Hi Ron
Thanks for your support! We all forget sometimes, don't we. Who are you
looking for in Canada. I have relatives there - you never know if there is
a link. Let me have the details of who you are looking for and I will keep
an eye out for you.
Regards
Iris
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Davies <welt7(a)shaw.ca>
To: <POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 6:07 PM
Subject: [POWYS] The right and wrong approaches to Genealogy
Hello Iris ... and others,
I deeply regret your incapacitation and admire you for your courage to
speak
up in the face of often well meant, but somewhat callous, discussions
re
genealogical research and the Internet.
Speaking for myself, I cannot disagree with the general train of thought
that
others have espoused. Hands on research is always the best and most
rewarding sort of approach to learning of one's past. Nonetheless, I, too,
am physically impeded and must totally rely upon the Internet and the,
most often, freely given assistance of a host of kind souls who, for the
covering of expenses, have provided me with photo copies and a wealth
of information.
In terms of the Net, I have been able to ferret out and contact via snail
mail, several living relatives within an area of about 4,500 km x 1,500 km
spanning two countries: come to think of it, an area of about 6,000 km
x 2,000 km. would be more accurate
It is difficult to develop one's family history and to keep one's
oft-flagging
interest alive when one cannot visit local resource centres; cannot
travel
abroad - or locally; yea, cannot even borrow history and genealogical
books from the library because somebody has left them impregnated with
perfume or cologne by unthinking borrowers.
All day yesterday, I thought long and hard about `unsubscribing' to all
Welsh lists. Only the knowledge that a few kind souls have - and still
are - trying to help me, has stopped such action. Others have said I
have no hope of success in Wales, until such time as I find a solid clue
- or three - in Canada. While probably they are correct, they are not
encouraging. Then the Lord makes His light to shine when kindred
thoughtful souls like you speak up. Your well penned message, has
given me renewed hope.
Perhaps I'm spoiled, too, by the plethora of `free' genealogical
information
that's available on the Internet in North America, a virtual
cornucopia of
data that grows each day especially as more and more of our provincial
governments place archival data of B-M-D and other historical events, on
line with attendant search facilities. This is not to say we don't have to
pay to obtain official documents but we don't have to pay to search.
Museums and historical societies are of great and constant help. The
societies, and individuals, also are striving to add to the Net's wealth.
But I have no wish to belabour this point. Once again, thank you Iris.
You've `put' the other side better than I. I wish you a quick, speedy
and full recovery if He has that in His plan.
Ron Davies
Surrey, BC
Canada
At 03:46 PM 8/30/02 +0100, you wrote:
>John
>I cannot remember who started this one now! I do hope it was not from
>questions/comments I, as a newcomer, had made.
>I can only speak for myself but would ike to add the following. Over the
>last two years I have visited the PRO in London, the British Library in
>London, etc, to gather information and I have many birth, marriage and
death
>certificates and other info. This was not easy as I was awaiting
surgery
>and in much pain. Last year I underwent two quite major operations,
which
>have since emant that I cannot walk, stand or even sit for very
long.
This
>has made my visits to London initially impossible, and my visits
to Wales
(a
>4 hour drive) again very limited. Although I have been to Wales
since
the
>operations, during my recovery time it has been frustrating not
to be
able
>to continue my research. The internet, CDs, and info found
therein have
>provided me with information which I can now incorporate in my research,
>verify when I can next get to London or Wales, and perhaps most of all
has
>given me pointers as to where to look for information, which will
save me
>much time and pain in my travels. I will admit to trying to speed up my
>search for my grandfather, Edgar Lewis watkins, and what happended to
him,
>primarily because my Aunt in Canada (his daughter) is now 87 and
I am
trying
>to locate info on her behalf before it is too late. I too take
great
>pleasure from looking through old documents, cemetaries, etc, but would
>people please remember that we are not all able to do this all of the
time,
>and not everyone using the "easy option" of the
internet is doing so
because
>they are lazy or want a quick result. It is too easy to
pre-judge
people's
>motives without knowing all the facts. My thanks to the lister
who have
>responded to me over the last few weeks - their help has been much
>appreciated.
>Regards
>Iris