Is your information "certified" or "verified"...what are your sources?

Anybody doing genealogy knows that sources aren't necessarily accurate. While I can honestly say a number of my soruces have been personally researched by me, I can also honestly tell you that much of my information has come from internet research as well as from other persons searching for the same family surnames. At the end of the day, if you find something in my pages that is questionable or you KNOW is wrong, won't you take the time to e-mail me and tell me so it can be corrected. I only ask for YOUR source so I can include it. As an aside, I do try to get at least two sources for all, otherwise undocumented, information.

Where did you get all of the Lachance family names?

By far, the Lachance (Pepin dit Lachance) family is the most prominent within these pages. If the information is of a "male" Lachance, especially for the first 5-6 generations, virtually all is directly from the research of Louis Lachance. He has published seven volumes of the descendents of Antoine Pepin dit Lachance and Marie Teste which he has researched. These volumes represent thousands of direct descendents of Andre and his wife. Louis has a list of sources at the beginning of each volume. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I must assume from his years of research that he is correct (even though there are known errors). You may purchase his works through the Pépin dit Lachance family association linked on the introduction page of this website.

For "non Lachance" names on the Lachance side, I have relied upon the resources of PRDH, LDS Family Searches, the many volumes of repertoires and published records and materials I have in my personal library and a handful of actual certificates I have personally ordered, and most definitely, the research of others.

How about the Bussell family information?

On the Bussell side, I continue to search. Almost all of the information is based upon my own personal researcj and includes many birth, death, and marriage certificates as well church records, Orphan Train Society transcripts, Childrens Aid Society transcripts, and actual newspaper articles. Very little of this Bussell side is undocumented in some form or another. Where there is speculation, is is identifed as such. While I believe I have the lineage backwards from 1820, I am still missing that critical piece of paper that proves I am right.

I asked questions when I signed the guestbook but I haven't heard from you, why not?

The guestbook I am using is from an "outside" source, GuestGear.   (click on the name if you want more information)   As such, I have not set it up to notify me when someone signs the guestbook, only to send an automatic message thanking them for signing it. I do check the guestbook, somewhat regularly, to see if anyone new has signed it and respond to each person as I get the time to answer the questions. I don't like to send e-mail unless I have something to say. So please, go ahead and sign the guestbook. If you have a question you want answered quickly, just send me an e-mail directly.

You have asked me for information but you haven't replied to my e-mail in five days, do you really want my help,? Do you really have time to do this?

ahhhhh....the disadvantages of doing genealogy on a part-time basis. I am the first to admit that I suffer from Genealogy Pox ( for a definition, " Click here to open the page in a new window. ". )

That is to say, while I dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to the "research," the input of information into the "database", and the "upkeep" of the website itself, I is not possible to devote every waking hour to the process, even if I really want to.
As unfortunate as it seems, I must still be gainfully employed in order to support my "genealogical condition"; I maintain my home, I travel about the state, take care of my dog, visit friends and family and, on occassion, (albeit rarely) I even manage to relax. There are times when I cannot reply to my e-mail for two or three days, sometimes longer, because I am not here to do so.

I had no idea the amount of traffic and interest this site would generate and sometimes just providing a single answer can take hours. There are days where I receive 4 or 5 e-mails realted to genealogy alone, and each needs an answer.

Everything said, YES, I DO want your help and YES I am INTERESTED and YES, I will reply to your questions, concerns, feedback, and comments, but please please please, bear with me...I am only one person and everything here is accomplished by just me.

So, if I'm ever delayed in replying to your messages, e-mail or questions, please accept my most humble apologies up front...it's just the nature of the beast! You may, however, rely on the fact that I WILL reply! What is it they say? "Patience is a virtue"? I hope you will understand.

Will you send me all of the information you have about the Lachances?

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would have the piles (literally all over my house) of information I have accumulated in such a short time. Were I to print out just the descendent report for Antoine Pepin dit Lachance today (October 14, 2006), it would amount to over 1,700 pages, in 8pt narrow font, without the index of names. While I would love to be able to accomodate everyone with this, I simply cannot afford to do so...from the standpoint of time, paper, toner and wear and tear on my simple little laser printer at home and ... lest we forget ... postage.

For everyones benefit, my entire database is posted to the website under Surnames...(see the navigation bar on the left or at the top). While it may be incomplete with source information, notes and dates concerning the living or those born after 1920, it IS complete in names and usually fairly current with the status of my database.

If you are related or want to collaborate in research, I am more than happy to help where I am able. Just e-mail me to tell me how I can help and I'll try to answer your questions and get you the information you need.

Why don't you update your surname list more frequently?

The file size has grown exponentially with the number of individuals contained therein. Even a "stripped" GEDCOM is over 30 megabyte in size.
In addition to paying a monthly charge to house the website ... (minimal I might add, but it does add up, coupled with my ISP (Internet Service Provider account and the domain name renewal fees )... I also pay extra when my tranfer of data up to the web site exceeds a preset limit. So, in order to keep costs to a minimum, I only upload the actual database on an infrequent (once every three or four months) basis. Sorry...when I win the lottery, (I keep trying) I promise I'll do better. any donataions would be graciously accepted.

Did you design this page yourself? from scratch? How?

Most of this handiwork is the result of plain old HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)...a web building code that I learned by watching, viewing source codes, and trial and error. I have learned many things about this whole design process and continue to learn more as time permits. Bottom line. I did make this site, but, not all by myself. I have to rely on the expertise of others, like Darrin Lythgow who wrote the PHP program (TNG - The Next Generation) that I use to present the database.
The graphics, pictures, buttons and bars are from a variety of sources, some available on the net, others I created myself using Adobe Photoshop or other handy little tools. Some actual photgraphs were taken by me using a Digital Camera or scanned from originals using an my home scanner. I just keep building the collection of software and tools...just in case

Will you design a website or page for me?

Ummmmm...perhaps not. As much as I would like to do this for a living, I am currently employed in another field of work. So, no, I'm afraid I am unable to design pages for you.

If you are a family member, however, ( ie: some sort of relative ) and you only want a single page or maybe some ideas, let me know what you're looking for and perhaps I can help...gratis of course.

Finally, if you are a relative and would like a page about YOU to appear on this site, please let me know and I will try to add a personal page just about YOU and your line (how it fit's in, etc.). Simply go to the my contact page, get my email address or use the feedback form and let me know that your are interested in a page and I will reply as soon as possible. A short biography of everyone in the family...the hundreds of thousands, plus, of us...would be nice right?

If there are any other questions you would like answered, please e-mail me using the contact link on this page, or the comments link, either one.