I'd be very wary of accepting, without some corroborating proof, what amounts to a family story unless it comes from someone actually involved. I grew up with the 'knowledge' that my family was related to Admiral Sir William Loring - a leading light in Australia's naval history. As I got involved in family research I even uncovered other, distantly related, family members who 'knew' the same thing. Then I uncovered some newspaper clippings from both Australia and New Zealand, including my grandfather's death notice, which claimed relationship to the Admiral. However, what I haven't uncovered is any possible connection to this man and his well documented family. A recent DNA study undertaken by a One-Name researcher HAS shown that there is a family link SOMEWHERE way back in time but neither he, nor any other researcher has been able to make that link between any known ancestors. The original family story must have been wishful thinking based on the shared surname. Yet it had spread far and wide within the family and was taken as gospel. It could easily have been written in a 'book' by an earlier family researcher, read by me and cited as gospel in my data. My point being that the report by my deceased (and in some cases still living) ancestors regarding our connection to the famous Admiral is far less valid as a source than SOME books on the library shelf - provided those books have documented their sources and those sources are also valid (i.e. a marriage register entry rather than 'Uncle Jim told me'.)
Cheers Jan -----Original Message----- From: James Cook [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, 6 March 2011 10:15 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Best way to record someone was a Knight (as in shining armor)? I'd still I'd like to know how/where you would record the title? Are you suggesting using TODOs unless you see an original document for yourself? Why would a report by a deceased relative be any more or less a valid source than a book on the library shelf? For instance, I have a book called "A HISTORY OF THE WILLIS FAMILY of NEW ENGLAND and NEW JERSEY AND THEIR ANCESTORS" compiled by CHARLES ETHELBERT WILLIS in 1916 stating the same. What is the recommended way to handle this information? It seems you would NOT suggest entering info. directly and giving things a lower surety, for instance. Why not? I'm curious, because having TODOs on people that are not in my Index seems odd to me. Seems an easy way to lose some people. Proper/Recommended usage of Legacy in this area is appreciated. The possible Knights in question are: 6. William Willis married the niece of Sir John Clarke (or Clerke) of Northampton 7.Richard Willis, married daughter of Sir George Blount, Knight 8. Thomas Willis, b. 1583; Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
