Genaology question (the board for this topic is dead, so I"m posting here)

[mamatanya]

The Mormons actually burned down the courthouse that had records I need to discover what group of American Indians I belong to! Seems they got into a little squabble with the locals when they tried to settle in Missouri. It always kind of amuses me.
And the LDS records contain lots of non Mormons. Just be sure to do your own record checking. Not a problem for the ancestors you need to trace for DAR but a caution for others. I have seen so much sloppy and inacurate work and people with the best of intentions send it in to the LDS. It's still great to have, just treat it as a place to look, not as absolute truth.

[norasmama]

Originally posted by mamatanya
I have seen so much sloppy and inacurate work and people with the best of intentions send it in to the LDS. It's still great to have, just treat it as a place to look, not as absolute truth.

My father has found the same thing. People have the option of sending their info into the LDS record center, and of course they assume that it is accurate. In my family there are a lot of men with similar names, causing confusion btween uncles & nephews & sons & cousins.

I haven't ever really gotten into the genealogy, mainly because I see how addictive it is once you get on a roll. My parents now go on genealogy vacations, where they spend time in little courthouses searching records & old cemeteries doing rubbings of headstones. It really is neat to find out where you came from. Good luck in your search, Michelle.

[Momof6]

Thanks for the advice to not take it as being totally accurate, I'd not have thought about that but it makes total sense.

I know it is not funny like "ha ha" funny....maybe ironic would be the term I am looking for in reference to the courthouse having been burnt down by early members of the LDS/Mormon church and now it is the LDS church that does so much work for genaology. From history I've read, it sure seemed to be a unstable time for LDS and non-LDS folks back then.

I hope I don't run into any big barriers like burn down courthouses when I start searching!!

I can see how it would be addictive!

I did finally get a hold of my sister-in-law. She has lots of names and dates but nothing "official". She agreed to share the names she has and I can go from there.

I told her I'd mail her copies of any birth/death/marriage certificates that I get. (which will help her with her LDS baptisms/endowments and whatnot that they will do for their dead ancestors) I'm glad she will at least share that much...she still won't mail me documents, but from what I understand if I have names and maybe states where the person lived, I can start searching from there?

I'm also hoping if I share freely with her, she will feel guilty and reply by sharing with me.

Thanks again mamas!!

Michelle