Tips to Writing a Successful Query
by Dale W. Mower
A query has to be specific to be effective. Where it is true you may want to know “everything about the Estabrook family,” asking for just that may bring you no assistance. It’s just too broad – the reader of the query won’t know where to begin to help. It is really vital to keep your query to one specific piece of information that you are looking for (remember, you can always post additional queries).
And it is also important to provide as much information as you have – whether names, locations, dates – so the reader of the query can quickly make a connection to the correct person(s) you are researching. Do keep the info short and sweet though – a longer query doesn’t not necessarily make for a more productive query. Don’t overload or overwhelm the reader.
So – keep in mind – Simple, Specific, Concise, Informative. The goal is to write a short query that’s easy to read through and understand.
Guidelines
Choose a (that is, one) primary surname for the query. This should be the surname for your heading, and you should use all CAPITAL letters for the surname – this will help make it stand out and grab the reader’s attention. While sometimes the urge may be there to incorporate several other surnames into the query, use caution. While a couple additional surnames may help identify the person you are asking about – don’t cross the line and have so many surnames that it becomes confusing and just darn too overwhelming when you look at it.
Begin by telling what specific piece of information you are looking for. Avoid the urge to begin by requesting any and all the information about someone. You need to be specific – for example: seeking the parents of …, looking for the birthplace of …, or seeking maiden name of…. Readers of queries are more likely to respond to a request for one specific piece of information.
Provide key information about the subject of your search – persons, dates, location. These are vital to help the reader of the query associate information he or she has with the subject of your query. * Provide not just the name of the person you are researching, but parents’ or spouse’s name as well. Charles Grant may be a common name, but Charles Grant, son of William and Ann Maidstone (Hillman) Grant certainly narrows the field.
Dates help the reader not only identify the correct individual again, but also provides clues as to what resources are available to assist. Use exact dates if they are known, otherwise use an estimated time (use circa or about to alert the reader it is an estimate) or a range (before, between or after).
Locations also assist in identifying that you and the query reader are talking about the same person, be as specific as you can. You can use multiple locations if you know the person moved – you may know where the person was born and then where he was living at a later date.
Use standard query abbreviations. These include those listed in the right-hand column.
Include contact information. I highly recommend using both an email address and a postal address (email addresses tend to change more frequently than street addresses). And keep a log of where you have queries posted, particularly on the internet, so that if any information changes you can update your queries.
Once you think you have your query completed, reread it to make sure it flows smoothly and the information is presented clearly. Are surnames in upper case? Is spelling correct? Do you have the correct punctuation? These may seem trivial, but they can have an effect on clarity and readability.
And remember, when posting a query, do NOT include any private information about a living individual.
Examples of effective queries
EDWARDS
Seeking parents of Elisabeth EDWARDS (b. abt. 1764, d. 2 Mar 1836 in
Greene, Maine). She m. John MOWER or MOORE, 29 May 1782 in Charlton,
Mass. She was listed as ‘of Charlton” in marriage record. Fam. rem.
to Greene, Maine about 1786. Published Mower Genealogy indicates she
may be rel. to Rev. Jonathan EDWARDS.
Dale Mower
-mail: dale@mower-family.com
185 Norfolk Street, Bangor, ME 04401
PARKER
Seeking parents of James PARKER (b. 1786, d. 6 Mar 1866 in
Glenburn, Maine). He m. 29 Sep 1813 in Troy, Maine, Lydia SIMMONS (b.
1795, d. 25 May 1884 in Glenburn, Maine), dau. of Lebbeus and Mary (DOUGLAS)
SIMMONS.
Dale W. Mower
e-mail: dale@mower-family.com
185 Norfolk Street, Bangor, ME 04401
Query Abbreviations
Here is a listing of the more common standard abbreviations used in genealogical queries:
b. [birth, born]
bp. [baptized]
bro. [brother]
bur. [buried]
ca [circa]
ch. [child, children]
c.r. [church record]
co. [county]
d. [death, died]
dau. [daughter]
d.y. [died young]
div. [divorced]
fam. [family]
g.s. [gravestone]
int. [intention]
m. [married]
rec. [record, recorded]
rel. [related/relative/relationship]
rem. [removed]
res. [resided, lived at]
sis. [sister]
wid. [widow]
A Final Note
Once
you have your query done, sit back and, well, do keep researching while
you wait as sometimes it can take a while for your query to be read
by just the right person that may be able to help you out.
And always, keep the genealogical spirit going – be courteous and don’t forget to thank any respondents.
