|
[Helplist] [Boettcher Tree] [Holt Tree]
[Contents]
|
Getting in touch with long-lost cousins can greatly enhance your search. A
cousin of mine contacted me months after I had written to his father. We still
correspond and I have pictures of my gggrandparents as a result! However, cold
correspondence can be difficult even after you find them.
Surname SearchingDiscussed in the surname article , surname searches on genealogical pages are your best bet. These relatives are most likely to respond and have information of interest.E-mail DirectoriesBest with rare surnames, or when you have a full name, e-mail directories are free, quick and easy. Most require individuals to register, which usually means they don't mind being "found". Yahoo! and 411 are the largest.Basic SearchesPerhaps the most basic of searches is when you go to a popular search engine and simply enter your surname. Bike race results, newspaper articles, company web sites, your own page - just about anything can result. Be aware that Yahoo! makes no effort to catalog the entire web. Indeed most engines don't. Alta Vista , Infoseek , Webspider and Lycos are the most inclusive.Dejanews, searching various newsgroups, will pick up someone posting your surname. Once again, rare surnames work best. Beware if your surname is Duchovney, Anderson or any star's surname. Responding to a Posted SurnameIf you find your surname on a genealogical page, don't hesitate to write immediately. The person who put that information online hoping someone just like you would write! Explain where you saw their posting and why you think you might be related. Provide enough information (or directions to a web site with that information) to determine if a connection exists.Cold E-mail CallWriting e-mail to a complete stranger, because you share a surname, can sometimes be construed as spam. If your surname is Martin, and you e-mail everyone with that last name, then I would have to agree. No reasonable person can expect that all of those people are related to you.You are probably fighting the perception that you are out to sell something. Make the subject relevant and not too flashy (i.e., "Kiaunis family"). Keep the introduction short, but explain where you found their e-mail address and why you're writing. Have a clear idea about what you're interested in gaining from the correspondence (i.e., "I was hoping you might know where Great-Aunt Phyllis was born."). If you just want to be in touch and let them know you're researching, that's fine as well. Be clear about this. Be friendly and brief. Chances are you will get even a quick response. If not, try again in about two weeks. Explain that you think you're first message might have gone astray and apologize for writing again. Then let it drop. Here is the text of an e-mail that I sent to a person sharing a rare surname: SUBJ: Albaitis Family I hope you don't find this e-mail intrusive. In my research of the Albaitis family, I've come to discover that this is a very rare surname in America. If we are indeed related, I have some information, pictures, etc. that may be of interest to you. My ggrandparents were their names . Their eldest daughter, Mary, is my grandmother. They raised their children in Michigan. My family website at address provided has more info about that family. Your cousin(?), Diane Cold LettersPhone directories are available online as well. From these you can glean a list of people with your surname in your state, city, county or country. Cold letters have a very low response rate. Learn some more about this before sending a mass mailing. You'll want to do it right the first time.The following web site has some good suggestions about cold letters. http://www.havemann.com/blind_inquiry.html
|
