Out of the blue

[dot.hawkes]

and through the Ancestry site, I have had a email from a lady who turns out to be descended from the eldest brother of my great great Grandad!!! She's been doing her family history for just under a year and i've just emailed her her dad's side back to 1430 lol Oh well, she can always do her Mum's lol (have a spoilt it for her?)

[carolegif]

I had a similar thing with my Dad's family on Genes Reunited, I was contacted by a member who had his family back to the 16th century. It didn't spoil it for me though, I still loved looking at all the details and I am still wrestling with Mum's side. Thomas Morris is still elusive, I think I may have found a 3rd wife!!!

[echokilo]

No you haven't spoilt it for I am sure Dot ..... has happened to me lots of times and it (spookily) has usually happened whenever I have become stuck ..... perhaps the ancestors are looking over us and guiding us!!!!! ? I am sure she will be pleased with the data.

[cazzz1975]

hi dot, I am in contact with my other half's second cousin, we have been researching his family for the last 4 years and ironically we got in touch about a week ago, I am about to send them copies of certificates and other info I did worry that I may have ruined it for them but they seem really happy! The best part is that they have sent me pictures of the family which is pure gold as we had no pictures of any of them. its wonderful to finally put names to faces.

I think she will be delighted dot!

[dundurn]

I'm sure your researchis impeccable Dot, but I had a similar experience looking for my Mother-in-law's ancestry. I struggled my way back to c1800 and then came across a "ready-made" family tree bach to c1500 and purportedly earlier. My first instinct was to shout hooray, my second to want to check it all myself! So no, I don't think you'll have spoiled her enjoyment at all. After all, Wainwright wrote all those books on the Lake District - hasn't stopped people climbing them, has it.

We had a similar "long-lost relative" story in my family. I contacted someone in Oregon who shared a ggg-gradfather with me, and who put me in touch with someone who was researching a bit further down the tree. She turned out to be in Australia and wasn't a blood relative at all but was "helping out" a relation of her partner. The helpee turned out to be my father's full cousin who lives in Nottingham! The family was split up in around 1918 and none of them knew anything about where the rest were.