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11th March 09, 12:40 PM
#1
Genealogy Babbling :)
I hope this is the correct forum for this -- I wasn't sure exactly where this would go aside from Off Topic.
Anyway, I'm in a bit of a downswing on my genealogy research, gearing up for the next attack. I've been at it a long time, sometimes having very little luck. Other times, WHAM! Someone literally drops a bunch of info into my lap that is a huge help. You have to LOVE, for example, asking family members about info and being told "oh, contact ___, he/she might have information." (of course, in my family, I haven't heard of most of my relatives.... we're a distant bunch). Funny how it lucks out when someone can give you LOTS of information, already documented. Yowza! Nice "gift"!
Also, when you posted on genealogy boards years ago and never hear a word from anyone about your lines. So frustrating! Sometimes it feels like there is info for everyone out there except your branch, you know? It can feel sooooo lonely. Then out of the blue one day, you get an email from someone who had information you didn't know about that gives you a little more information and even more family names you'd never even heard of!! I actually discovered my McNeill ancestors this way. I'm hoping to hear more about them and see what their story is and where they're from (before North Carolina and Kentucky, that is).
Throughout the day, I'll randomly type search phrases in a search engine to see if I can pull up some genealogy information. After a while of doing that -- and I can't for the life of me remember which set of words I used to get it -- I finally had a hit! There was a Griffith (my last name) webpage I'd never seen before. Skimming it, I started seeing a name or two and a LOT of very interesting coincidences. I contacted the woman and we exchanged information. MATCH! Her direct line is my great-great grandfather's brother! I was able to help fix some of the holes in her information, and she helped give me some details (and more ancestors) that I didn't even have. And amazingly, a photo of my great-great-great grandfather. I'm still trying to get my head around that one. My family doesn't really have old photos like that. Amazing!
So now, I'm waiting to see if the McNeill line has had any progress (I sure can't crack that one right now -- hopefully this other guy has luck because I'm dying to know), and then I'm going to contact a genealogist that was recommended to me to see if I can find out more about some other names I've been researching (Grant and Moore -- one of my Moores, anyway... both of my parents have Moore in their families).
And to keep it to the "Tartans" topic of this forum... why yes, I would like to consider tartans in those names in the future Starting with Griffith, of course!
Now, if I can just figure out the big mystery in my husband's family... one of his ancestors (can't remember offhand if it's a great grandmother or what she was) claimed her family was from Scotland.
It's like an addiction, trying to figure it all out. A frustrating one that doesn't always have success, but you can't seem to keep away from the puzzle for too long!
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11th March 09, 12:53 PM
#2
Well, congratulations, Cynthia, and good luck.
My mother's side is fairly well mapped out going back to Scotland through Ireland. My father's side drops off the map a couple of generations ago. I decided to not look into it any more, and make it part of my heritage that the family history has been covered up and lost to the past. It works for me...
I tried to ask my inner curmudgeon before posting, but he sprayed me with the garden hose…
Yes, I have squirrels in my brain…
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11th March 09, 12:55 PM
#3
Whose yer daddy
Sorry to hear of your trials and travails in the course of your research. I too am a MacNeill (Scottish bred & buttered,lol). There are a number of web sites affiliated both here and in Scotland. I don't want to hurt yer feelins, but I believe Griffith is Welsh ?? There is a chappie who is a regular on this site that bides in Wales, perhaps you could ask him to help. Oh, there is also another chappie in Boston ??? who has something to do with The Clan MacNeil organization here in the States. Best of luck in your search.
Aye Yours.
VINCERE-VEL-MORI
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11th March 09, 12:56 PM
#4
It's been difficult. My family had decent information for a while and then it just disappears and it's filled with "the story goes..." type gossip.
I always wanted to know who we were and where we were from, though. Although my nephews aren't asking right now, they may eventually wonder, or their kids might. I'm hoping to get all of this information together and make sure it stays with the family (who will hopefully keep adding to it).
I don't want it to be lost again.
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11th March 09, 01:01 PM
#5
 Originally Posted by Laird O'the Cowcaddens
Sorry to hear of your trials and travails in the course of your research. I too am a MacNeill (Scottish bred & buttered,lol). There are a number of web sites affiliated both here and in Scotland. I don't want to hurt yer feelins, but I believe Griffith is Welsh ?? There is a chappie who is a regular on this site that bides in Wales, perhaps you could ask him to help. Oh, there is also another chappie in Boston ??? who has something to do with The Clan MacNeil organization here in the States. Best of luck in your search.
I'm a little hesitant to get too involved in McNeill searches at the moment as already someone is looking for that particular line and has help from the Clan MacNeil genealogist, I think.
My Griffith line may be Welsh. Before I say that for sure, I'll wait and see if they did come from there. For all I know, it could be an adopted name (I'm pretty sure it'll go back to Wales though, if you know what I mean).
There is a Griffith tartan (Welsh), and since that's my last name I figured why not? Although I love the whole concept and am pleased to find out there are Scottish names in my family (my father never knew and had heard they were from Ireland), it's probably the best way for me to celebrate a few different roots. That, and again, I want to see where all the names end up being from, etc.
Last edited by Cynthia; 11th March 09 at 01:27 PM.
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11th March 09, 01:07 PM
#6
I was doing that kind of thing for my x-wife once. Traced them all the way back to a little cross-roads village in Lithuania that isn't there anymore. The software I was using was expencive but worth it. If I recall the name of it I'll let you know.
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11th March 09, 01:12 PM
#7
 Originally Posted by Dirk Skene
I was doing that kind of thing for my x-wife once. Traced them all the way back to a little cross-roads village in Lithuania that isn't there anymore. The software I was using was expencive but worth it. If I recall the name of it I'll let you know.
Thanks $$ is such a pain for me right now (it probably is for everyone right now, eh? heheh). We had to let my Ancestry account go... wish I could have access to all those records and documents! Ah well. Someday. I'll make do with what I've got for the moment.
Right now, I'm trying to get my files organized. I was given photocopies of others' information... some of it accurate, some of it way off. It's been a pain to stay organized and sort through the pile.
I used to have Legacy and had a file started on it (including some of my husband's family information), but before I could make a backup, my laptop died on me! Several years later, my laptop is back, but the harddrive and files are not up and running yet. I'm having to start all over. I'm hoping to get things organized and start hitting the libraries in my area and seeing what I can find in them. Not to mention, contacting other genealogists who are already focusing on the same names/families.
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11th March 09, 01:48 PM
#8
If you are going to rely on other people's information and research, you are always going to be at a disadvantage. Family stories may be interesting, and sometimes contain at least a grain of truth that may point you in the right directions, but often little more than that. Other people's research may very well be faulty also. I would guess at least half of what you come across on the internet, such as the LDS site, are problematic (other than the public records that you can access at ancestry.com and such places.) And just because you see it on more than one site isn't conclusive of anything. Misinformation repeated 100 times is still misinformation.
There really is no substitute for original research. I would certainly verify everything I came across from second hand sources before spending thousands on tartans and other such clan paraphenalia until I was assured beyond a reasonable doubt that I had a descent from the clan.
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11th March 09, 02:06 PM
#9
I do try to make sure that there is documentation when I contact people and they give me information (and they usually do give me documentation). I've been trying to do it on my own for a long time with very little luck getting back much farther. Fortunately, there are more skilled people who know what they are doing and I can piece together their information with mine and make matches. I've already had to fix what was written in family bibles and notes that was incorrect, so that's my contribution to the documentation process.
And that's why I'm waiting before buying tartans that aren't my last name.
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11th March 09, 02:17 PM
#10
 Originally Posted by gilmore
If you are going to rely on other people's information and research, you are always going to be at a disadvantage. Family stories may be interesting, and sometimes contain at least a grain of truth that may point you in the right directions, but often little more than that. Other people's research may very well be faulty also. I would guess at least half of what you come across on the internet, such as the LDS site, are problematic (other than the public records that you can access at ancestry.com and such places.) And just because you see it on more than one site isn't conclusive of anything. Misinformation repeated 100 times is still misinformation.
There really is no substitute for original research. I would certainly verify everything I came across from second hand sources before spending thousands on tartans and other such clan paraphenalia until I was assured beyond a reasonable doubt that I had a descent from the clan.
All true, and relating back to my first post, sometimes the family has burned the bridge in some cases, and it may be a dead end that would require thousands of dollars to even try to work through. Gilmore does have an interesting point about not rushing out to spend lots of money on "tartans and other such clan paraphenalia." Keep in mind, tartan isn't just about proper clans, though; just in case you hit an expencive dead end or false lead.
I tried to ask my inner curmudgeon before posting, but he sprayed me with the garden hose…
Yes, I have squirrels in my brain…
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