical research to access otherwise
unavailable primary source material.


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