From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Sun Jan 8 09:33:54 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.16.34]) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k08GXsSK025814; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:33:54 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l.rootsweb.com [66.43.16.22]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k08GXnB2009905 for ; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:33:49 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l [127.0.0.1]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k08E79FI010302 for ; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:07:09 -0500 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k08E79LY010301 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:07:09 -0500 Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com (lists5.rootsweb.com [66.43.18.41]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k08DcLFI010191 for ; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 08:38:21 -0500 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k08G4oep011160 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:04:50 -0700 X-Envelope-From: nelliblu28@gmail.com Sun Jan 8 09:04:50 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.16.34]) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k08G4oSK011151 for ; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:04:50 -0700 Received: from zproxy.gmail.com (zproxy.gmail.com [64.233.162.205]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k08G4npW025360 for ; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 09:04:50 -0700 Received: by zproxy.gmail.com with SMTP id 8so3814970nzo for ; Sun, 08 Jan 2006 08:04:50 -0800 (PST) DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=beta; d=gmail.com; h=received:message-id:date:from:to:subject:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:content-disposition; b=PECC7k3iK67t8Q04haponxau4xoEmf+a2JrgoAVJC4ThtEAll1NQmp+Kni4U+ouRLvfHhZ7pfGbPf2/bKYMORlCShxzlS1NyOOTRlkGMC7fMO8vgLr+Oa59SI6pNCcQX+bMc/yEasF4g2G72zwwjC1cHLr5Bv6+bXUF4P7B5QoU= Received: by 10.36.227.5 with SMTP id z5mr11560735nzg; Sun, 08 Jan 2006 08:04:49 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.36.71.7 with HTTP; Sun, 8 Jan 2006 08:04:49 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 10:04:49 -0600 From: Kathie Harrison To: Roots-L@rootsweb.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.16.34 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.16.34 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by lists5.rootsweb.com id k08G4oSK011151 Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Subject: [ROOTS-L] HOW TO POST A QUERY HOW TO POST A QUERY by Bill Oliver (extracted with permission) http://www.rootsweb.com/~neunknow/htwaqury.html You are invited to read on for some examples of weak, unclear, and better queries inspired by those found in the author's files over the years. All names are fictitious to protect the author from further harm. [Grin] Example 1: [Weakest] Looking for SMITH worldwide. E-mail me. This is the genealogical equivalent to fishing with only a "bobber" and "sinker" on your line. It contains a very common surname and a request that reads like a command. Example 2: [Weak] KERSCHNER; anywhere; anytime. Send me information about all KERSCHNERs. A little better, but still, there is no worm on the hook. The request still reads like a command. If your goal is a comprehensive collection of a surname, say so, and tell enough about your project to encourage others to contribute. See example #5. Example 3: [Still Weak] John COOPER; NY; Anytime. I'm looking for information about my grandparents. They died when my father was a teenager. There are no living relatives. Example three is a little better -- it does have a name and a general location. However, vital clues are still missing. The reader might come within 50 to 100 years of the correct time frame. Since the querier [writer] probably knows when his father was born or age when he died, it is a minor math calculation to name the decade he was a teen. Though the state is mentioned, even "Little Rhodie" is a large geographic area. A clue might be had from the birth place of the father. It is probably known, thus the residence of the grandparent would be known. Example 4: [Overload/Confusing] Searching for ALRED, SMITH, DUKE, KERSCHNER, LUCK families. Swen Alred died in service during some war in mid 1800s. Mary Luck Alred left Carolina with all her luggage, which contained deed papers to their farm, and the children. Don't know how many children. The trunk was lost with the deed. The farm was sold at Sheriff's Sale for back taxes. Don't know where the farm was located. Mary's father possibly Jan Willem Leouck. Their son, William, born abt 1850s. Family mythology says family from Dutch-Belgium-German border. Mary's grandfather was John George Smith. I've a direct descendant to me from a Willamena Duke and Ludwig Leock, I think from Bavaria. From here I have the family information. Does anyone have my missing link, PLEASE E-mail me, I will share what I have. Example 5: [Better] ALPSMAN/ELPSMAN; world wide; anytime. I'm researching the ALPSMAN family worldwide. I've traced my branch to a village in Aargau, Switzerland 1630-1870 time frame. Have obtained information about other branches in PA, MS, NE and CA, as well as Germany. I'm interested in contacting any other members of this family to share information. Example 6: [Better] Looking for ancestral information about Karl ALPSMAN/ ELPSMAN b Wölflinswil, Aargau, Switzerland 16 July 1850; migrated to Nuckolls county, NE, spring 1880; d 12 June 1923, Lawrence, Nuckolls Co, NE. Have information to share. Example 7: [Better] ALPSMAN, Karl; migrated to Nuckolls County, NE spring 1880. Married Klementina ALPSMANSE [no relation] from Oberhof, Aargau, Switzerland 1860. I'm looking for information about his family in Nebraska. Will share information. Now all you folks who posted a bunch of names with no details, try posting a new query where someone on the list might be able to help.......... Kathie Harrison Ancestral Whispers http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~irishrose/