Ancestor is not significant

[Top-of-the-hill]

  It is possible that the respondent did not really mean that a fourth gr grandfather ( a direct ancestor) was not significant. He/she may have meant that the relationship to you was so distant as to be not significant (to him/her.)

[andrewalston]

I would have hoped that they would have said something like "I'm concentrating on a different part of my tree at present. Can I get back to you at a later date?"

[coombs]

To me any ancestor I find is significant, no matter how far back they are. I do show more affinity to some ancestors than others but all are relevant. One of my fave ancestors was born in about 1550. He died in 1597.

[Stanwix England]

I think they worded their response in quite an unfortunate way. It did come across as rude whatever their intentions were.

[Pheno]

I feel sure that I have come across the term significant ancestors or ancestors of significance when reading some of the genealogy tomes to describe certain groups of people.

In saying that this ancestor was not significant, rather than insignificant, I just wonder whether they were saying that the relationship between you, or between them and the common ancestor, was not in the significant category as described and therefore labelled not significant.

Pheno

[RossGillbanks]

I'm unsure how they ment it, but I had info at the ready to give them regarding our common ancestor. I can understand that the relationship between myself and them isn't ground breaking at all and of course I expected them to not be Interested in my side as not everyone is interested in extended family. But I took it as them saying a direct ancestor isn't relevant in their research. Bit a shame whichever way they meant it but they won't be getting any info from me in the future 

[ThrelfallYorky]

I understand your reaction - but I wish ANYONE would contact me with information concerning almost any of my ancestors! It seems to have been uphill work all the way, and very few others working on any of the same people.
TY

[brigidmac]

Im now wondering if i came across as rude when i started research because i was looking for living relatives of my parents so not interested in going back many generations
Now im addicted + find that having distant branches can also help others in their search 

Ross I hope  they  didnt mean to be offensive about your relatives + will regret it in .Significant to what they are looking at would be my interpretation

[pharmaT]

Im now wondering if i came across as rude when i started research because i was looking for living relatives of my patents so not interested in going back many generations
Now im addicted + find that having distant branches can also help others in their search 

Ross I hope  they  didnt mean to be offensive about your relatives + will regret it in .Significant to what they are looking at would be my interpretation

Not researching a particular area of your tree is not rude.  It is just how you relate it that can be the issue.  So for example saying "At the moment I am focusing on....... and haven't done much work in that area"is perfectly polite saying that's not important or what ever is rude iyswim.