The Scope of the Project Suddenly Increases

DownsGenealogy.com now needs another facet. I have concentrated on my line of descent from Thomas Downs of Eastham and Orleans, Massachusetts. I’m now getting inquiries from people about Downs family lines in other states, unrelated to our own. I referred a recent person to the “Downs Message Board” at Ancestry.com. I decided to browse the message board myself and I was surprised that it was one of the largest boards I have seen on Ancestry.com. I also noted that the board had no administrator and Ancestry.com was willing to consider people for the position. For better or worse, I got the job. I am now the administrator of the Downs Surname Message Board on Ancestry.com.

My next step will be to connect my web site to the board and possibly vice versa. This way anyone who wishes information on the Downs family can get between the two places easier.

Another thing I noticed browsing the message board that a query for Downses in Eastham and Orleans Massachusetts yield a significant number of hits. None of these were related to our Downs family. There have been Downses on the Cape since the 17th century and I have been aware of this. I have never addressed it because it does not concern our family. Now, for sake of completeness, I will plan an article on these older Downs lines. This should keep me busy for some time.

Bill