E-mail Q & A
Before you send me an e-mail about people in my databases, here are the answers to some common questions. Perhaps the answer you're looking for is here.
Q. The surname I am interested in is listed on your web site. Are we related?
A. If you can identify a particular individual by forename and surname, then the chances are good that we are, in fact, related. If you only match by surname, the chances of a connection are remote.
Q. My name is ________. Please tell me more about my family.
A. If you don't see it on my web site, I probably don't have it. My active research is on the name PATCH in Somerset. I am not actively working on other names. Nearly all the information I have has been compiled from many different sources and by many people. I do not maintain additional information for people not in my active research.
Q. Your information is different from mine. What is your source?
A. Most of the information I have has been compiled over the years by various family members. Unfortunately, I do not have the source information for this material. It was given to me without sources. I am working on locating the sources and adding them to the site. In 1998 and again in 2000, a large number of names were added to the database by downloading files from Ancestral File. You can identify these names because they will have Ancestral File Numbers (AFN) associated with them. I am in process of cleaning up this portion of the data (i.e., merging duplicate individuals and deleting redundant marriages).
Q. What about the accuracy of the data in Ancestral File?
A. Submissions to Ancestral File are not checked or verified before being added to the "central" database. It is the responsibility of contributors to verify their data and include sources. Naturally, some researchers are more conscientious than others in this regard. It is a good idea to verify, for yourself, anything that comes from AF. It is a fact that there is a great deal of conflicting data in AF.
Now, all of that out of the way, I'd be happy to hear from you if you think we can make a connection or if you just want to chat. Over the past three years since this web site first went on line, I've been simply inundated with e-mail. It's not that I don't like mail, it's that many of the requests are for information that I simply don't have. When you write, please be patient with me. It could be a matter of several days before I can respond. I do try to respond to all e-mail messages with a personal note. I think you all deserve that courtesy.
Finally, you need to know which of my databases you were looking at before you write to me. To find out, click the "BACK" button on your browser and take note of the title of the page that brought you here. Then click "FORWARD" to return to this point. (Obviously this isn't necessary if you came here from the main page.)
If the previous page was titled "Monk and Belmont Database," then you were looking at my family data. I've included up to 2 generations of descendants of my direct line ancestors to increase the probability of visitors making a connection.
If the previous page was titled "Patch One-name Study Database," then your were looking at just that- data collected in my one-name study of the Patch surname in England. I've included sources and notes with this database on-line. If you would like to request details about what sources I've searched so far or ask for a gedcom, please feel free to contact me at the link below.
If the previous page was titled "Norton Sub Hamdon Database," then your were looking at the data extracted from the parish registers and censuses of the village of Norton Sub Hamdon, Somerset. We are not directly related to most of these people. My sister, Wendie Whitehead, is in the process of compiling this information as a service to others who might be researching in that area. This compilation is not complete and even if it were, Wendie has more information than what is on the web site. You may send her an e-mail to inquire if you wish. (She said I could say that.) Please indicate to her that you found this information on the Norton Sub Hamdon Database.
Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. Good luck in your work.
Richard.