Genealogy Chat

Hi Mandy and Christine thanks for your advice. I knew that I had 2 half sisters from being 10yrs old promised my dad I would look for them just before he died but he told me not to contact them until after my mum had died.have left it for too many years, Mandy I will e mail you tonight THANKS AGAIN SUE

Hi Sue - I don't know if this will help but earlier this year I made contact a relation not knowing the reaction I would get. My father left his first wife and family,- four or five children - for my mum, and this person was the daughter of one of those children. All I did was say who I was, what the relationship was and that if she didn't want to get in touch I would understand - she did get in touch - there was no animosity just curiosity...I think the best course of action is honesty and if he doesn't want to talk to you at least you have tried

anybody else got any tips to the above problem. addendum to above thread I don't think he knows about me,my dad never heard from his daughters after his first wife died. Sue

Hi Sue, we were chatting earlier on the other side lol! I have a little experience of this as I was adopted, and started tracing my birth family 2 years ago. I used an intermediary from an adoption organisation to write the letters on my behalf. First of all, does he know of your existence? Are you in contact with your half-sister? I have three half-siblings, one who I am very close to, one who I have rare contact with, and one who threatened me with legal action -so you can never guess what reaction you will receive! It would be a much easier letter to write if he knows about you - I would agree that you make contact on the basis of the possible link with your family tree. But if he doesn't know about you, then you will need to tread carefully and I could email you a copy of the letter that was used for me. And there will be others on this site with similar experience who can advise you. Good luck for a successful contact, feel free to get in touch any time, Mandy :)

Hi all I need a few tips on writing a letter, I have found one of my half-sisters sons and would like tips on how to write a letter to him.Should I make the letter seem as if I have a connection with his family through his mother and grandfather because I am researching my family tree. Or can someone suggest another way please. am shaking in my shoes as i don't know what his mother has told him about his grandparents on her side and I would not like to upset him,but it would be nice just to meet and talk to him. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS SUE