Genealogy Chat

............ searching names and finding so many with no birthplace so that when you make contact you get told the person was born in another county/country. If they know that why don't they put the info on here. I'm not talking about Hot Matches, just ordinary listings, there seem to be more of them every time I do a check. I'm really fed up with wasting my time. Jennie xx

Jennifer, I just ignore those with no birthplace unless the name is so rare that I am sure it must be a genuine match. I tend to think that if the person who has put the tree up hasn't put the birthplace in then they are unlikely to be much help! Kate.

Kate, Yes, I use the same criteria as yourself. If they don't know enough to enter a birthplace then they aren't likely to be much help!

I did read a thread some time ago that said it was something to do with importing a gedcom but surely if this was the case it is easy enough to go through your names and check all info there. I agree with you both though they probably aren't worth bothering with. Jennie xx

Its even more anoying when you find your rellies on the listings and they have got the names and birthplaces but the wrong ages and they don't even bother to reply to your messages. What is the point of them even bothering to put them on the site in the first place?.

Or they have right names, ages and places of birth and still won't respond! As already said, why bother, if they don't want other people to contact them.

Jennifer,I have had your experience.I answered a man that had simply put a name,the same one I was looking for.He replied that was all he knew,the name.I was annoyed,and asked how he got the name,did he pluck it out of thin air? He got annoyed and said 'No,I did not,it is on my wifes side of the family,her maiden name was so and so,and she married so an so,and did I have any news of her or not' Ihad to keep my temper under control,and just said 'No' A sheer waste of four emails,and my time.I shall avoid those without more than a name in future.Live and learn. Margaret.

Hi Margaret Yes, I think trying to ignore them is the best way but when I first started on here there were hardly any names without birthplaces and I find more and more names with less info appearing. I realise sometimes you don't know where a rellie was born but something I do is put a likely county and add a ? so it indicates I'm not sure and then when I get confirmation I delete the ? Jennie

Just to add to this topic, I get really fed up with both contacting people who do not reply and not receiving any enquiries an I the only one who bothers to send messages to people? Karen

Karen, keep contacting people because you will eventually get a good response. I have had some lovely contacts, unfortunately most are not matches but I have found some third and fourth cousins on here. Jennie