Alex Stronach

Thanks for correcting the Van Wormer spelling, Alex. Growing up before and into the computer age, those of us with two or three part surnames have struggled with the different ways we have seen our names changed by the way record-keeping programs, some coded to not recognize that space, will treat those names. It's a little thing, but I'm sure you have found that even searches can sometimes be thrown off by looking for one version and not the other. Thankfully that's becoming less of a problems with smarter search engines and smarter coders. And then throw in the fact that some of my ancestors simply stopped using the "Van", or used jut the V, and then later generations switched back. ?? Anyway, thanks again.

Hello Alex,

My name is William Maher. I live in Melbourne, Australia. I have Gregg ancestors from Donegal, Ireland who are descendants of MacGregors who came to Ireland due to persecution by the English crown

I have been doing some work on a Macgregor profile John McCricket McGregor

I want to raise an issue with you regarding the death (?) date of JMM. As it currently stands on his profile; his death location and date are listed as died at New Zealand in 1914 aged 100 yo.

This cannot be correct based upon several factors which I have checked myself

On the NZ BDM website, a quick search for death registrations for John McGregor died 1914 results in two entries, both of which cannot be correct

See this link for details: bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz Going by these results, it becomes apparent that it is an imposibility because on the 1901 Ireland Census, the details have John as being 87 years old living at his home with his wife and children

See this link: familysearch.org It is therfore impossible for John to have been the John McGregors in NZ BDM search results. The age of the two listings are 1) 74 y.o and 2) 80 y.o in 1914

It follows from this difference in age at death that JMM could not be either of these people who are the ONLY listings in New Zealand in the year 1914

I am not trying to take any high ground with this but rather to ask if you agree based upon the facts mentioned herein

It does seem a bit of a stretch of the imagination for an 87 year old man to travel to New Zealand and then to be either unrgistered at death or his age to be recorded incorrectly on death registration

I am happy for you to remain manager of this profile; JMM is not part of my family but I do think it important to have factual data on WikiTree whoever the profile. I have made many errors myslef but am working at continual improvement of sourcing citations and data etc.

Let me know your thoughts,

Yours truly,

William L. Maher Maher-1078 Paternal Great Grandson of Mary Jane Maher nee Gregg Yarraville, VICTORIA, 3013

Hi Alex,

It is once again time for our annual Ireland Project check-in. Please respond within the next three weeks to let us know:

1. If you would like to continue as an Ireland Project member. If your answer is yes, please tell us if you are happy with your current team, or if you would prefer to join a different one. If you are currently participating in more than one team we would appreciate you ranking them in their order of importance to you, from highest priority to lowest. This information will be helpful as we consider possible future changes to our team structure.
2. In the past, the project has had a very minimal membership requirement (one contribution per year) for badged members to meet. Do you believe this is adequate, or should this requirement be increased? What do you believe would be a reasonable commitment to expect from all project members?
3. How active have you been in the Ireland Project over the past year? Please choose one of the following options: a) I normally spend 1-5 hours per month helping achieve my team’s goals. b) I normally spend 6-10 hours per month helping achieve my team’s goals. c) I spend over 10 hours per month helping achieve my team’s goals. d) I am not able to contribute every month but have spent approximately ________ hours during the past year improving Irish profiles.
4. Please provide feedback on any things you’d like to see the project do more of in the future.

You can respond to this message by posting a reply below or sending me a private message on WikiTree. If we don’t hear from you within the next three weeks we’ll assume your interests have changed or you no longer are able to participate in the Ireland Project at this time, and your badge will be removed. If your circumstances change later you will be welcome to reapply for membership.

Many thanks for all that so many of you have contributed to the project in the past year, and very special thanks to those who answered the project’s call and gave generously of their time to be part of Team Seanchaithe during the most recent connect-a-thon. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

le dea-mhéin, Jen Hutton, Ireland Project co-leader

Thank you so much for the Family Star, Alex, and for your kind words! You've really brightened the day!

Hi Alex, thanks ever so much for the Family Star. Your comments mean a lot, thank you.

Thank you so much for the Family Star Alex. I am gratefully surprised. I feel I have only really begun to build my tree, as well as knowing I have to find more sources and get my formatting properly sorted! Your kind comments and encouragement mean a lot.

Hi Alex - thank you so much for the family star - I really appreciated your comments

Thanks bunches, Alex, for the Family Star! #AbsolutelyFlabberghasted

Congratulations on your Super Star award you received on May 19, 2020. All your work on the many projects you help with is very much appreciated. We are lucky to have an exceptional member of Wikitree such as yourself who shows such great dedication and I believe you are an inspiration to others. Thank you.

From your friends at the Appreciation Team:

Congrats on the Super Star Badge!

Alex - good afternoon from Pennsylvania! Like so many other people right now, I have some free time so I'm delving back into some family tree mysteries and I saw your name and remembered that you helped me a few years ago. Are you still involved as a volunteer with wikitree? If yes, I'd love to reconnect and see if you can help me again.

Regards, Mike Waddell

My Rightmyer ancestors came from Baden - Unterwoessingen nr. Durlach - in 1743 to Reading, PA and stayed there until 1870 when some moved to Chester, PA. There are also Rightmyers (variously spelled) in the Hudson Valley. I don't know where the Canadian branch of the family comes in and would be glad to learn. Tom Rightmyer Asheville NC [email address removed]