Comments on: A Gen Forum Saves the Day

By: Don

Don — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:40:06 +0000

Harry,

I came across a gent named Tillinghast L’Hommedieu from the war not long ago. Wonder what the odds are he’s related to the same guy?

By: Terry Johnston

Terry Johnston — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:38:33 +0000

Harry:

I agree. Genealogical forums have led me several times to well-informed descendants of soldiers, many of whom possessed unique materials pertaining to their particular ancestor. Though I have run into the occasional problem with sourcing these materials, i.e., they’re copies of copies of documents of unknown whereabouts and ownership. Still, on balance, very useful.

Though not the same animal, I’d also recommend the extensive online contact list of CW researchers known as Civil War Units File. A wonderful resource. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been helped by its various members.

By: Rick Allen

Rick Allen — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:48:44 +0000

Those forums can indeed be very useful Harry. During my research on Andersons Brigade, I found quite a bit of valuable information in the nooks and crannies of GenWeb sites. It takes a bit of digging sometimes, but now and then, the effort bares fruit.

By: Michael C. Hardy

Michael C. Hardy — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:51:16 +0000

Harry – I started using genealogy discussion groups when I wrote my first book on the 37th NCT. I posted every single man who served in that regiment (a process I repeated with the book on the 58th NCT). For both projects, I received numerous photographs, war-time letters and diaries, and post-war family stories that I was able to incorporate into my text. All of these greatly enhanced the project by bringing to light un-used resources. While it took weeks to accomplish (there were more than 2,000 men in both the 37th and 58th NCT), it is a process I plan to repeat with whichever regiment I decide to write about next.

Regards,
Michael