Judy Russell, attorney and writer of “The Legal Genealogist” blog. www.legalgenealogist.com.
Last week I wrote about Dr. James Ward, an ear, nose, and throat physician who practiced in Greenville and lived on Park Street with his wife and three children. A grandson now occupies the Ward home. One of my readers posed a very good question this week. How many other homes on Park Street or even within the city of Greenville have been in the same family for three or more generations? If you or someone you know falls into that category, please let me know. You can contact me at the email below. I’d love to know. There’s got to be somebody with such a distinction. Remember, it’s not limited just to Park Street.
Now my warning. One of the best genealogical lecturers I have had the honor to study under is Judy Russell, who brands herself “The Legal Genealogist.” I heard her in Dallas a few years ago before taking a weeklong class in Salt Lake City. While a licensed attorney who no longer practices, she shares a wealth of knowledge about U. S. laws since colonial times that directed family law. She knows the little details or where to find them.
For example, in North Carolina just before the American Revolution anyone who was a member of the Committee for Safety was ejected from the state church, the local Anglican Church. Not only was my ancestor sent packing from the church because he was a revolutionist, his entire family was ex-communicated. There were no civil marriages then. When I could not find a marriage license for the couple in the early 1770s, Judy explained the circumstances. I later found supporting evidence in two wills, but that’s another story.
Judy Russell does a daily blog aptly called “The Legal Genealogist.” Recently she posted what I believe is a very credible warning. There is a new genealogy website called Family Tree Now. It sounds almost too good to be true. And it is. The site claims to have one of the largest collections anywhere in the world. Plus, it’s all free.
Well, both claims are red flags for veteran genealogists. The most reliable sites never make that claim and do charge for the cost of providing such reputable information. In addition, there is a solid rule that information about living persons should NEVER be released in a public arena.
The website turned out to be one of those links to arrest records, bankruptcy cases, and other personal matters. If someone really wants to find out about you, they will pony up the money and may not receive true facts. So my advice and Judy’s warning is to Opt Out.
Ironically, the company who set up the website is WHOIS, with all the owner information securely hidden behind a privacy wall.
That should be a lesson for all family history buffs. Never put anything about your self, except maybe your name, and your living family members. That means online, in a book for family members, in a local history book or anything where the information is public. Identity theft is very real. Don’t make it easier for crooks.