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Looking for your Canadian ancestors? See RootsWeb Guide No. 24:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson24.htm
RootsWeb's Canadian mailing list index is located here:
https://mailinglists.rootsweb.com/listindexes/legacy/intl/CAN/
User-contributed databases for Canada:
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/canada/
and also searched the family trees at WorldConnect
http://wc.rootsweb.com/
Using RootsWeb:
RootsWeb, the Ever-changing Resource
By Joan Young
How many times have you suggested to a frustrated genealogical
researcher that he try checking out RootsWeb, only to have him reply
with something like, "I've tried finding my elusive great-grandpa at
RootsWeb but there is nothing to be found." Many researchers,
especially those who are relatively new to their quest for family
history, search once and move on to other pursuits, never looking
back.
With genealogical research we must remember that we are not working
in a vacuum. RootsWeb is a constantly evolving resource where, if
the data you seek isn't there one day, it may well be added the next.
Not a day goes by without many users posting messages to the RootsWeb
mailing lists, the RootsWeb/Ancestry message boards, and the RootsWeb
Surname List (RSL); or uploading new or updated GEDCOMs to
WorldConnect, creating new websites housed at RootsWeb, updating the
content of an existing page, or even submitting a user-contributed
database.
When you are faced with elusive ancestors who seem to be hiding from
you and appear to have had an uncanny knack for eluding the census
enumerator, avoiding military service, and not being baptized, you
never know when someone else who has information on great-grandpa
(maybe even possesses the old family Bible) might come along and post
that information somewhere at RootsWeb. It could happen any day!
The RSL is easily searchable for surnames of interest to you
including information as to the location where the families lived and
migrated: http://rsl.rootsweb.com/
There is even a mailing list to which you can subscribe to keep
abreast of new additions to the RSL listings:
https://mailinglists.rootsweb.com/listindexes/legacy/other/Miscellaneous/RSL-update.html
From the mailing list homepage, you can easily locate a list or lists
of interest to you from among the approximately 30,000 genealogy-
oriented mailing lists at RootsWeb. Subscribing to RootsWeb mailing
lists is completely free and many lists have resident experts on the
topic of discussion for the specific list. This could be the place
you hit the jackpot in the pursuit of your ancestors in hiding:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/
Before you subscribe to a list, you may wish to search or browse the
list archives to see if the information you are seeking has already
been posted. The archives of any public RootsWeb mailing list can be
browsed or searched from here: https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/
Posting a query on a RootsWeb/Ancestry message board can result in
others with similar research interests finding you at a later date.
Board posts do not always yield instant results but very often lead
others to you through a search--weeks, months, and even years later.
For security reasons it is necessary to register and login when
posting to the message boards, but registration is completely free
and ensures you can globally update your account information should
this ever become necessary: http://boards.rootsweb.com/
Searching the combined WorldConnect/Ancestry World Tree database can
yield a goldmine of results in finding those collateral lines you
have not researched extensively and also offer the connection you
might need in the form of contact information for the submitter.
WorldConnect also offers the opportunity to add your own personal
Post-em Note (like an electronic sticky note) to an entry of interest
in a family tree, adding or correcting the submitter's information.
Perhaps you merely would like to add a note letting the world know
that you, too, are connected to this individual in case those finding
the file in the future wish to reach you via the contact information
in your Post-em Note.
As an alternative or additional suggestion, you may wish to compile
your own family tree in genealogy software, create a GEDCOM file, and
upload it to WorldConnect. In this way, much like leaving a post on a
message board, others can find you in the future. It is like leaving
your calling card to help as yet unknown cousins locate you and share
information: http://wc.rootsweb.com/
And if all else fails, don't forget to check websites at RootsWeb:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~websites/
Look for new or updated freepages sites:
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/directory/genealogy.html
Or look for newly submitted user-contributed databases:
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/regional.html
Everyday, others are out there adding new information to the various
resources at RootsWeb. So tell those who think searching RootsWeb
resources once is enough that they are missing out on the constant
flow of information. RootsWeb is truly an ever-changing resource.
Remember to check back often.
REPRINTS. Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is
granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the
reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the
following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously
published in RootsWeb Review: 11 April 2007, Vol. 10, No. 15
Before joining any Mailing List, stop, and take a look:
https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/
Find out which discussion group fits you best. Then sign up for the
Mailing List, and lurk -- read and watch the type of discussion going
on. If fits you, after you have lurked, then join in on the fun or
strictness of the wonderful world of family research.
GETTING ON THE LIST. To subscribe
to a RootsWeb Mailing List, you
send a new (plain text) e-mail to the list's REQUEST address. For
example, write to [email protected]
to join the SMITH surname
Mailing List in its regular list mode or [email protected]
to join the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Mailing List in its digest
mode format.
Most of RootsWeb's Mailing Lists are available in two receiving formats
-- Digest and regular List mode. In most cases, the "-L" on the name
(SMITH-L, for example) signifies the regular list mode (and once you are
subscribed in this format you will receive a copy of each and every
message posted, one at a time). The "-D" indicates the digest mode (in
this format you will receive groups of messages every day or so,
depending on how active the mailing list is).
When you send a message to the REQUEST address (for example, to
[email protected])
you are communicating via a machine
through which SmartList, the Mailing List's software program, can
process your request to join (subscribe to) a Mailing List in the format
you have requested.
You must join (subscribe to) a RootsWeb Mailing List before you can post
messages to it. Then to post a new message to a Mailing List, make sure
that the e-mail is being sent to the Mailing List's posting address --
regardless of which mode you are subscribed in. The Mailing Lists'
addresses for those mentioned above are [email protected]
and
[email protected]. Note that
while you might be subscribed to the
Digest mode of the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Mailing List, its
posting address is: [email protected]
Never send messages to be posted on a Mailing List using the list's
"-D" address. Also, be careful not to use the "-REQUEST"
address for
that purpose either. When you are ready to post a message that you want
to be seen by all the other subscribers on that list, create an
informative subject line, compose your message, and send it as you
normally would send any e-mail -- only send it to the list's posting
address. Remember that many RootsWeb Mailing Lists have readers around
the world, so watch those locality abbreviation references.
To post a reply to another subscriber's message so that your message is
seen by everyone on the list, click on either REPLY or REPLY TO ALL. The
"REPLY TO" function differs from list to list depending upon the
settings selected by the list's administrator and the e-mail settings
list members have selected in their own e-mail programs. Pay close
attention to what address appears in the SEND TO box after you
have clicked on REPLY or REPLY TO ALL. Make sure the address to which
you want to send your reply appears in the box.
If the topic of conversation changes along the way (and it often does),
adjust the subject of your e-mail reply accordingly. If you are a digest
mode subscriber, take the time to change the subject as applicable for
the message to which you are replying. Never copy the entire digest back
in your reply -- copy only the message or even better, only the portion
of the message to which you are responding. The same goes for list mode
subscribers -- copy only the pertinent portions of the message to which
you are responding.
Looking for a Mailing List? Click on the Mailing Lists tab on any
RootsWeb page or go to:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/
Search/download all back issues
of RootsWeb Review:
http://e-zine.rootsweb.com/
* * *
Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless
specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for
non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice
appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb
Review: Vol. 6, No. 9, 26 February 2003.
For genealogical research in Nova Scotia you may wish to join the
NOVA-SCOTIA-L genealogy mailing list.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~canns/nsfaq.html
JOINING THE DIGBY COUNTY MAILING LIST
CAN-NS-DIGBY-L
lists2
Topic: A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Digby
County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Interested individuals may want to check out the
Digby County CanadaGenWeb site at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~canwgw/ns/digby/.
For questions about this list, contact the list administrator at [email protected].
 | Subscribing. Clicking on one of the shortcut links below should
work, but if your browser doesn't understand them, try these manual
instructions: to join CAN-NS-DIGBY-L, send mail to [email protected]
with the single word subscribe in the message subject and body. To join
CAN-NS-DIGBY-D, do the same thing with [email protected].
| Unsubscribing. To leave CAN-NS-DIGBY-L, send mail to [email protected]
with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To
leave CAN-NS-DIGBY-D, do the same thing with [email protected].
| Archives. You can search the archives for a specific message or
browse them, going from one message to another. Some list archives are not
available; if there is a link here to an archive but the link doesn't work, it
probably just means that no messages have been posted to that list yet.
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Commercial Use - Users may not use the Board's system for
commercial purposes, defined as offering or providing goods or services or
purchasing goods or services for personal use.
NOVA-SCOTIA-L
lists8
Topic: those with an interest in genealogical research in Nova Scotia.
For questions about this list, contact the list administrator at [email protected].
| Subscribing. Clicking on one of the shortcut links below should
work, but if your browser doesn't understand them, try these manual
instructions: to join NOVA-SCOTIA-L, send mail to [email protected]
with the single word subscribe in the message subject and body. To join
NOVA-SCOTIA-D, do the same thing with [email protected].
| Unsubscribing. To leave NOVA-SCOTIA-L, send mail to [email protected]
with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To
leave NOVA-SCOTIA-D, do the same thing with [email protected].
| Archives. You can search the archives for a specific message or
browse them, going from one message to another. Some list archives are not
available; if there is a link here to an archive but the link doesn't work, it
probably just means that no messages have been posted to that list yet.
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HOW TO POST TO THE MAILING LIST
1a. Knock, Knock...Anybody There?
Have you ever posted a query on a RootsWeb mailing list and ended up
thinking that you are playing genealogical solitaire -- that no one out
there has any information or suggestions for you, or that you are the
only one left on the planet who is researching your family? Been
disappointed because you didn't receive a response from anyone -- not
even a suggestion about where you might look to find the information?
Take a fresh look at what you posted to the mailing list. Lack of a
response to a query often says more about the query itself than it does
about those who might potentially read and respond to it.
First, consider the topic of the mailing list on which you posted your
message -- is the topic one for which the subscribers might be expected
to have a connection to your query? Is it a mailing list on which you
might expect to find some experts to point you in the right direction or
provide you with a lookup for the data you are seeking? Don't expect the
list members on PAALLEGH-L (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) to know the
location of a town in Germany, provide you with New Orleans ship arrival
information, or to check a tax list in Georgia for you.
Don't look for the SMITH mailing list subscribers to answer a question
about the JONES family unless you have clearly stated the connection
between your JONESes and the SMITH surname. Always direct your query to
the mailing list best suited for the surname, locality, or topic about
which you are asking.
Next, let's examine the subject you have chosen. Um, what do you mean
you left the subject blank so that everyone would be curious and read
your query? It just doesn't work that way in this busy world where
everyone wants her or his answers yesterday. Even the most diligent and
attentive cousins might hit the delete key if your message doesn't grab
their attention at first glance with an informative subject. Putting a
request for HELP!!!!!! and lots of exclamation points in the subject
line won't win you any genealogical friends or get your query read
either.
Informative subjects should be brief but include name of the individual
you seek and when and where the person or family lived. "Looking for
parents of George HICKENLOOPER -- born 1790 in Virginia" for example. If
there is sufficient space include what information you wish to learn
about the subject of your query as in this example.
It is possible that lack of a subject could even result in your query
being rerouted to the list administrator rather than being posted to the
list -- are you sure you saw your query come through to the list? If
you are unsure,check the mailing list browseable archives:
https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/
Type in the name of the list (with no -L or -D on the end) and click on
the current month and year to check for your message.
Now, look at the information you included in the text of your message.
While it may be true that being concise is a virtue, when posting a
query, your message must also be informative, clearly worded, and
precise as to the question you are asking or data for which you are
looking. Don't leave the list members in suspense. If you simply wrote
"I'm looking for the parents of my g-g-g-grandfather George HICKENLOOPER
without providing sufficient information for your potential cousins to
recognize whether or not your George and his parents might be included
in their files, or whether they have a book or other resource that might
help you, they will not reply.
If mailing list members do not understand your query -- at a glance --
and can't figure out what you are asking, chances are good that they
will simply move on and delete your message, possibly shaking their
heads while doing so.
On the other hand, don't write a book when posting your initial query.
Most people are not going to take more than a minute to review and
consider whether your message is of interest to them or if they can help
you. Save the extraneous details, which are not directly pertinent to
your query, such as how George could still read without glasses when he
died at age 97, for follow-up discussions with other interested
researchers after you have received the initial responses.
What you do want to include in your initial query, in addition to WHO,
WHEN, and WHERE, is a brief explanation of what you already know and
what you are hoping to learn. For example, you might state: "George
HICKENLOOPER was born in 1790 in Rockingham County, Virginia, and
married Mary LINGENFELTER in Virginia in 1819, based on church and
census records that I found for this couple in Fairfield County, Ohio
where they settled by 1820 when their first child was baptized there in
the Lutheran Church. I'm trying to learn the identity of George's
parents, who are my brick wall."
A query such as this might draw the interest of mailing list members who
have books on Lutheran marriages in Virginia or other information for
the years you have listed, provided, of course, you posted it to
VAROCKIN-L (Rockingham County, Virginia) and not to OHFAIRFI-L
(Fairfield County, Ohio) mailing list.
If you don't know specific dates, include a general time frame to assist
those who might be able to help you. Put yourself in the place of the
person on the receiving end of your query. Consider what information
the readers will need to know to ascertain whether they can help you.
Don't put yourself in the position of knocking on the door and finding
no one on the other side to answer. Carefully consider the subject and
text of your query as well as the subject of the mailing list to which
you are posting your message, before you click that SEND button.
Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted
unless
specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for
non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice
appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb
Review: Vol. 6, No. 36, 3 September 2003.
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