Newbies

[Bo Peep]

The aims of Brit-Gen are simple. We want to help you with your family history research, but we also want to meet other like-minded people and have some fun along the way.

It can be very disconcerting to be a 'newbie' to a forum; worried about making a mistake with posting; asking what seems to you to be a trivial question, etc. Let me assure you that it doesn't matter, no one will poke fun at you. What is important is that you join us and participate.

If you have a family history query, please find the appropriate forum, post your question using 'Post a New Thread' giving as much information as you can; approximate time frame, place, etc. It is very easy, I promise.

Please be assured that you privacy is of paramount importance to us and if you have decided to keep your email addres private, we will never divulge your details to anyone.

Come on, don't just lurk in the background as a guest, get registered and come and join us.

[tony vines]

"No one will poke fun at you" You must be joking!

[Bo Peep]

Just because you are a flasher!

[Pam Downes]

"No one will poke fun at you" You must be joking!Not at newbies, we don't.
And I also consider that we are very professional when answering queries.
However, I will admit that there are parts of 'other stuff' you enter at your peril. :D :D
Pam

[MarkJ]

The important thing is to not be afraid to post! Nobody will think a question is "daft" - everyone has to start somewhere.
It really helps to get assistance if the person asking can supply at least a little detail - it doesn't have to be detailed (but the more detailed the easier to assist). A rough date or area is helpful if asking about a specific family - ideally with any information you already have (if you do have any).
You don't even have to post at first if you don't want to - it may be easier to register and follow the "new posts" for a week or two to get a feel for the forum. But never feel that you can't post because you are new to genealogy or are afraid of asking the wrong question or posting in the wrong section!
We don't bite (well, most of us anyway!) ;)

Mark

[Clive Blackaby]

One hint for "newbies" (and others for that matter)

A title like "Please help me find James Scroggins, Watford, 1766" is more likely to get serious help than "Lookup Wanted please"

And if we do poke fun at anyone, it probably means you've been accepted into "the community" |cheers|

[Brian Turnbull]

Like a lot of other members of the forum I can vouch for the help I have received. Places to try for information and also to some extent a sounding board for an idea on research. I have also been able on a couple of occasions to be able to return the favour with help to another enquirer.
Brian

[busyglen]

That's part of the fun of it isn't it Brian? When I started asking questions, I hadn't a clue that I might be able to help someone else later on down the line. Sometimes, a question is asked, and at that moment I haven't a clue, but decide to do some looking anyway......how fulfilling it is when you actual find something that may be of help, plus I learn something new along the way. :)

Glenys

[Clive Blackaby]

How true - you'll find all sorts of odd bods on here (present company not excluded) at all sorts of odd hours of the night, and many will burn some midnight oil rooting around on your behalf, just for the love of it.

Some of us have a good sense of humour. Others have a decidedly wierd sense of humour.

Quite a few of us are proud to be labelled "Grumpy old men (or women)", and there are some (no names, no pack drill, you know who you are guys) will sometimes reply in a manner that is a bit off-putting, but still gives sound common sense advice once you've recovered from the apparent "swipe". So even when you think "you've been FLAMED" by one of the moderators, you'll always learn something from the experience!!

[supergran36]

|blush| Hi I am a Newbie to the site and have a question or three to ask. How far back do the records of birth go? Which is the best site to use for tracing? And how do I go about searching Parish Records??? PHEWWWWWWW |help|



Supergran

[Bo Peep]

|blush| Hi I am a Newbie to the site and have a question or three to ask. How far back do the records of birth go? Which is the best site to use for tracing? And how do I go about searching Parish Records??? PHEWWWWWWW |help|



Supergran

|wave| Hello Supergran and welcome.

This is the BEST site for getting help, not that I am at all prejudiced! If you post your research names in the Surname Interests section, and queries in the relevant county forums, you will be off to a good start. Remember to include as much info. as you can when posting a query. Oh yes, and parish registers were started in 1538.

[Dipsey]

|blush| Hi I am a Newbie to the site and have a question or three to ask. How far back do the records of birth go? Which is the best site to use for tracing? And how do I go about searching Parish Records??? PHEWWWWWWW |help|



Supergran

Depending on what County and the Parish, 1560 to 1600 is about the furthest one can research Parish registers. You can post your research queries on Brit Gen, we are a helpfully bunch, some one is always willing to help you. There are many other ways the information can be obtained; Family History Societies, Persons that transcribe registers or go to the record office of the county you are researching.

[hutchshottie]

Hey.
Just thought i would introduce myself. My name is Catrina and i have been researching my family tree for 3 odd years. It all started with a strange name on a headstone and now i have so many relatives i am overwhelmed.
I am looking forward to exchanging tips and joining in with discussions. I am based in Ipswich so i am willing to help anyone in the area if they have questions. I think after 3 years i have got enough experience.

See you all around

[Dave]

12,000 th member just signed up

|biggrin||biggrin||biggrin||biggrin|

[Bo Peep]

12,000 th member just signed up

|biggrin||biggrin||biggrin||biggrin|

Yes, new member, Lesley is number 12,000. Wow, this forum is really growing fast and that is because you are all so great at helping people with their research queries and really nice, friendly folk too.

[GeoffD]

And allow me to welcome a new(ish) member, too. You might have seen me posting questions about DACE names recently - it was a contact from sue2white that got me motivated to look into the details of my great-great grandmother's half siblings, and to find out more about my "Essex Mob".

I'll soon have worked out my relationship to this new-found half cousin.

Welcome, Sue. You have now seen at first hand just how helpful these wonderful folks are.