Genealogy Chat

I am on the verge of finding some living relatives that before now i did not know even existed before I started researching my tree. I will write to them but not sure how to go about it. I would love to hear what other people's experiences have been in this situation. Thanks

When you write explain how you discovered them (researching tree) introduce yourself tell them something about you and your family i.e esp the link to them. Tell them if they want contact you will give them more info next time. Sorry this is rushed I'm wanted on the phone. My husband found his family (aunts, uncles) but the initial contact with them was made by Margaret Drummond who does research on Scottish families. He didn't for many, many years know he had any family. The results are wonderful. So good luck, but remember they could be a bit cautious at first. Pat

Hi Susan I would definitely say go for it! As long as you are polite and dont bombard them with lots of info to start with, i,m sure you'll get a good response from them. I did not know that my grandad had any siblings until 6 months ago when i started my family tree and started asking questions about the family. My grandad died 25 years ago and his brother and Sisters had a big fall out with my grandads family and they lost contact. I couldnt trace his sisters as nobody could remember their married names, but managed to trace his brother and nephew through the 2003 electoral register. I wrote my grandads nephew a letter explaining who i was and that i was researching the family tree. I said where i had found the address from and asked if they were the right people. I gave my address and email address and said i would love to hear from them. I got a lovely email from a member of the family saying that she had passed my letter on to my grandads neice and that she would contact me. She did the same day and said she had always wondered what had happened to her uncles family and was interested in finding out about all of us. I have since made contact with several members of the family from all over the world, and have been to visit my grandads sister, who shared lots of memories with me about her parents and grandparents and has also filled in a lot of gaps that i had on the family tree. Sorry if i have waffled on a bit! I wish you good luck. Kind Regards Sharon

I found out that my husband had a half brother and several cousins he didn`t know about .I contacted them but they didn`t want to meet us because of his parents divorce 50 years ago! I`v e also recently found a 3rd cousin in America who`s thrilled to find his Scottish relatives so everyone is different. Any Barclays out there from Lanarkshire we`d be pleased to meet you! Rosalyn

Thank you so much for your stories

Hi Susan, I have just found my long-lost cousins in Australia, who I have never met. Found for me by a lovely man on GC/GR. I just sent a letter saying that I was trying to find the family of ...........giving my name and how I though I was related. I just gave my address and e-mail and have already been in contact with them. Go for it!! Maggy

Susan Good Luck. Some you will find as said do not want to know but the ones who do make up for it. Just don't be dissappointed, you have nothing to lose but every to gain. Always put a sae if they wish to reply they will. As I said good luck and happy hunting. Irene