I have a confession to make. More and more, I find myself referring to on-line genealogical databases such as Ancestral File and the Ancestry World Tree. I am not alone in this. But the widespread increasing reliance on these sources makes me uncomfortable.

There is nothing wrong with the databases themselves. The trouble is that so many folks are taking the material found in them as the gospel truth without bothering to search for the supporting documentation. Sometimes, the suggestion is even made that we can completely dispense with traditional methods of research in courthouses, cemetery offices, and other local repositories. Some of you may remember a speaker at one of our meetings a few years ago who had compiled a huge collection of Acadian names. In what was otherwise an informative presentation, this gentleman made the remarkable assertion that, in today's world, one needs only a computer and access to the internet to conduct a successful program of genealogical research.

Of course, this approach is problematic. For one thing, it overlooks the fact that someone has to locate the data originally. Secondly (and this is what bothers me the most), there are the mistakes that inevitably creep (or run pell-mell) in. Once they are "in," it is hard to get them "out."

To be sure, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints issues the following disclaimer: "Ancestral File is a collection of genealogical information taken from Pedigree Charts and Family Group Records submitted to the Family History Department since 1978. The information has not been verified against any official records. Since the information in Ancestral File is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the File to verify its accuracy." Also, as I have been told more than once, one should regard Ancestral File as providing only "clues" for future research. Nonetheless, many disregard this advice and fill out their pedigree charts and family group records with whatever they find in the File. However, Ancestral File and other genealogical databases contain numerous errors.

For example, take the case of William Timberlake (my great¹ grandfather), who married Mourning Johnson in Bedford County, Virginia, in February, 1798. The claim is circulating that William's parents were a William Timberlake, Sr., and a Marjorie (Metcalf) Timberlake. To my horror and chagrin, I came across it in the card file of the Ohio Genealogical Society in Mansfield. Worse yet, the claim is also in Ancestral File (AFN: G2NT-7B), in the International Genealogical Index (or "IGI")( File Number: 2078038), and in the Ancestry World Tree. Unfortunately, it is false; it is based on a fake pedigree, which first appeared in print (completely undocumented) in Newell Gates' manuscript, "Genealogy of William and Mourning Timberlake." (I have the second edition, 1968.) I discovered the claim's source in papers that I found in the collection of the late Miss Mary Timberlake (as she referred to herself) July 17, 1992, in Omaha, Nebraska. Sometime in 1966, Gates and Timberlake had paid $30 to a Mrs. Sandy Miller in New Orleans for a "pedigree" that has only recently been revealed as fraudulent. In the late 1960's, Gates published it (seemingly oblivious), and it has now made its way onto the internet.

Actually, the man who married Mourning Johnson was William King Timberlake, whose parents were Charles and Mary (Criddle) Timberlake of Campbell County, Virginia. To establish this, go to the primary sources: Compare William Timberlake's signature on his February 19, 1798, marriage bond with that of William King Timberlake on the October 22, 1794, will of Mildred Criddle in Campbell County. The signatures match! Mildred was William's maternal grandmother. I will try to set the record straight in my forthcoming book, Willcott, Kay, Timberlake, and Allied Families, but I am not optimistic that the fake pedigree will cease making the rounds any time in the near future.

Then, again, consider William Hoge, Jr. (my great² grandfather), who was born ca. 1700 in Middlesex or Monmouth County, New Jersey. According to Ancestral File (AFN: CVHC-C4) and the IGI (Film Number: 1985309), on February 9, 1723, he married a woman whose given name was Ann. Or did he? We also find in Ancestral File (AFN: 1K26-1VR) that this William married Mary Pancoast February 9, 1723. How could this be? Did William marry two different women on the same day? If we consult William Wade Hinshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. II, p. 232, we find, rather, that,on March 4, 1760, in the Burlington (New Jersey)Monthly Meeting, William "Hoeg" was reported married to Mary Pancoast. (Hinshaw's transcriptions are based on primary sources.) Further research in Ancestral File (!!) (AFN: CVHV-C4) shows that an Ann Hoge (who apparently was the woman William married in 1723) had died March 21, 1759, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where, coincidentally, William was living at the time. In all probability, Mary Pancoast was William Hoge's second wife; he married her not in 1723, but in 1760. In other words, the evidence suggests that, in making a submission to Ancestral File, someone confused William's first and second wives.

Before I myself figured out the likely truth of the matter, I contacted some of the persons who had contributed material on William Hoge, Jr., to Ancestral File. One responded as follows: "I frankly can't tell you the source of that info . . . it's possible that over the years extra info has crept into the Ancestral File. I did my Hoge research about 30 years ago and most of it was from printed books." Another wrote: "I had sent about 10,000 names to the Ancestral File quite a few years ago (I can't remember now). I don't know why it shows William Hoge md to Mary Pancoast md 9 Feb 1723, somehow it got mixed up." Still another said: "I'm sorry I can't be of help to you as I have no record of the marriage of Wm. Hoge, Jr. Sometimes in the ancestor file they add records on one person to another if they are sure it is same person." In short, absolutely no-one was able to inform me in regard to his sources.

It appears that some individuals are submitting reams of material to Ancestral File and other databases, drawing from undocumented printed sources or, maybe in some cases, thin air.

Now, there is a way to make corrections in Ancestral File. I would urge you to drop by your local Family History Center to pick up the (free) pamphlet, "Correcting Information in Ancestral File." (If is incorrect to begin with, it could hardly be termed "information," but I'll let this pass.) This tells us that there are three methods for making corrections:

1. Use the Ancestral File Edit feature (F3).
2. Do it with Personal Ancestral File 3.0.
3. Send it on paper. All corrections, whether on disk or on paper, are supposed to be mailed to:
   Family History Department
   ATTN: Ancestral File Corrections
   50 East North Temple Street
   Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400.

The only problem, as I imagine you, too, have anticipated, is that there is nothing to prevent someone else at some future date from "undoing" your or my corrections. Since the internet has made all data so ubiquitous, it would not be a bit surprising if, later on, the original misinformation were to appear all over again.

My advice is ridiculously simple: Do not believe everything that you find in print or on the web. Take all undocumented claims with a large grain of salt. Whenever possible, rely on primary sources.

Finally, let's hope that those who are so enthusiastic about submitting "information" will somehow overlook page 407 of Peter Ruffner and His Descendants, by Doris Laver Ruffner and Olive Taylor Ruffner (1969). This volume is in the State Library of Ohio in Columbus and elsewhere. Here we read that Catherine Ruffner, daughter of Benjamin Ruffner, married a certain "Clem Deedrick" [perhaps ca. 1820]. The compilers confidently proclaim that "the DEEDRICKS lived near Fort Powell, Virginia."

Well, not really. In fact, Catharine Ruffner married Deedrick (or "Teter") Clem (my great⁴ grandfather), not "Clem Deedrick," as is clear from the early records of Shenandoah County, Virginia. Doris and Olive Ruffner transposed the surname and given name of my ancestor. As I was composing a draft of this "President's Message" a few days ago, I went, with some trepidation, to Ancestral File and to the IGI to look for possible entries for "Clem Deedrick." Imagine my relief when I was unable to find the name in either! Nor, for that matter, did I discover "Clem Deedrick" in the Ancestry World Tree. Moreover, let's give credit, where credit is due. The marriage of Catharine Ruffner to Deedrick Clem is in Ancestral File (AFN: K26D-VG). They got it right!

But now I lie awake wondering if, someday, some eager contributor will happen onto page 407 of Peter Ruffner and His Descendants. Once old Clem Deedrick springs to life on the internet, I am afraid to say, it will be darned tough to kill him off.

Larry Lee Blackman

Gordon Lewis Remington has been elected a "Fellow" of the American Society of Genealogists (FASG). This very honorable position was bestowed upon him because of his many contributions to the field of genealogy. Membership in ASG is limited to only fifty members, called Fellows, who are elected for life. ASG members are elected based on their compiled, well documented, genealogical works. Gordon has been published in many genealogical journals including The American Genealogist, The National Genealogical Quarterly, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. No doubt, it was his scholarship of genealogical articles in those journals that made his election as Fellow in ASG a reality.

Gordon's Remington family came from Vermont to Henrietta, NY in 1817. Gordon was born in Rochester in 1957 and lived in Brighton and Penfield, NY. During his teenage years, he spent a lot of time in the Local History & Genealogy Room of the Rundel Library because of his interest in genealogy. Gordon moved to Salt Lake City in 1979 and obtained a degree in history at the University of Utah in 1984. He has worked as a professional genealogist in that area since then.

Gordon has also held offices in various genealogical organizations. He served three terms on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists and also as an officer of the Utah Genealogical Association. He also was the original National Chair for 1996 Federation of Genealogical Societies here in Rochester. Our home grown genealogist is richly deserving in this new honor.

You're entitled to a Discount

This society is a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, a confederation of more than 525 societies in the United States and Canada. One benefit to you is that you are entitled to a subscription to its quarterly magazine, FORUM at the discounted price of only $11 per year.

Each issue of the magazine contains articles designed to advance your knowledge of genealogical research. Previous issues have covered areas such as cemetery and courthouse research, the IGI, research in specific states, etc. A typical issue is 40 pages.

Subscribe now! Send $11.00 to FGS FORUM; P.O. Box 200940, Austin, TX 78720-0940. If you would really like to save money, you can subscribe for two years for $19.00 or three years for only $27.00.

from Roy Thurston

The Federation of Genealogical Societies, of which the Rochester Genealogical Society is a member, is sponsoring its annual family history conference on 6-9 September 2000 in Salt Lake City in conjunction with the Utah Genealogical Association. It's an event that you will not want to miss! This conference offers a selection of more than 135 classes, taught by professional researchers from all over the country. The unique feature of this conference is the site itself. Salt Lake City, home of the largest genealogical repository in the world, the LDS Family History Library. The Library is staying open extended hours during the conference, from 6 AM until midnight, and is located only one half block from the site of the conference at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

For more information, check the web sites: www.fgs.org or call the FGS offices toll-free at 888-FGS-1500. This is a rare opportunity for family history researchers to attend a spectacular national conference and to research in the extraordinary collection of the Family History Library.

Effective February 15th, 2000 the New York State Archives discontinued its mail search service in the microfiche indexes to vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in New York State outside of New York City. This service reduction is made necessary by the loss of the staff who performed the searches.

The microfiche indexes to the older birth, marriage, and death certificates filed at the New York State Department of Health continue to be available for use by the public at the New York State Archives research room in the Cultural Education Center (11th floor), in Albany; and at the National Archives-Northeast Region, 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014. Genealogy copies (uncertified) of birth, marriage, and death certificates are available from the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section, Corning Tower Building, Albany, NY 12237-0023.

From: Dana R. Spencer, 1580 Oilwell Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Researching family of Grandmother Margaret Matilda CONN, dau. of John Wesley CONN, son of Thomas CONN. M.M.C. had six siblings. She. m. John W. RIDDELL. They left Canada & moved to Rochester, NY ca. 1885.

From: Robt. A. Baurer; 210 E. Hampton Av.; Salt Lake City, UT 84111-4611.

Searching for parents of my Great-grandfather Daniel B. PATTERSON, b. 15 Feb. 1813 in Attica, NY. Daniel's father came from Mass. Daniel and wife #1. Ruth QUACKENBUSH had Levi PATTERSON, b. 14 Jan. 1842. Levi is my grandfather. Daniel also had Martin, b. 1845; Elizabeth, b. 184(?8); and Margaret, b. 1849. I believe Daniel had a second wife. Daniel d. 26 July 1896 in Roann, IL. Kindly share info about this family.

From: Thomas R. Patterson; Pine Tree Villa, Room #143; 4604 Lowe Rd.; Louisville, KY 40220-1514.

Seeking information about Caroline Lavina McGURK, b. & m. in NY. Parents were Henry MELVIN, sea captain and Blanche Florence ALAMANDA. Caroline went to Gympie, Old., Australia and had her only surviving child in 1878. At age 37, Caroline m. 31 Jan. 1888 husband #2 Nicholas PETERS, a Cornish mining engineer.

From: Heather Pearce; Box 203; Nelson, B.C.; Canada V1L 5P9.

I'm interested in the family of my great-great-grandparents, Thomas & Eliza (PEMBERTON) THOMPSON. (It's said he was from Scotland or Ire. and she was b. in Quebec, Canada.) They were in Rochester by 1840. They lived on Frank St. and on South Av. Thomas d. ca. 28 Feb. 1884. The family burial plot is in Mt. Hope Cemetery. My great-grandparents, Mary Ellen (SHEAN) & David THOMPSON, raised their family in Rochester. A son Ross remained here and my grandfather settled in Buffalo.

From: Jean Marie THOMPSON; 10350 Inwood Road; Osceola, IN 46561.

My SIERENS family originated in Flanders, Belgium. Around 1900, some SIERENS emigrated to the U.S.A. Some stayed in the area of Rochester. Any information about SIERENS would be appreciated.

From: Sierens Etienne; Klaverstraat 7; 8820 Torhout; Belgium.

From: David Provencher; 424 Woodlawn Av. #D; Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Seeking a will or surrogate court record for Bartholomew BARRETT/BARRITT, Sr., b. ca. 1755. Revolutionary War pensioner. Lived in Penfield (Monroe Co.) for 1820 census as did probable sons Ephraim, Dyer (my ancestor), & Bartholomew, Jr. Only last two were in Penfield for 1830 census.

From: Gary M. Lampman; 2910 Ellis St.; Bellingham, WA 98225.

Need ancestor info. Richard TACY, son of Andrew TACY & Terese LADUC; b. 27 Mar. 1859, St. Lawrence, NY; m. Minnie BACK ca. 1887; d.20 Jan. 1938, Rochester, Monroe, NY. Also, John D. HUBBARD; b. 2 Sept. 1841, Wheatland, Monroe, NY; m. Josephine E. HARRISON. He d. 31 May 1904. Hannah Harriet DOE, b. 25 Dec. 1822, Liverpool, England; m. Walter HUBARD. She d. 10 May 1892. George HARRISON, b. ca. 1813, Wheatland, Monroe, NY; m. Cornelia Ann MOSHIER. He d. 6 Sept. 1898, Rochester, Monroe, NY.

From: Melissa Johnson; 64 Waverly Court; Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Researching family of Thomas BLODGETT of Cambridge, MA. Descendants include LESTERS & MOUATTS. Marrying into BLODGETT family were Julia C. FLINT, Sophronia DRAPER, & Lucy BARLOW.

Also, there's a Willis J. CAMPBELL/SHUMWAY connection.

From: Judith A. Mouatt Cullen; 1596 Conway St.; Saint Paul, MN 55106.

Would appreciate information about the family of Edward MOLOY/MOLLOY of Rochester, a grocer on Buffalo St. Edward and wife Mary had a son, Peter, b. 1829. The 1830 census shows Edward in Ward #1, with 12 people in his household.

From: Patricia (MOLOY) Mclean; P.O. Box 637; 2574 Kaymar Cr.; Bright's Grove; ONT; Canada N0N 1C0.

Searching any and all GERALD/GEROULD/JERALD and other spellings of families who went early from CT, MA, RI to Vermont, especially the one who probably served in the Revolutionary War, married Martha 'Patty' WHITMAN, d/o Daniel, had about six children and died by 1824 probably in VT. She married that year widower Timothy CLARK and had one son by him at Newbury, Orange VT. There were several families in and around Caledonia and Ludlow, but not in the records as found yet. One brother of my Addison was Carley who went to Rochester/Gates/Monroe area NY until his wife died, then followed his children to Oakland, Alameda CA and died there in 1895. My Addison went the opposite direction, north east to Warren NH, which was only across the river from Newbury VT.

I also do a BACHILER & BATCHELDER newsletter and welcome queries and items for that.

From: Mary Jane Sanborn Lewis, Box 676, Balboa CA 92661-0676.

Inquiring about BOWENS. I'm descended from David BOWEN & Betsey Bristol BOWEN. He was b. 1806 in ?Ontario Co., NY? and d. 20 Jan. 1864 in Michigan. Betsey was b. 1811 in ?Bristol Ctr., Ontario Co., NY? and d. in Michigan. William & Edward BOWEN were b. fairly close to David BOWEN, just prior to 1810. Arriving in Michigan in the early 1830's, Wm. & Edward settled in the same twp. and co. as David BOWEN. Were they David's brothers?

From: Ruth E. Berry; 1522 Edgewater Circle #4; Fort Myers, FL 33919-6738.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye is mailed Bulk Rate. Bulk Rate does take a little longer to mail, but should not take any longer than 10 days. If there is a problem please notify us.

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