Congratulations

[Jane M]

Congratulations & a very big Thank You to Rod & his team for this message board! It's well thought out and easy to use, I'm sure it's going to be a vast improvement on the last system.
Jane

[Rod Neep]

Congratulations & a very big Thank You to Rod & his team for this message board! It's well thought out and easy to use, I'm sure it's going to be a vast improvement on the last system.
JaneThanks :)
What I have been able to do, as it started from scratch, is start with a logical structure for the many forums. Places / Country / Counties / Places within counties, all in their proper positions in the hierarchy, and therefore easy to find. Similarly with General genealogy and topics.
It's been kind of fun setting it all up, and I'm really pleased that people are coming on board! We have been running it for about a week now, but it was only today that I made a formal announcement of it being here.
Please go spread the news :)
Regards
Rod

[ZebUK]

Hi, I just signed up and there doesn't seem to be much on here. I found the site from GenesConnected and was wondering whether this forum has recently been cleaned?

[John]

Hi, I just signed up and there doesn't seem to be much on here. I found the site from GenesConnected and was wondering whether this forum has recently been cleaned?

Not quite, it's recently come into being, it was started less than two weeks ago. So everything is very new :)

John

[Larry]

I just signed up and would like to thank Rod for the work he has put into the structure of this board. I hope this site catches on as it could be an amazing place to visit and share information. One comment, I found the options for turning items off and on more than a little confusing. I still don't know if I got my choices right but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

As a side-note I have been actively researching the TREVERTON surname on a worldwide basis for approximately eight years. If anyone has an interest in the name please feel free to drop my an e-mail.

Larry - Researching All Things TREVERTON

[Lindad]

Rod - you've done a brilliant job! Thank you! You (and any others that have been working with you) certainly deserve a gold medal as far as I'm concerned.

I've been using the GenesReunited message boards for a couple of years now. They started out being very simple and they have been very useful. But the whole site has now become so unwieldy that I've more or less given up using it - apart from to give plugs for BG-Forums, TribalPages, GenCircles, etc.! :)

[Rod Neep]

Send some of them over here :)
I notice from the membership list here, that we have some really experienced genealogists who can help sort out sticky problems, epecially by giving good advice on how to go about things.
Regards
Rod

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Hello Rod,

Well, I finally got here ....... better late than never! (Imagine a smiley face, as I've forgotten how to do 'em, and I've only just finished reading all the FAQ's! It's my age showing again! )

Regards,
Diane

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Ooooh ...... Just seen that I'm a JUNIOR Member ..... thanks very much!!

Diane

[Linda]

Glad you made it Diane - Congratulations on becoming a junior - but it seems that the more messages you post, the older you get! !:eek:

LC :D

[Jackie Reilly]

I need advice and I'm hoping that this is the forum to get it!

I've reached the stage with my research where I would like visit the places my family lived from 1800 and earlier if I can find them. They travelled through three areas of the UK; from Mileham in Norfolk, to Seaham/Crook with Billy Row in Durham; and then Bury, Lancashire.

I've gleaned a lot of information from sites like this and those with census material and feel a real urge to go to each of these places, not just to feel that I'm walking in their footsteps and to get a real feel of the places, but to attempt to tie up some ragged ends of my research and consolidate my findings.

The question I would like to ask some of the very knowledgeable researchers on this site is: Knowing what you know now...what advice would you give to make the best possible use of a trip to an area you have never visited before?

Regards
Jackie

[Geoffers]

The question I would like to ask some of the very knowledgeable researchers on this site is: Knowing what you know now...what advice would you give to make the best possible use of a trip to an area you have never visited before?
Get decent maps of the area of interest, and if possible photos. If you're familair with the layout of an area, it's easier to get to places and maps will help you put places into context.

Plan what you want to find out beforehand - i.e. write down individual targets, the reasons why you're trying to locate them and what you hope to find from them.

Telephone Record Centres (or check the centre's website) beforehand to make sure that they have the records you want and to see if you need to book a seat - also see if you can book a specific document in advance, so that it's ready when you get there. Also if you need to have an ID card and if they can issue it.

Take a camera with you and don't leave it on the roof of a car, on a park bench, in a cafe, drop it in a river, etc.

Take plenty of pencils with you, along with decent notebooks (A4 exercise books are ideal). Eat and drink before you begin. When you first go into a record centre, wander around and get used to the layout.

Geoffers

[Guy Etchells]

When visiting locations where your ancestors lived I suggest walking, whenever possible, so much is missed in a car.
When walking through a village or town very often the frontages at street level have been changed and modernised - look up to the first floor and roofs; here often the old fabric remains or at least clues to the old fabric.
Whenever possible try to walk down the back of properties and down the alleys and lanes, be prepared to enter the past as the buildings and highways reveal their secrets.
As Geoffers mentioned get maps preferably old ones
Cheers
Guy

[Jo Simpsons]

Hi Jackie,

I would also say try and check out the area first before getting out of your car! Not to alarm you. I went to take some photos of an area for another person who lives abroad and has no idea what this place looks like. I don't get out very often and was very much up for helping this man and visiting an area I had never been since a child. Packed up for the day, armed with maps and locations, a camera and plenty of batteries (and lunch!) Some of the places we didn't even get out of the car, you were looked on as very much a stranger! Taking photos even worse! Just be careful. Good luck too.
Jo :)

[John]

The question I would like to ask some of the very knowledgeable researchers on this site is: Knowing what you know now...what advice would you give to make the best possible use of a trip to an area you have never visited before?

Regards
Jackie
Adding to Geoff and Guys excellent contributions. Befreind a local researcher and use them as native guide, escort, translator, etc etc.I'm sure you'd find somebody on these boards with an interest in and knowledge of the areas of interest to you.

john