Writing letters to long lost family members! Help needed!

[Loogie14]

Hi guys,
Just wondering if any one has any tips on how i would write a letter to a long lost family member, as in how would i begin it or end it!?? Or is it better to just go straight into it

Any help is appreciated
Thanks a mill!!!

[Jeuel]

I think it would depend on how long they'd been lost and whether I knew them previously.  I'd start "Dear X" and hope they were well. 

I presume you're wanting to get more family info, which they may be thrilled to do/annoyed you're bothering them.  So I'd tactfully say that I'd love to hear from them.

[Ermintrude46]

If you share a little of what you know already and include a stamped self-addressed envelope you may stand more chance of getting a reply.  I sent out a mini 'questionnaire' to six of my father's elderly cousins whom I had never met and got a very good response including a couple of photos of family members.  I also got a rant from one old lady about a supposed slight to her sister from thirty years ago from my side of the family! 
Ermy

[Loogie14]

Hey.
Thanks guys thats really helpful! Might just do that. Hopefully i'll get the same positive response

[alpinecottage]

When I wrote to an elderly aunt, I included a mini family tree to show how we were related then I asked a few questions and left plenty of space by each one.  I said at the end that I  would be happy if she wrote on my letter if that was easier for her and send it back to me with any comments she had.  This she did and she sent me a few photos, including the first one I saw of my grandfather.  Shortly after, I arranged to go and see her and only a couple of years later, she had died.

I discovered from further research that the info she gave me wasn't 100% accurate, but it all had an element of truth in and was enough to confirm that my research was correct.  I sent her a box of chocs to say thankyou!

PS I also got a long complicated story about how she and her husband were diddled out of some money in a will from 40 years earlier - "It wasn't the money " she said "It was the dirty way they did it" 

[Loogie14]

LOL!  Thats brilliant!! Took yer tips guys and sent off the letter today so fingers crossed I'll hear something back! only thing is theres a story in the family that this relative though he was in trouble with the law and decided to leave the country, hasnt been back since and that was about 40 years ago. So as you can imagine my main concern is what if he thinks that im some official trying to send him away for whatever he thinks he did (which i reckon was probably something to do with paying taxes probably!!) HAHA!! He would be about 83 now if hes still alive, i just hope that i can make some contact with him. Its sad that families just drift apart so easily!!

[RedMystic]

Good luck. Let us know how the story unfolds.