NYMONROE-L Archives

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Subject: IF YOU WANT HELP
Date: 12 May 2005 07:37:40 -0600

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.

Classification: Query

Message Board URL:

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SUB.2ACI/6629

Message Board Post:

Just a friendly set of suggestions to those of you seeking genealogical help on boards like this…

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE provide as much info as you can…asking for help finding Joan Smith really doesn’t give me a clue as to who or what you want…

Instead try something like: “Looking for parents (siblings, children, husband, etc.) of Joan Smith.” Then include as much other information as you can: birth year, spouse’s name, children’s names, parents names or what ever you DO have ! Even an educated guess is better then NO other information. And please don’t tell me you don’t KNOW anything else…you obviously think this person is related to you…HOW ? You have to at LEAST know that so it provides clues as to where to search for information.

If you don’t provide other info, then two things are likely to occur. First, I (or other researchers) are going to waste time chasing data you already have, thus resulting in a lot of frustration when we hear back from you that you “already knew that”. Second, researchers like myself are going to ignore your request because I am trying to help people that seem to really WANT and NEED my help. Your request will be left unfulfilled.

If you want my/our help, then HELP US HELP YOU by providing as much information as possible in your request: name, spouse, children, ages, DOBs, POBs, etc. Extending myself and my energy only to be told “I already have that information” is incredibly frustrating when your original request suggests you have no other information on the person you seek.

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