General Chat

Don't assume your Gran won't know anything of G'dads side of the family. My Mum in her 80's seems to know more about my late Dad's side of the family, than praps he did himself!!

Alaina, Try taking it one step at a time. Write the first letter and ask a couple of leading questions, tell her how you miss your Dad etc. If and when she has answered those couple of questions, write again and ask another and so on. Don't try asking them all at once. If you can get to see her, ask if she has any family photos, elderly relatives love talking about photos. I made contact with a cousin in her 70s by snail mail and she has been a great source of information. Good Luck with the search. Ann Glos

Take every opportunity to talk with your rellies Alaina. I too relised how time flys by and find it can be too late so I am visiting my folks who live 400 kms away from me this weekend with notepad and pen in hand. They are in their 80's and my Dad has just been ill and I know he's a hive of information. I tried getting them to write dates etc on email, but the best way to get ALL the info I need to to ask direct questions. Hopefully I'll have more names to put to my tree next week and that can help my contacts also. Bye Lin fom Oz

James I have tried starting a letter but when I got to the end there were so many questions, I thought she might think I was interrogating her! She would understand my reasons I suppose, but I don't know if she would remember things about my grandad's family, he died 23 years ago I'll give it another try though, you never know she might surprise me! Alaina

Alaina, Have you thought about writing to her? She is of the generation who appreciated sending and receiving mail. I am sure that after a couple or three letters between you she will be giving you all the info she can remember. Good luck, Jim

Cheers Linda! I just feel really lost when I start looking, I just wish I could go see my nan but it's a forty mile drive and just haven't had the time or the money to go see her, I'm trying to do this tree for myself now while I'm still young, I lost my dad when I was 18 so I kinda want to get this done before I lose my nan as well (she 76 this year) I've got my fingers crossed that nothing happen to her just yet, but losing my dad showed me that you never know what is round that next corner, I know if my dad was here he would of helped me every step of the way, that's why it make me smile when I read these boards because there's always a helping hand there Alaina :)

Hi Alaina. It's hard work isn't it. I too think I'll never get anywhere especially when sending money overseas is a bit of a pain and very costly. GC is heaps of help though and one day it'll all come together.Hang in there. Regards...Linda from Oz.

Hi all, I decided yeaterday that I'd finally get round to starting my quest of finding out about the gibson's, but it was a nightmare! there are hundreds of Gibson's on GC and loads of web site's of other Gibson tree's, I'm also at a disadvantage because my father died 4 and half year's ago, my nana (dad's mum) lives in Leeds and the rest of my dad's family live in Sunderland and I live in Bolton and I'm living on a budget so can not make trips anywhere at the moment to get information, where can I find out UK information about my Gibson's on the internet? Thanks love Alaina