Genealogy Chat

Hi Calyn I came upon Ancestral Villages by pure chance a few months ago and would like to congratulate both you and your husband for making it available. I like many other GR members live on the other side of the globe and many of our ancestor's villages are new to us. Thank you for adding another source in seeking our answers. Goodluck, JudyNZ

Would like to say Well Done you guys - for putting the site together. It's a great idea, a well-laid out website and pleasing to the eye. I am jealous i dont have the no-how to do something like that. lol

I love the layout in Ancestral villages, I find the green very restful and I have also found that in putting details of my ancestor's movements from village to village it has helped me to clear my thoughts and given further ideas for research. nell

This should be near the top. Just going to check activity in 'my' village! Jan

Gloria I don't wish to 'flog a dead horse' but it was specifically for people like you (and me) who never read Terms and Conditions that I put my original thread on this board to suggest that people should read them once in a while. I was concerned with the particular phrase in AVs T&C which stated "By submitting any material to the content to the Ancestral Villages Service, you: ... - authorise us to adapt the relevant material in the course of doing so, and SO WAIVE YOUR MORAL RIGHTS TO OBJECT TO ANY DEROGATORY TREATMENT, or to be identified as the author, of the material in question." The words "waive your moral rights to object to any derogatory treatment" were the main cause for concern; the other phrases within the item were quite standard and acceptable. You will see that one or two others on this thread feel it would be appropriate to remove this particular phrase. I replied to Cally both on here and in a private email as it had been my message which prompted the responses. I pointed out to her that I had been referred to it by a message on the Rootsweb Devon List and suggested she put a similar reply there. To date she hasn't, which is a shame because the comments in October and November on that list are far from complimentary. I agree with all those who have praised AV. I think the concept is brilliant and the site itself is excellent, but those few words could have lost them subscribers, particularly those who browse or belong to the Rootsweb lists - and their ancestors might just be the ones we're looking for. Sue

i never even read the terms and conditions as using the internet is at your own descretion so i have no idea what you are talking about. i have used ancestral villages quite a few times and have had a couple of contacts so you get the thumbs up from me. ty

HiCally, I think you are doing a brilliant job! Love the site and hope it grows as you want it to. Keep up the good work - some of us appreciate it. Best wishes, Linda.

When I first found ancestral villages I must say I thought it was a great concept, and I will certainly replace my information now that such a frank explanation has been given. However I would be happier if item 15 was amended, or deleted. I look forward to seeing the site grow rapidly in the future. Di.

Cally thanks for the elaboration. I did try to register a few weeks ago but on the confrmation e mail I had to 'click this link .......' which went nowhere! As you are in Norfolk - my pet county - I'll try again. Let me know if you need an advertiser for a small Cambs village - would be glad to help. Janet

I truly enjoy AV! It is one place I visit every time I log on and was really stunned to read Sue's post. It certainly generated some activity! I am glad that AV have replied as it gives a whole different perspective. I will continue adding my lot and founding some more villages, hopefully, in the near future. I have had to contact AV quite a few times and found their response time within 24 hours which is magic as I live in Oz! They are always so willing to help sort a query. Some other sites could certainly take a leaf out of AV's book on this on! Keep up the village building AV! Sonja

I agree with Stephen, I dont care who looks at or uses my research. The idea of starting it was that my relatives were not forgotten. Hopefully when I die someone will add me to the list and carry on. Helena

Jill I have just put a message saying that on the original, seems a shame now there has been an explanation to carry this on . Lynda

Just pushing this above Sue's original message. It ought to be read first! Sue: do you think it might be a good idea to delete your posting? Jill

The main problem seems to be that people seem obsessive about "owning" their research so that they can get the credit! Most of us are not professional genealogists and copyright deos not matter to us. Who cares who did the research, what matters is that the research has been done, that it is sound and documented, and that others can tap into it. There's a lot of whinging on here about 24th cousins removed who have claimed to do the research and stolen the glory....grow up peeps, if you don't like your cousins, just remember there's some of that same gene pool in you too...... I for one have no issue with the T&Cs on ancestral villages.

Calyn As the instigator of the 'gripe' against you I am so pleased you have replied. As you will have seen I hadn't read your Terms and Conditions and was prompted to read them by a message on the Rootsweb Devon List. If you haven't already posted a message on there, then please do what you have done here. As someone else has said, it is that final paragraph which offends - you will see that it is missing from the GC Terms and Conditions. I thought your site was brilliant when I first came across it, and founded a couple of villages myself. My thread on here was purely as a caution to everyone to READ Terms and Conditions, and your response has at least confirmed that Ancestral Villages is operated by 'real people', which makes me for one feel a lot better! Thank you! Sue

Thanks for the reassurance. Haven't as yet tried your site but will give it a go now. Mary Brooke

I am thrilled with your site and hope it does really well. Although I have only put on a few names to date I have met up with a distant relative. I put my email on the message section and they contacted me through that. I can't get out by myself and they have kindly offered to take me to the rcords office. Brilliant! Best wishes and good luck, Jo.

Keep up the good work I think it is a great idea and will continue to add all of the ancesters that I have in my tree. Ken Hastings Hunua, NZ

Thank you for your positive comments - we spent an absolute age working out the terms and conditions, consulting legal sites and dictionaries etc. We arrived at these because we thought that if the multimillion pound sites have them (including one not so far from GC) - they must be OK. How naive! Cally

I saw the thread and decided to wait and see. When you read the clause you can see why people might worry though. I will stick with it and wish you luck but you might like to have a think about changing (or deleting altogether) the offending clause. Bob