Tips for Newbies
The more “pertinent” informationgiven saves time for would be volunteers and helps you gain more and better information. If your message is content rich and detailed, it will lend itself more toward attracting appropriate responses.Posting messages with subject lines such as: Help !, Looking for missing Grandpa, etc.. often times are not even opened by many people!Stories about jumping ship, illegitimate births, being related to royalty are of no help and should be avoided.As Sgt. Joe Friday said, “just the facts ma’am”
Some of the information that you should include in your query are:
1) Include the surname in the Subject line of your post.This allows List members to see the surname without opening the message.It is also seen by anyone browsing the archive list.
2) Anyplace the surname appears it should be typed in all CAPS, this will highlight it, making it quickly identified.
3) Give full name, given and surname.Include any alternate or AKA spellings that are known.
4) Include names of parents, spouse, children and any other relatives known.Often time search subjects names may be misspelled or mis-transcribed and by including other names often times those “hidden” subjects may be discovered
5) Give Date of Birth (DOB), Date Marriage, Date of Death (DOD).And if known include the place where each of these events occurred.
6) Indicate whether or not they emigrated.If they emigrated include approximate year of emigration and the place where they settled.Keep in mind that people from around the world may post to this List so be specific about countries, etc..
Example: JoeMAGARATS (alternate spelling MAGARAC). born 1882 in Croatia, exact place unknown, parents Mathew and Martha (unknown)married MarySHUPAK 1908 at Pittsburgh PA.They had 3 children: John, Matt and Elvis. I have found them in census records 1910, 1920 and 1930 living at McKeesport, Allegheny County PA..I have also found Joe in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI)But little else is known.Joe also had a brother, John, who lived at Calumet Michigan.I haven't been able to find Joe’s nor Mary’s ship manifest.
I would like to find their ship manifests, where they were born in Croatia as well as their marriage record in Pennsylvania.Also I would like to know how to find information about them in Croatia.Can anyone help me solve this mystery?
Thank you in advance for you help.