Dear Folks:
I subscribe to and/or am a member of a number of historical and genealogical Facebook groups, message boards, and list servers. I am the administrator of several and the webmaster for various genealogical and historical websites. Over the past several decades I have seen thousands of queries posted. Below is what I have learned. Take what is useful. While the context is Caswell County, NC, I believe the applicability is universal.
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1. It would help greatly when posting a query to give as much information as possible. Just asking for help finding a relative that once lived in Caswell County is not likely to generate much interest.
(a) Give as much temporal (dates) and geographic (place) information as you can.
(b) If you know the person was once in another area (such as another state), provide that data.
(c) If the family had property in Caswell County, tell where it was.
(d) If you already have some census information or estate records, share them.
(e) If there were variations in the name (given name or surname), explain them.
(f) Let people know the sources you already have consulted so they do not waste their time trying to help you.
(g) Also, a super way to generate interest in your query is to provide something of possible value to others in your message. You are more likely to generate assistance with your plea for help if you include something of value in your message. Too many messages just say: "Help me."
(h) ALWAYS check the Caswell County Genealogy database and the Caswell County NC GenWeb website before asking for help (and state in your message that you have consulted that resource). These resources will be found at:
2. If you post a query with a document attached, you are much more likely to see positive results. If you need help, ask the site's administrator.
I recently observed a lengthy exchange of messages about a will in the possession of one of the participants. Discussion about the will went on for weeks, but no one ever thought about posting the will. That will could have been scanned and uploaded for all to see.
If you are using a genealogical software program to record your findings you can create a GEDCOM file that can be uploaded to show in detail to what your query relates. Snippets of your family tree can be converted to GEDCOM files and uploaded. Genealogy programs such as Family Tree Maker allow outline descendant and genealogy reports to be created. These then can be copied to your message. They need not be long, just enough information to help others help you.
Even without using genealogical software a short ancestral outline easily can be typed. Here is a simple example:
Bartlett Yancey, Sr. m. Nancy Graves
James Yancey m. Zilpah Johnston
Albert Gallatin Yancey m. Mary Graves Miles
Eliza Catherine Yancey m. John Hosea McNeill Kerr
Nanny Emma Kerr m. Dr. Stephen Arnold Malloy, MD
Of course life dates also can be added:
Nanny Emma Kerr (1855-1978) m. Dr. Stephen Arnold Malloy, MD (1872-1944)
This ancestral outline is easy to follow. What is not easy to follow is something along the following lines:
Nanny Emma Kerr, great granddaughter of James Yancey who married Zilpah
Johnston, married Dr. Stephen Arnold Malloy, MD. Her great grandfather
was the son of Bartlett Yancey, Sr. and Nancy Graves. The mother of
Nanny Emma Kerr, Eliza Catherine Yancey, married into the distinguished
Kerr family, being the wife of John Hosea McNeill Kerr. And on, and on,
and on ------
All this information (and much more) is in the simple outline shown above. Please consider using it or something similar.
3. When you learn something relevant to Caswell County and its people share it. Give as much as you receive (or more) and the results could be amazing. When you find an answer to your query independently, post a reply to your own query that closes the loop. Be generous with your research.
4. Post information just to be helpful. If, for example, in your research you come upon a helpful source, a list of Caswell County births, marriages, or deaths, post them. Even if the source, link, or data is not directly relevant to your family line, it could be a wonderful piece of someone's family puzzle. Many do this already.
5. Use the subject line carefully. Just saying "Looking for Whatever Family" is not helpful. NEVER reply to a message that was posted on one subject and begin a discussion about another subject. Start a new string/thread with the appropriate subject line information.
6. Make every attempt to be efficient with your messages and not clutter the site with unnecessary replies. While courtesy is applauded, the worst offender in this category may be a message/post with only the following text: "Thank you." I even saw someone reply to "Thank you." with "You are welcome." This borders on abuse. Don't do it.
7. Unless there is an overriding need for privacy, do not move your Caswell County discussion to private messages or email messages not posted on the site. While I realize there will be times when two or more participants need to correspond privately, it really detracts from the value of the group/site. Where such private correspondence produces helpful information, please go back to the original query and share the findings with all of us.
8. The flip side of number seven is to keep personal messages off the site. Most subscribers really do not want to hear about what you did on your vacation. Use private email/FB messenger for messages not strictly related to the purpose of the group/site.
9. When you have a long or complicated message break it into separate paragraphs. Numbering them is helpful because it provides a reference point for someone who wishes to reply. A long stream-of-consciousness message without breaks usually is not helpful and rarely generates useful replies.
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Best personal regards,
Rick
rick@ncccha.org
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