User talk:Neal Gardner

Welcome

Lenney family [25 March 2017]

Hi! Very new to all this - Sarah Jane Lenney was my 2nd great-grandmother. Her son Charles Parker was my great-grandfather. Wonder if you know if Sarah Kilpatrick (Sarah Jane's mother) came over by herself with the children? Thanks for all your wonderful research - we love librarians!--Shepherdparker 17:54, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Erie Street [25 March 2017]

Darn it, thanx for catching that. Sorry!--khaentlahn 22:38, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

No problem. You seem to be catching all the cemeteries I created, but never got back to. Thanks. Neal--SkippyG 22:41, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Redirecting places [10 May 2017]

Hi
Working mainly with places in Great Britain (the geographical definition of the largest island in the UK), I have been discovering and using the redirect feature of WR a great deal. I have a few pointers which you may want to add to the FAQ topic.

When a place is redirected to another place, the redirect comes up in the list of Alt Names at the top of the second place with the words "from redirect". I generally change this wording to something more explanatory, e.g., "settlement in parish/township". If the redirection is due to a one-off spelling error I remove it altogether, but if it is a common spelling error (like hyphens between words--and these can vary) I add "spelling variant".

The addition of the Alt Names feature was only made early in 2016, so redirections carried out earlier need to be added by finding them in "What links here" and going through the edit steps to bring them into the Alt Name box. I have also found that there are Alt Names entries which have not been redirected, particularly the FamilySearch and the old Library Catalog placenames. These placenames may have been used by many WR users and need tying up with our placenames.

Recently I have been tidying up the contributions of a user who early contributed more than 11,000 entries, most of which appear to be in Kent, England. This user puts street addresses in the placename box, particularly when adding census entries. When I find a large family I add one of their incorrect placenames to our database temporarily, and correct all of them, one after the other, by going through the names in "What links here". When it's empty, they are all fixed and 10 or so more person pages are without red-named places! I then redirected the street address entry to the place and make sure the redirect does not show up in the Alt Name box.

I do hope this explanation is clear. Writing instructions is not easy.

Regards, --Goldenoldie 06:52, 10 May 2017 (UTC)

Maumee Valley, Northwest Territory, USA [13 June 2017]

Hi, Since you are working on this part of the States at the moment, I wonder if you would like to tackle this one in a little bit more detail than I can.

I am sorting out a family named McCormick who were definitely settled in Essex, Ontario, Canada by 1800, but who were previously in Northwest Territory for long enough to produce half their family. Three members are listed as born in Maumee Valley. A WeRelate places search led me to Maumee, Allen, Indiana, United States, but I am not 100% confident. WeRelate does not list Northwest Territory as a place on its own. I thought it linked to Michigan but obviously it was wider than that.

The WR Michigan entry is a complete quote from Wikipedia with no links to WR for the old place names.

My knowledge of eastern Canada and Great Britain are pretty good, but I prefer to leave American problems to those of you who live there.

BTW, this isn't my family but one of those huge early gedcoms that made their way into WR, completely without sources. There are about half a dozen surnames and very few couples had less than eight children over three 19th century generations. I am trying to get rid of red place names, finding these people in censuses and what vital records that existed at the time is not my current problem.

/cheers, --Goldenoldie 06:29, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

I seem to remember that the Northwest Territory was more or less everything north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. The Maumee River as presently named is formed in Fort Wayne, IN and flows to Toledo, OH. So the Maumee watershed is roughly all of northwest Ohio and a bit of Indiana and Michigan. Which doesn't map conveniently to modern (i.e. 1900) jurisdictions. I'd probably pipe it from Ohio. --pkeegstra 10:23, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

I tend to agree with Pkeegstra. From a Lucas County pamphlet I obtained at an Ohio Genealogical Seminar some years ago, "the Maumee River reaches its greatest breadth and depth near Toledo in the suburb of Maumee, heart of the valley..." Neal--SkippyG 15:30, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

Voting clarification [19 July 2017]

Hi, Neal

I want to clarify your preferences on the voting page for the Request List.

You voted 2 points under Merge MySource into Source, under opposition to requirement b. Opposition does not require points - just a statement that you are opposed. I assume this is because you are opposed to limiting the menu option to the owner of a MySource or an admin. If that is correct, I assume then that you want this feature wide-open so that anyone can match any MySource to a Source and get the pages updated. If that is not the case, please let me know what your preference is and I will see if I can help you make that clear on the voting page.

Are you also voting to implement this change?

Also, you voted 2 points for Sort by page title. However, you must vote for a request in multiples of what the request is worth - thus, you have to vote at least 4 points for this request. Please either change your vote to 4 points or remove it and use the points elsewhere. All the requests have had points assigned now. Thanks--DataAnalyst 01:51, 19 July 2017 (UTC)

Thanks Neal, for passing along this info. Yes, it gets complicated! I think I've 'fixed' my votes now. --janiejac 19:22, 19 July 2017 (UTC)

Sigh - sorry for making it so complicated. But you both look like you have figured it out. Usually when someone uses a voting system similar to this, everyone is in the same room and can ask questions for clarity. Also, we get little sticky circles to physically put up by suggestions, so we know we are done voting when we are out of circles. It is much harder to explain things in writing. I'm glad it only took one go-around to get it sorted out. Hopefully now that you have led the charge, others will find it less intimidating. Thanks for voting and for encouraging others to do the same.--DataAnalyst 23:48, 19 July 2017 (UTC)

Voting mistakes [29 July 2017]

Hi, Neal

Thanks for alerting me to possible voting mistakes. You're going to have to point out to me who voted more than 12 points, because I'm not seeing it, and I just double-checked. The only errors I'm seeing are a couple of votes that are not multiples of the points -- one was because we changed the points after the vote and the other I am just ignoring because I already tried to clarify the process with that person and thought it was not worth trying again.

You're right about simplifying the process for next time. I would not require that votes be multiple of the points assigned - that just gets too confusing. --DataAnalyst 16:33, 29 July 2017 (UTC)

Person:Martha Williams (37) [21 August 2017]

Neal,

I really appreciate all the extra effort you put in on this page. It is unfortunate that so many pages need this kind of cleanup, but your explanation on the history of places will be very helpful to those that have the same partial information the original poster did. Thanks, --Jrich 02:19, 22 August 2017 (UTC)

Unnecessary renames [30 October 2017]

Enoch Winans - Wood, WV [6 November 2017]

Thanks for the 'heads up'. Enoch Winans was found while doing a study of ALL Jacksons in Wood County, WV. I started that study because of a Jackson who tested his DNA and was a match to my Jackson line. As his line went right through Wood County which happened to be my birth county, I thought a study of all the Jacksons there would be rather simple. Wrong! 743 persons in this study and still haven't found that fellow's connection! The study got bogged down for lack of a good district map and pressure from other research. Maybe some day I'll get back to it. I'll never get back to Wood County to do any local research! --janiejac 23:08, 6 November 2017 (UTC)

Mary Phelps (1) - changes without sources [24 November 2017]

You changed 3 Jan 1688 to 3 Jan 1688/89. You're not watching the page, so no other way to give feedback.

If the date is based on a contemporary record this would be reasonable, but the cited source is a book, and typically the default in books (as seen in Savage, for example), is to use the modern equivalent, so 3 Jan 1687/88 is the meaning implied by 3 Jan 1688. So not to be too dramatic, but potentially the change introduced an error. However, the original date posted was wrong anyway, so you merely polished bad data.

The original is listed under 1688, but not at the beginning of the year or the end which might suggest one of those two answers, but right in the middle. It is nearly impossible to read, but the month in the next record is August, so one suspects it might be June, not January.

As the published Northampton VRs who may have been able to investigate the document with a magnifying glass and such tools, gives the date as 3 Jun 1688. --Jrich 22:08, 24 November 2017 (UTC)

[20 January 2018]

Bleep--SkippyG 20:00, 20 January 2018 (UTC)

NE Ohio genealogy [3 May 2018]

Hi Mr. Gardner,

I saw your post about not being gone, mentioned Ohio, looked into your profile. I'm in Columbus now, but my family a few generations back was in Seville (Medina County) for a long time. You seem to be a particularly qualified resource to ask where the best place(s) might be to find documentation on the Crawford family (birth/death certificates). I have a resource that I'm treating as gospel in the absence of other information, but it's information compiled by a family member back in the 50s, but it does not include anything other than names, birth/death/marriage dates, no sourcing. My long-term goal would be to find as much of the source documentation as possible as I work backwards through the tree.

Any thoughts?

Here's the reference I'm using, Hester Murray. Family Record of James Crawford (1774-1845) of Washington County, Pennsylvania and Medina County, Ohio. (Newberry's Print Shop, Creston, Ohio,194-?)..

Thank you in advance for any help,

Jonathan Crawford--Jonmcrawford 14:43, 2 May 2018 (UTC)

Mr. Crawford - Please forgive my stepping in, but I think that Neal may still be off line. I took a look at one of the lines you are working on, descending from Person:James Crawford (101) and filled in some citations that point to the pages at Family Search Family Tree. Many of those pages have sources attached, so you won't have to do double work in those cases. FamilySearch is a pretty good (and free) resource for Ohio records. Hopefully you'll find this helpful. Best wishes, --cos1776 23:37, 3 May 2018 (UTC)

Changes to Brownett [14 October 2018]

Hi Neal

I see you made some recent changes to my information & was just wondering if you are connected to any of the people at all??

I am very interested in finding new connections to my tree. Cheers Heather--Heatherb.1950 23:33, 13 October 2018 (UTC)

Hi Heather, I'm not related. Just part of the group that looks at places, format, etc. Best of luck in your search. Neal--SkippyG 23:37, 13 October 2018 (UTC)

Thanks Neal....sorry to have bothered you

My Grandmother Margaret Rebecca Scott/Warr was born Scott but assumed the surname of WARR sometime before she was married. Not many people know about this & search for her surname as WARR which is what I was looking for till about 4 years abo when I FINAALY found that she was born under the surname SCOTT which was a bit of a shock to me as WARR is the only name I ever knew her as since 1950. My father always only ever used the surname of WARR for his mother.

What I think happened is that William Warr is my grandmother's & her sister's (Jessie Matilda)biological father but Mary Jane used Thomas Everett Scott's surname on their birth certificates.

Even her mother Mary Jane Scott nee Fullerton assumed the name WARR before her eldest daughter Hannah Jane was married as I have it on Hannah's marriage certificate from 1893.

So I would like to use both surnames on their profiles please.

I appreciate your corrections on my other errors such as using full name for states etc. & I appreaciate your prompt reply to my message & sad that we don't have a connection. I have ever only found one connection from We Relate & unfortunately she was adopted into the family but still pleased to find her.

Thanks again Heather--Heatherb.1950 00:07, 14 October 2018 (UTC)

Changes to Antje Wijma [19 October 2018]

Hi Neal

I see you made some changes to this person: changed DEC to Dec (or such) and visibility of names of places.

Although they are minor, I wonder: why?

For her parents have similar format for dates and places, but you didn't touch them. (why not?)

BTW, in the preview of this edit, I see my name still as 'diba' although it was changed to 'DiBa1944'. Are you in a position to do something about that?

Please explain. Thanks, Dick --diba 08:09, 19 October 2018 (UTC)

Hi, I didn't change your user name; only an Administrator can do that. Time limitations kept me from doing a thorough place and format "clean-up". I'm a volunteer with the "Place" committee, and grew very sleepy last night. Will try to get back to that line soon. Regards..--SkippyG 15:07, 19 October 2018 (UTC) --- Thanks, that adresses 'why not', but why? Is the difference between DEC en Dec worth the effort?

This has been a topic of discussion many times. The general consensus is "mixed case", although "all caps" is not wrong. Whenever I'm cleaning up places, grammar, punctuation, etc., I automatically switch to mixed case, but I don't search for "all caps" in order to change them.--SkippyG 15:58, 19 October 2018 (UTC)

BTW, now I see my signature as DiBa1944|diba, so apparently my nickname is still the old user name. No problem (was changed at my request)

Regards, --diba 15:46, 19 October 2018 (UTC)

Person tagged for deletion [24 January 2019]

Person:M. Gardner (1) has been tagged for deletion. Living people should not be included in WeRelate, and record information suggests this person might still be living. See WeRelate:Policy#Living People. --ceyockey 00:58, 25 January 2019 (UTC)

Barbour Collection [31 May 2021]

I found a number of HUNTLEY and LATTIMER names in volume 10 of the Barbour Collection books. I was searching the East Lyme section of volume 10 for names of families who came to Rome and New Lyme in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Our library doesn't have the entire set, but a patron just donated volumes 10, 11, 30.31,36,37,40, & 45 & volume B. I am looking through them for southern Ashtabula County names. My guess is that the CT towns of East Windsor, Bloomfield, South Windsor have names related to people in Windsor (Ashtabula County) and Bloomfield (Geauga County). I will examine those volumes next. I think this is on Ancestry, but since I have the books in hand right now I might as well browse the names -- Shawna Woodard, Dayton Metro Library (I lived in Rome, Ashtabula County, Ohio for 20 years).--Sorghumgrass 16:08, 2 August 2019 (UTC)

The Huntley's Check the Warren Ohio Trumbull County. I am a descendant to the Huntley's Neal I also have information on this Family Do you relate to them as well.... Please contact me.... It sounds like we have the same family--PennySchwamb 08:36, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Jacob Drake b. 23 Mar 1732/33 Windsor, CT [22 December 2020]

Hello, Neal.

I am related to Jacob Drake via Staples via Elihu Rogers. I have a genealogist assisting me on documentation for the line and we are not finding a birth record for the daughter Rhoda. Would you be able to please share with me a copy of the document that you reference below?

 "I have a document from my gggg-grandfather Almanza ROGERS who m. [Melinda FULLER a descendent of the Mayflower Edward FULLER]. Almanza said his mother was [Rhoda DRAKE b. abt. 1771] who had a sister named Adonis and brother, Jacob. Rhoda DRAKE (b. abt. 1771) married Elihu ROGERS, they lived in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Is Rhoda DRAKE (1771) the daughter of Jacob (1732/3) and Rhoda (DRAKE) DRAKE (1747)?"

Thank you,

Roy Goldsberry--Drgoldsberry 13:57, 22 December 2020 (UTC)

Dorothy ( Goldner) Harris Maines [31 May 2021]

Hi Neal,

    this is my immediate Family Dorothy Goldner is my Grandmother .and ,I have all kinds of personal information Her first Marriage was to Carroll Earnest Harris . They had 1 child together and that was my mother Kathleen Zoe (Harris) Lamb . My mom passed away in November 23, 2017... Dorothy's 2nd Husband was Elmer Joe Maines. I Loved my Grandparents . I would be more then happy to share info about this Family 
    I am very familiar with the Goldners . Private message me to my Email      p_schwamb@hotmail.com--PennySchwamb 08:24, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Levi Tiffany [26 July 2021]

Dear Mr. Gardner

Are you still interested in genealogical information about Levi Tiffany? A friend of mine died recently and in his belongings we found many historical documents. One of those is the original,leather bound, handwritten journal of Levi Tiffany. There are also many very old family bibles and other historical documents and we are looking for an appropriate place or person to give these items. Please contact me at lfallen.consult@gmail.com if you would like to discuss these items. Thank you L.F. Allen--Edwardwwoodjr 19:23, 26 July 2021 (UTC)

Neal hasn't been heard from on WeRelate since December of 2018. Given the Hartland/Barkhamsted locale for Levi I'd suggest contacting a local historical society in that area. If that doesn't work, the Connecticut State Library, Connecticut Historical Society (both in Hartford) or the Godfrey Library in Middletown would be appropriate placements. It sounds like this stuff should not be lost.

Regards, Bill Carr aka Jaques1724

Re: John Grant (1716-1792) [21 September 2021]

Dear Neal,

Are you aware of the passenger list for the "George"of Greenock, which sailed in 1774 to New York from Greenock, Scotland?

A Grant family on this list aligns very closely to the Grant family list that you have posted on werelate.org.

Shoot me an e-mail (steven.a.grant@icloud.com) if you would like a copy.

Best,

Steve--Sagrant 18:11, 21 September 2021 (UTC)

Neal hasn't been heard from on WeRelate since December of 2018.

Regards, Bill Carr aka Jaques1724