RootsChat.Com

There is a Lighter Side thread on Rootschat, and An Even Lighter Side thread.

Can I suggest to Trystan that he should start an opposite thread?  A Darker Side thread, where frustrated Rootschaters can get some of the things that really p*** them off, off their chests?

A place to rant about inconsiderate people, those who ask stupid question and to slag the ones who are just to d**d lazy to do their own research when the resources are smacking them in the face!

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My Dark Side Rant of the Day:


I try to help as many people as I can through Rootschat, Rootsweb lists and other sources, but some times I think that the new generation of "internet genealogists" just want things too easy.

When I started researching my family history 30 years ago I was in school, and I had to depend on 50p a week pocket money to fund my research. I use to search the hedgerows when I wanted a certificate, to see if I could find enough "deposit return" pop / cider bottles to pay for it.

When I wanted to find a person in a census I had to spend hours, days sometimes, going through reels and reels of fiches hoping that I might strike gold eventually (but usually not doing so) – but that's what "research" was in them days.

I had to wait months, years for my Salopian family, until I had enough money and time to afford to go to far flung records offices to do research.

Today I saw a message (not on Rootschat) giving details of:

John Smith born 1851, Mary his wife born 1850
Children:
Ann 1872, Elizabeth 1874, William 1876 and David 1879

With the rider "I am a member of Ancestry.co.uk but too many hits are given for all of these names" can somebody help!

Bloody Hell! – Go through every single hit until you find the best match. If it takes a month you will still have found your family a dammed site quicker than I could find mine even 10 years ago.

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Having got this rant off my chest, I feel better already and I am now prepared to answer the next request saying My gg grandfather, John Jones was born in Wales – can you tell me who his father was please?

Sorry!

Sorry to be awkward, but very few of my Welsh ancestors have "regular" surnames before about 1837.

Is there a protocol, or a suggestion for people searching for ancestors with patronymics?

I have put one in as a sort of "test" which looks like this:

PETER (Patrnm, father needed MER, c 1689);

Is this sort of entry OK on the list?
Is there a better way of doing it?
Is there a need for a completely different database for people without "regular" surnames?

The Archives have now re-opened at their new address:

The Record Office and the Library are at the same location in Dolgellau.  Access to the Record Office is through the Library.

Postal Address:
Meirionnydd Archives
Ffordd y Bala
DOLGELLAU
LL40 2YF

Telephone: 01341 424682
Fax: 01341 424683
e-mail:
archives.dolgellau@gwynedd.gov.uk

Opening Hours:
Wednesday: Closed.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30-1:00; 2:00-17:00

The Meirionnydd Record Office, Dolgellau, is closed the first week of November annually for stocktaking.

(edited to update contact nos)

A transcript of Hanes Methodistiaeth Corris A'r Amgylchoedd - Griffith Ellis (1885) can now be found on this site

http://www.rootsweb.com/~wlsmer2/corris/index.html

Although primarily a book about the history of the Methodist Church in Corris, with a strong emphasis on religious life, it contains quite a bit of genealogical information about those who were influential in the local methodist chapels.

The book is in Welsh - but if any non Welsh reader spots a family member in it and would like a SHORT paragraph translated I will be happy to oblige.