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Archiver > TMG > 2000-05 > 0957272607


From: "Ken Nelson" <>
Subject: [TMG-L:] Re: TMG-L: curious question
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 09:03:27 -0400
References: <028301bfb3c4$00983440$a3032526@0016374473>


In answer to your question "You don't HAVE to do nothing you don't
want to do!!" <VBG>

The other part of your question involves "How do you know what you
know?" This is the basis for all sourcing. We can probably take your
word for their dates of death, but I doubt if you were there when they
were born, or married, etc. How did you come by your knowledge? That
is what sources are all about. In my own case I heard a lot of stuff
growing up in my grandfather's house that I am now finding out just
ain't so!! I have three different birth dates for my g-grandfather and
two different sets of parents. Which one do I believe? I don't know. I
was not there. I can only tell you what I have been told and who told
me. I have two sets of parents for my g-grandmother, both from
reputable sources. Aside from publishing your genealogy in a
genealogical journal which 95% of us will never do, naming your
sources has the added benefit of protecting your reputation as a
family historian and genealogist so that family members can trust you
with their family treasures.
Four years ago at a family reunion I unveiled some of my preliminary
findings that have later turned out to be false or in question. I was
asked point blank what proof I had. I honestly reported that I had
been unable to get any supporting evidence to this "family tradition."
That honest admission has served me in good stead. Some of the streams
of info that were previously unavailable to me have now opened up.
This is in part, I am sure, because of the honest way I handled the
situation.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Ken Nelson

----- Original Message -----
From: arlene <>

> I know who all of my gps were (I knew them), knew my parents and
their
> siblings -- including birth, marriage and death dates. I even know
where and
> when they lived in a particular house/apt...
>
> Do I have to go & "prove" all of this????
>
> I do have paper proof, just wanted to know if it is really necessary
to go
> looking for all papers, etc.
>
> Just an odd question.....curiousity got the best of me...(:-D
> Arlene


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