Last Monday I had more time on my hands than usual. And I usually have much too much time on my hands. I read several of the Madness Monday posts, particularly the kind that are "brick wall" posts--please help me, I'm stuck. I love those types of problems. I've regularly read the brick wall listings in New England Ancestors for several years. I generally research all of them and solve about one per issue (or one out of five or six). For me, this is genealogy: the puzzle.
My madness comes from the postings or write-ups themselves. What would help me is a list of sources already researched. I never know what a person has already done. They tend to give dates and other useful information, but not things like: I got his death certificate, but no parents were listed. So, when you read the postings, you have no idea if that death certificate was even looked at. Well, I experimented and added comments on several blogs. Hopefully, it helped. However, in the future people should always list all the things they have done that have failed. If I can find your brick wall in five minutes in the census (which I did twice last Monday and several times in the past), you will need to endure my ramblings about real brick walls!!! That should add to Monday Madness.
I read your post and yes, I agree with what you said. Many are easily solved. Sometimes it helps to have a fresh eye to look at things.
I am wondering if you could take a look at my brickwall posting of 16 Mar 09(link below).
I just resorted to hiring a genealogist in the area to double check the courthouse records for Susan's Death Certficate. (I wish I had more free time myself ;-) http://tangledtrees.blogspot.com/2009/03/whos-your-daddy.html
Thank you! Have a good Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Theresa Casteel | 11/23/2009 at 01:52 PM