Thread: Any Help with questions to ask

tanjat67 · 02-11-2007, 10:36 PM

I got in contact with some long lost family members and I want to send them some questions so they can fill out for me but I don't know what sort of questions to ask them.

Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

tanjat67 / Tanja

petal · 03-11-2007, 06:09 PM

Everyone may have different ideas on this but I can only tell you what I did.
I told the relatives a bit about myself, what I'd done, what I was doing, including the family history side of things. I made it a nice friendly letter adding towards the end that if they could help in any way with some of the relatives I had problems finding out about maybe they could help and that it would be much appreciated.
Worked well and we now correspond regularly.

Having said that there is one relative in America who, despite me writing to her to explain that my mum was ill and wouldn't be able to write to her any more but Mum would love to hear from her as usual. Since then, not a word, not to me or my Mum.
Then a phone call to Mum's cousin hoping she might be able to help with some info about her grandad also drew a blank. The conversation went strangley quiet yet I've known this lady for a long long.

Good luck.

gillian · 03-11-2007, 10:46 PM

Hi Tanja
Glad you are making contact with them.
I agree with Mary - best to send them some info and perhaps a couple of photos (encourages them to follow your example!). Be careful about asking too many questions at the start particularly with the past family history of problematic relationships. Perhaps ask someone you trust to read the letter before you send it.
Not everyone responds to contact (for a variety of reasons) and you just have to accept that. But follow it up with a Christmas card to give them a second chance!
I am sure though that you will get some communication going if you are patient!
Good luck
Gillian

tanjat67 · 04-11-2007, 04:35 AM

Thankyou Petal and Gillian for the information regarding my question. I am in email contact with this family member. And the idea of sending a christmas card to them Gillian I thought of that when I got a letter back from England already.

tanjat67 / Tanja

jakegodden · 22-05-2008, 11:00 AM

did you know about captain blood, he was a member of our family his name was thomas blood and he was a theif, he stole the crown from the tower of london.

tanjat67 · 22-05-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakegodden

did you know about captain blood, he was a member of our family his name was thomas blood and he was a theif, he stole the crown from the tower of london.

Yes I did and I got in contact with someone interestate I think Victoria, Australia that is related to him as well. I have some infromation on him somewhere if you would like it. If so would you be able to pm me with your email address and I will email it to you when I can find it.

Actually it was James Bloodworth that was sent to Australia he was born on 7 March 1759.

Tanja

jakegodden · 22-05-2008, 11:18 AM

ok, i got information on a thomas blood, born 1628

02-11-2007, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
tanjat67 Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Elizabeth North, South Australia Posts: 177 Total Awards: 2	Any Help with questions to ask I got in contact with some long lost family members and I want to send them some questions so they can fill out for me but I don't know what sort of questions to ask them. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. tanjat67 / Tanja
	Tanja Surnames I am trying to research are Skilton (Surrey, England and South Africa), Thomas (Llanelly in Wales), Turner (UK), Godden (Surrey, England), Couture (Canada), Bloodworth (Surrey, England)

03-11-2007, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
petal Super Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Horncastle, Lincolnshire Posts: 8,553 Total Awards: 5	re: Any Help with questions to ask Everyone may have different ideas on this but I can only tell you what I did. I told the relatives a bit about myself, what I'd done, what I was doing, including the family history side of things. I made it a nice friendly letter adding towards the end that if they could help in any way with some of the relatives I had problems finding out about maybe they could help and that it would be much appreciated. Worked well and we now correspond regularly. Having said that there is one relative in America who, despite me writing to her to explain that my mum was ill and wouldn't be able to write to her any more but Mum would love to hear from her as usual. Since then, not a word, not to me or my Mum. Then a phone call to Mum's cousin hoping she might be able to help with some info about her grandad also drew a blank. The conversation went strangley quiet yet I've known this lady for a long long. Good luck.
	(AKA Mary) How beautiful it is to do nothing and rest afterwards...

03-11-2007, 10:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
gillian Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,585 Total Awards: 4	re: Any Help with questions to ask Hi Tanja Glad you are making contact with them. I agree with Mary - best to send them some info and perhaps a couple of photos (encourages them to follow your example!). Be careful about asking too many questions at the start particularly with the past family history of problematic relationships. Perhaps ask someone you trust to read the letter before you send it. Not everyone responds to contact (for a variety of reasons) and you just have to accept that. But follow it up with a Christmas card to give them a second chance! I am sure though that you will get some communication going if you are patient! Good luck Gillian

04-11-2007, 04:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
tanjat67 Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Elizabeth North, South Australia Posts: 177 Total Awards: 2	re: Any Help with questions to ask Thankyou Petal and Gillian for the information regarding my question. I am in email contact with this family member. And the idea of sending a christmas card to them Gillian I thought of that when I got a letter back from England already. tanjat67 / Tanja
	Tanja Surnames I am trying to research are Skilton (Surrey, England and South Africa), Thomas (Llanelly in Wales), Turner (UK), Godden (Surrey, England), Couture (Canada), Bloodworth (Surrey, England)

22-05-2008, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
jakegodden New Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6	re: Any Help with questions to ask did you know about captain blood, he was a member of our family his name was thomas blood and he was a theif, he stole the crown from the tower of london.
jakegodden New Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6

22-05-2008, 11:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
jakegodden New Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6	re: Any Help with questions to ask ok, i got information on a thomas blood, born 1628
jakegodden New Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6