RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: For beginners in Rea research
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 00:23:31 -0500 (EST)

Thanks for your comments. Very interesting.

For NEWBIES: and some of us who need to revisit our old learning tools.
Researchers. please put as much info as you can to explain where your people
lived, birth, marriage, death.

Its frightening when someone writes to you with, my people were Rhea's or
Ray's, etc. I think they come from Va. send me your info, and let me compare.

If you only knew , I have 9 notebooks of family group sheets on Rhea's, not
to mention collateral families, as well as a database that includes 4500
names of Rhea's and collateral families. I have family histories, etc. on and
on and on.

I know when you all first start out, its scarry. Here are a few suggestions
that have helped me.

The very first thing to remember is :
Genealogy is a game.
If you can't have fun at it, and it only seems like hard work, don't even get
started. you won't do a good job, and you'll only be miserable.

Some tools that will help-

The genealogists bible- The Handy Book for Genealogists- Tells you the
counties for the different states, what records, census, etc. are available.
county seats, and zip. You can buy one, or you can go to your local library
and look up the info.

Get a good genealogy program. I have Family Tree Maker, and I love it, but
there are other programs out there that are comparable. If you don't have a
genealogy program, then get the workbook Searching for your Ancestors. It has
a blue cover. It contains forms. This is what I started out with 20 years
ago. Also read genealogy research books.

I recommend Ancestry's Guide to Research- Case Studies in American Genealogy
by Johni Cerny and Arlene Eakle. It's excellant.

Make good friends. I have many, many from the internet, If they come upon a
record on a spelling of the Rhea name, they usually send it to me, or tell me
what it is and I let them know whether I have it or not. I usually check it
over, and if I think we can use it, I forward it. Of course I also look for
records for others.

Make sure your messages, are clear and concise.

Also remember the spelling of the names is only as good as the person who
wrote it down, and the way he heard it. that's why you need birth, marriage,
death records. Wills. anything you can get your hands on that will prove that
person.

Be careful on tombstones. I have a g.grandmother whose name was Elizabeth,
Her husband called her Lizzie, and that's what it says on her tombstone. I
also had a g.g.g.grandmother whose tombstone said Rachel Mariah ___ That
name had been accepted for many years. Until we got her marriage record, and
her obituary. Her son's will. Her real name Nancy Ann _____. the person who
put up the tombstone many years later, only knew her as granny, and assumed
that since she had grandchildren by the name of Rachel and Mariah, that was
her name. NEVER ASSUME!!!!!

Keep good records. You don't have to get fancy with pictures on your FTM at
first, unless you have lots.

If you happen to get ahold of any original material, be sure you store it in
acid free boxes, and pages of acid free paper in between. I also scanned
mine. Where can you get acid free boxes. I asked the same question of a
friend the other day and she said check with your Federal and state archives.
They throw them away from time to time, and if you can make a friend there,
get them to let you know when the toss out day is.

I know you can get acid free material from Everton, at Salt Lake.

Remember we are all TEAM RESEARCHERS. We work as a team. If you ever need
any help, Rhea or genealogy questions, do not hesitate to ask. We may not
know the answers, but perhaps we can lead you in the right direction. I find
out there are alot of things I don't know ;.>

How about some more suggestions for the newbies on our list.?
******************************************************************************
*******************
Pat Hall
Listowner of
Editor/Historian of Rhea Family Association
Family Genealogist
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