: For my part I suppose it is the love of the chase, the
: chance to correspond with other like-minded people,
: and the fact that I am getting close to the start of
: reliable record-keeping. I am also very interested in
: the family in general and of its history.

: I also realise that with a bit of effort through
: collateral branches you can build up the most enormous
: and unmanageable family tree.

: cause. The fact is that I realise that the further I
: go the more Caldwell's I find and the reality sinks in
: that there is just so much information out there to be
: had. When one thinks that there are probably less than
: 1 in 100 persons interested at any time in their
: family tree the mind boggles.

It's fun to look at the past, especially from the comfort of our 21st century homes. It's easy to analyze, romanticize, fantasize, or view with skepticism our ancestry - and more, it's easy to forget the time that we live in today.

The time that it takes to communicate anywhere in the world today is as quick as you press "send". I am sure that we all can remember not long ago, when having group discussions with people from all over the world, sharing information and countless records in an instant, was a little more difficult than having a "good connection". But I'm rambling....

It's true, though. Taking the married names of daughters from a Will, I posted those surname forums with the Caldwell name. Out of five girls, two positive lines came back.

Not only did it add two branches to my "trunk", it also gave me valuable information about our shared ancestors. I saw interesting patterns in migration and lack thereof, and patterns in religous belief as well.

: Then what does one do? Put it in a filing cabinet and
: hope that it doesn't get thrown out when you die?

Ah... The "what's it all worth" question! Let me know when you figure this one out.

: I enjoy coming here because there are now a number of
: people contributing to the great debate and supplying
: helpful information - as you have done.

I've got to tell you, for all the sites that I've developed, and for all the traffic and attention they get,this site by far is my biggest thrill.

And everything else, well said.