RIGHT ON; I sure did, Bob.  Thanks, very much.    Hey all, please note what Bob has said; it is a valid correction.  I have added in upper case a correction of the error I made.   Paul
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob and Margery 
  ....
  Very good, as usual, Paul. But- 5th paragraph, 2nd line, did you not
  mistakenly omit "not"?  I am not a nit picker but I think, in case nobody
  else points it out, I should.  To me it points out that you are human, too.
  I never really doubted that.
  With great admiration and regard,  Bob Yeager
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Paul Drake" <[log in to unmask]>
  ....
  from Deborah in AZ.:

  "Hello, Mr. Drake.  .... So then, how can I know when I have sufficient to
  prove my answer about his kinship????. Thank you...."

  Hi, Deb.  Though it does not seem so, this is a complicated and difficult
  question, and the answers are significant to every one of us who are sincere
  researchers.  Further, there is NO answer that sums up ALL the problems you
  may encounter.

  First, you must decide to whom you must prove your conclusions....  Your
  family?, the DAR, SAR, or another of the Patriotic organizations?, the
  readers who will read your book when you have finished?  Your genealogy
  society when you give your talk next month?  Yourself?  WHO ALL????

  Notice, if you need but satisfy only yourself, how much evidence is enough
  is easy; if you are comfortable with what you have gathered, the matter is
  ended.  If you are seeking membership, you must meet THEIR rules, no matter
  what you find satisfactory or sufficient.  If you are to speak as to the
  matter, you should establish all evidence that is available to you, and if
  that quantum is but sparse, you should tell your listeners wherein you yet
  have lingering doubts.

  If you are writing for publication, you must meet the most critical of
  reviewers, and nothing but a thorough search and findings of clear and
  convincing evidence will suffice (preponderances are NEVER adequate, unless
  after the most diligent search you have found nothing further and have
  clearly told your reader/listener of that fact).  Remember too, you may have
  readers 100 years from now, and you should leave your work as a bright
  monument to your skill, judgment, and thoroughness.  Again, and as always,
  if you have questions or feel that in some respect your evidence is not as
  clear or as reliable as you would prefer, SAY SO !!!  Don't make leaps of
  faith nor presume parenthood without great certainty (your ancestors
  wouldn't like to have kids foisted upon them that they did not ever have,
  would you?  :-).

  The whole world knows that you almost surely did not uncover EVERY source or
  bit of information, so do NOT pretend that you did so.  We all know that the
  world of records is too vast for you to have done so as to an entire family.

  So, satisfy everyone who must judge your work, be as thorough as life and
  time permit, be candid, forthright and honest in analyzing and setting forth
  your findings, remember that what you write becomes a standard by which your
  skill will be judged for MANY years; and throughout all your efforts, you
  must maintain absolute intellectual integrity.    Paul



To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html