Approximately 3 years ago I posted a short message seeking information on our GG Grandmother. A very simple message, "seeking information on Francis .......born in Grey County.
A woman named Dorothy read that message. She contacted my sister and research partner. She then spent many days over a period of months in the Canadaian Archives researching our family. She did it the hard way without computer indexes. She spent hours pouring over microfilms in the Canadian National Archives. She sent us scores of names and documents on the family. She went to the original farm our Canadian ancestors owned and took some photos of their original log cabin built in 1860. She also mentioned a book written by a woman that had lived in Grey in the 20th century. I found that book and in it was a photograph of our GGG Grandmother as well as other members of our family that had been taken late 19 century. Finding that photograph was one of the most memorable events in my life. Like finding a needle in a haystack. This woman re-wrote our family history, put us in touch with Canadian relatives who sent more photos. Her research led us from Canada to Michigan, to Kentucky, to Kansas, to Panama and then back to New York.
I will never forget Dorothy and what she did. I will always be grateful to Dorothy. If I ever get to Ontario Dorothy will be the first person I would take out to dinner.
The last thing I would ever do is send Dorothy a critical e-mail about her spelling.
So Heather I appreciate your advising I did not spell Oriella correctly 3x and misspelled other words in some of my messages and I am not sure I spelled Oriella correctly as I just typed it. Does it really matter? I am sorry but it does not matter to me. I am responsible for the effort not the final result.
My family eventually ended up in New York. I live on (or is it in Long Island. With towns like Massapequa, Shinnecock, Patchouge, Ronkonkoma. Those towns I can spell I have seen the names for the last 30 years.
So Heather I do apologize for not spelling the townships of Canada correctly. I will try harder to decipher the abbreviations on the original records. But most of all I want you to know something. When your hobby is genealogy one thing you better keep up front. How you think a name is spelled is not that important. Because if you spend your time researching how you believe a name is spelled you will not get very far.
If I can do anything for you Heather please do not hesitate to ask. I will not guarantee the spelling will be correct but I will do my best to point you in the right direction.
P.S. Jennie was Elizabeth. Jennie was her nickname.