WELCOME

Welcome to the eighth issue of the quarterly online newsletter supplement to "Self Portraits: The Self Family NetLetter," the Website dedicated to Self family research at http://www.selfroots.com

You are receiving this newsletter because you were kind enough to join "Self Seekers: The Self Family Association." We appreciate all of your contributions, large and small, and we hope you will continue to support our page, our surname list, and this newsletter.

It's hard to believe that we've come such a long way in just three years! Thanks to our wonderful cousins--and most especially our "Self Seekers" members--we've been able to put together a tremendous amount of information, distribute it to those who write to us, and match up close cousins with each other.

We are proud to be a very large repository of Self information. With three domains, a second Webpage at RootsWeb, a surname forum and a suite of cluster pages at RootsWeb (see the link on "Self Portraits"), a Listserv, a Collaboration Surname list on the LDS "Family Search" site, a site on "My Family.com," well over 5,000 pages of connected and unconnected Self lines, and over 925 valid e-mail correspondents willing to share information, we are well able to help you with your family research. We are also the Surname Resource Center (SRC) for the surnames of Self, Selfe, and Selph.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The latest Webpage in our family of publications is SelfSite at RootsWeb. An extension of Self Portraits, our newest site includes our Census pages as well as state-by-state and county-by-county "loose ends," Selfs presently unconnected to any of the major branches.

We would like to have your gedcom so that we can add your information to our database. With your permission, we will also list and distribute your gedcom on request (but only with your permission). Please send us gedcoms so that we can start a library that will help others. If you've already submitted one, kindly re-send so that we will have the latest information. We would appreciate being kept informed of new family members as well as other changes.

If you haven't joined our Self Surname Mailing List yet, please subscribe. Instructions will be found on the main page of our Website. Note that we also host the Swindle and Edens Surname Lists as well as listservs for Erath County, TX., King County, TX., Bossier Parish, LA., Murray County, GA., Grayson County, TX., and Clay County, NC. In addition, we host the King County, TX, Murray County, GA, and Clay County, NC USGenWeb sites. Our three county sites join "Self Portraits" in featuring a handy search engine for locating topics discussed in previous messages posted to their corresponding listserv--please click on the button directly beneath the instructions for joining the listserv on the main page of each site.

If you haven't gone to our supplemental Self site, please do so at your earliest convenience. This site is for Self Seekers only. Feel free to change or update your own profile to enable services that will be of most use to you. For example, you cannot send e-mail unless you provide your e-mail address in the profile. We would especially like you to upload photographs and articles to this new site.

Membership fees remain the same in 2000: Regular Member, $12 and Charter Member, $25. If you are a Patron Member, your initial contribution is gratefully acknowledged and good for the lifetime of the "Self Seekers" association. We would appreciate payment of these fees by the next issue date, January 1, 2000.

Remember the July 1998 issue? Remember all the wonderful photographs, articles, and genealogy? We can't do it without your help. PLEASE contribute something. Photographs, articles, family trees, and reunion recaps will be gratefully received and enjoyed by everyone.

In the past, IBM personal computers and their clones have been limited in their handling of peripheral devices such as external modems, scanners, printers, cameras, and musical keyboards, to name a few. The consumer had to know what kind of port was required for the specific device, determine if the PC could accommodate it, devise a workaround if it could not, and spend hours configuring both hardware and software to make everything work. Today, the new USB standard can simplify the process by giving us all the ports we need and an easy plug and play solution that provides instant configuration without the need for user intervention.

USB enabling is easy to spot. If you have a fairly recent computer, you will notice two very different connections on the back of it. These connections look nothing like any other connections you may have--so there is no chance of mistaking them for something else. USB devices have a unique end that fit only into these connections. If your computer is older than, say, the fall of 1998, you can still utilize USB by installing a USB board and running the proper version of Windows.

BENEFITS OF USB

Plug and Play: USB devices, for the most part, are true "plug and play" hardware. This means that you will not have to struggle with interrupts and DMA channels. You will not need to open the computer or install a card into a slot. In most cases, you won't need to worry about software drivers, and you may not even need to restart the machine before beginning to use your new devices.

Expansion: Because there are so many devices that now offer USB versions--and more coming in the future--you may find that two USB ports are not enough. To add more connections, you simply need to add a "hub"--similar to network hubs--to your computer. This configuration works in the same way that a power strip multiplies one plug into six or more. Using hubs, you can run up to 127 simultaneous USB devices on your computer. Moreover, disconnecting one peripheral in the chain will not affect the others.

Variety: A few of the USB devices you can buy today are 1) monitors--some of which have USB connections of their own built into their cases or pedestals; 2) external modems; 3) mice; 4) CD-ROM drives up to 6X speed; 5) external drives--tape, floppy, and portable storage; 6) and scanners. In time, you will be able to add devices to take advantage of faster telephony and virtual reality as used in designing and advanced gaming.

Speed: USB technology enables its devices to perform much faster than devices which utilize serial and parallel ports.

Two-Way Data Transfer: With USB, you can transfer data in two directions at the same time. This makes USB ideal for devices such as digital video cameras, allowing you to see yourSelf and the other party simultaneously when connected through a video server.

Cost: If your computer came with USB connections, you will save money in several ways. First, they use less energy. Although you may not see the actual reduction in charges on your electricity bill, their efficiency will add up in the long run. Second, you will be spared the expense of purchasing internal boards, external expansion slots, AB boxes, and cables. Most users will find two USB slots enough for home use; but the cost of hubs (or the cost of a USB board if your computer is older) will be offset by the other savings that USB provides.

DRAWBACKS

Nothing is perfect, and there are a few drawbacks to USB technology:

Operating System: It's not enough to install a USB board or plug in a converter on an older computer. You still need to be running a version of Windows 95 released after October 29, 1996. Better yet, you should be running Windows 98. Of course, wanting to take advantage of USB devices would be incentive enough to upgrade; and you will be able to run many more programs faster and more efficiently with a newer release of your operating system.

Devices: Not all devices can or will utilize USB technology. For example, USB will not accommodate CD-ROM drives with higher than 6X speed--and camcorders require much more speed than USB can currently provide.

Drivers: You will still need to install drivers for some USB devices. However, if this is the case, the installation will probably take just seconds and your longest wait will occur while your computer is rebooting.

Problems: As with all computer installations, adding certain USB devices--and perhaps their drivers or related application software--may cause conflicts or problems with other hardware and software already on your computer. It is generally a good idea to buy products from trusted manufacturers whether or not they involve USB.

USB: AN IN-DEPTH VIEW

If you would like to know more about USB technology, point your Browser at your favorite Web search engine. There are many interesting and informative sites that range from general discussion to highly technical articles. Two of our favorites are:

USB Frequently Asked Questions

Forget Taco Bell! Yo Quiero USB!

Olde Robert Selfe may have stood many times outside his home in 17th century Virginia, gazing at the land that he hoped would be kind to his children and grandchildren. Most of us have a hard time thinking beyond the descendants we will actually know in our lifetime, so it's possible that he never even imagined what a large and diverse dynasty that he had created. But it's also probable that he had to referee many disagreements between his own offspring in an effort to get them to work together as a family. We wonder what he would think if he could see us holding out our electronic hands today and grasping those of our cousins whom we have only now discovered after the passage of so many years.

People often ask us what we enjoy most about hosting a large, surname-specific site. Our answer is always the same: we really like to meet new cousins, and we especially like to introduce close relatives to one another. In this day of greed and cutthroat business practices, it is sometimes amazing to witness the cooperation between two members of a huge, extended family--even when they have never met each other face-to-face.

ON THE WEB

The advent of the World Wide Web has done much to encourage cooperation between those researching their family tree. The very existence of genealogy-related Websites is so important--each one represents the desire of a group or individual to provide a spot in cyberspace for people to meet, discuss, and discover their roots. Regardless of the type of genealogy Website it is (see a discussion of these types in our October, 1998 "Self Seekers" newsletter [v.1, no.4]), the intent is to help others in their quest.

Long before its graphical user interfacelift, the Web was a favorite tool for finding related information because it was founded on hyperlinks that could take you in many directions and bring you back again. Some genealogy Websites today are almost totally comprised of general links to other sites. Some, such as the LDS "Family Search" page, provide access to large and fairly reliable databases or collections of gedcoms. Others, such as "Self Portraits" or USGenWeb county sites, have one or more sub-pages of links relevant to its particular surname or area. One of the nicest forms of cooperation is the "reciprocal link" where each of two Websites includes a link to the other. If you have a genealogy site relevant to the Self surname, we'll be happy to provide a link to it, and all we ask in return is a reciprocal link to us. Also, if you're a Self descendant with a personal Website--even if it is not genealogy-based--the reciprocal link offer still stands. A site that reflects your interests, hobbies, and terrific Self personality is always of interest to your cousins.

Recently there have been a proliferation of Websites designed to help members of nuclear or extended families keep in touch. Most genealogy Websites, family-oriented or not, share more than just names and dates. Webmasters love to receive photographs, articles, and scans or transcriptions of Bible and Census records. Their Webspace will make these treasures available to everyone.

OFF THE WEB

E-mail--an online activity but not necessarily part of the World Wide Web--is a quick and convenient way to share information. Introductions, replies, and the excitement of discovering another cousin can occur within minutes. Lasting friendships can be made even though the two correspondents may never meet in person. E-mail is so different from old-fashioned "snail mail" correspondence or even using the telephone. Using e-mail, you can write so often that it almost feels as if your cousin is living right next door. And if one of you takes a vacation or goes on a genealogy trip, access to e-mail can maintain your closeness in cyberspace regardless of how many miles lie between you. E-mail eliminates the extra cost of stamps and long-distance charges, too, since it is usually part of the service offered by your ISP.

True cooperation involves the willingness to reply to e-mail sent to you. Not all e-mail requires an answer, but hearing from a cousin or someone with information to share or questions to ask is a special thing. One cousin we know put up a family site recently and asked us what kind of promotion is most effective. Our immediate advice: promptly answer all e-mail relating to your page. Your interest and kindess will keep visitors coming back. Conversely, no one likes to send out a message and never hear another word. If you put a "mailto" link on your site, or if you submit your name and e-mail address with a gedcom, expect e-mail and answer it as soon as possible.

If you send attachments to your e-mail messages, try to cooperate with the recipient by providing them with complete and concise information. A logical listing of names, dates, and locations is preferable to saying, "John was my grandpa, Charley was my Dad, and I was born in Texas." Try to send scanned images that are about the size and resolution you would find on the Web. This will eliminate long downloads and sometimes pictures that are way too large to be displayed and will prevent you from placing the burden of correction on the person receiving the attachment.

It's hard to believe in today's world, but some people--especially the very elderly or those on limited incomes--really don't have permanent access to online communications. Don't pass up a good contact because it means having to write a letter and mail it at the post office. And if you receive a letter in the mail, always answer it even if it may seem like an inconvenience to you. Ignoring someone can cause hard feelings and potential loss of information for everyone involved. While it is a nice and trusting gesture to offer your phone number to someone, please remember that cousins often cannot afford to make long distance calls. In the absence of e-mail, snail mail still works. But nothing can cause disappointment as quickly as spider webs in the mailbox. If someone writes to you, write back--even if you have nothing helpful to add, the goodwill of correspondence is irreplaceable.

At some point, you may choose to host or attend a family reunion. These events can be rich in the spirit of cooperation. You can share information, swap stories, and bring a dish whose recipe was invented by the great grandmother of many of those present. And if you can't manage to get away or entertain a large number of guests, just joining a genealogy club in your city can help those interested in genealogy exchange experiences, tips, and contacts with others. We met a lady (now one of our closest friends) in our genealogy class here in Southern California and discovered that she also had roots in Westmoreland County, VA and had some very familiar surnames in her family tree.

There are so many ways to cooperate in the search for one's ancestors. We hope you'll keep an open mind and an open heart. Replying to the inquiries of cousins, sharing information with them, and extending invitations to reunions (even if you know they can't attend) will make friends of your close or distant relatives; failing to do so could mean a line and a friendship that are lost forever. The rewards of cooperation--on and off the Web--are some of the greatest you may ever receive.

We can never really know what Olde Robert Selfe may have thought about when he imagined the future and what it might hold for his family. But we can be sure that if he could have known of the efforts we are making to learn more about our ancestors and the cooperation and sharing between most of his descendants, he would be very, very pleased.

Every time we go to a restaurant, I wonder if our 3rd great grandfather, Thomas R. Self, ever took his family of 15 out to eat. How in the world did he manage to feed all of them? And what did he do with his non-edible trash (if any) following a meal? How did he keep up with the demand for clothing as his children constantly grew? I don't think his youngest children ever complained that their "hand-me-downs" weren't the latest fashion. Did he need two or more wagons to caravan his family to town? I wish we could ask him these questions and more, but we'll never get the chance. Because his oldest child, Tim's 2nd great grandfather, died at age 31 and never really had the opportunity to pass on a family heritage to his own children, we were lucky just to find out who he was, where he lived, and how he fit into the great extended Self family. But maybe your ancestors used to tell stories about life in the "old days," stories you remember hearing as a child. Please tell us about them. We will even supply editing and formatting; but we'd all love to know about daily life in the Self families of old--and you may be able to help. Please contact us.

These individuals and families are a supplement to our "Self Family of the Week" page and its compilation, Family Record. If you know anything about their origins or descendants, you can write to us or post them to the SELF listserv (please refer to this online newsletter)

READING, BERKSHIRE: Ann Self, m. July 18, 1646, John Lasher.
                                               William Selfe, m. Ann ---child Mary, c. May 28, 1641 (possibly the same Ann as above?)

WANTAGE, BERKSHIRE: Thomas Selfe, m. Mary ---child John, c. June 1, 1690.

ASTON ABBOTS, BUCKINGHAM: George Self, m. Mary---child William, c. Mar. 18, 1661.

SUNDERLAND, DURHAM: Lionel Self, m. Eleanor ---children: Gowland (c. Jan. 12, 1761); Lionel (c. Mar. 10, 1763, possibly d. young); Lionel (c. Dec. 15, 1766); Eleanor (c. July 3, 1768)

COLUMBIA COUNTY:

Mary Etta Selph, born about 1860. She m. Dec. 9, 1880 in Columbia County, FL., M. M. Carrell.

M. B. Selph, born 1863 in Corinth, Columbia County, FL. He m. Alma Elizabeth Brown.

Nanny Selph. She m. Dec. 31, 1879, Charles O. Brown.

These Selphs are probably part of the John Selph (son of Ezekial Self/Selph of Georgia family)--but how do they fit in?

NANCY SELF--Born 1822 in Selma, AL. She m. Eldred Foshee, b. 1817 in SC., son of Nathaniel Foshee. The family was in Warren, TX in 1850. CHILDREN: Mary Elizabeth (b. Mar. 1832) James Nathaniel (b. Oct. 2, 1839 and d. Nov. 22, 1902) Martha (b. 1842) William Riley (b. June 11, 1844 and d. July 2, 1887) John W. (b. Dec. 1848 and d. Oct. 1920) Francis Marion (b. Oct. 15, 1850 and d. May 15, 1913) Catherine (no dates) Lucy (b. Jan. 1868 and d. June 1960)

Who was this Nancy Self?

BALDWIN COUNTY: "Lige" Self, b. Jan. 1854

BERRIEN COUNTY: JAMES SELF--Born Oct. 1853. He m. Susan ---. Children: Wright (b. Feb. 1888) Leonard (b. 1891) Pearl (b. Apr. 1892) Mattie (b. May 1895) Serafe (b. Aug. 1897)

BIBB COUNTY: Eliza H. Self--She m. Oct. 12, 1865, Cicero C. Andrews.
                              Sarah Ann Self--She m. July 2, 1869, Thomas J. Sullivan.

BIBB COUNTY: JACKSON SELF--He m. June 4, 1880, Fannie Sullivan and lived in Houston County. Children: Cleveland (b. Mar. 1887 and d. Dec. 31, 1950) Willa (b. Dec. 1880) Mamie (b. July 1890) Maude (b. Dec. 21, 1894 and d. Sep. 1978) Pauline (b. Aug. 1896) It is possible that all three of these featured Selfs in Bibb County are closely related.

KAUAI: WILLIAM SELF--Born in England. He m. in Tahiti, Mary Hoa. Children: Louis Keliikahi (b. 1866 and d. 1929) Joseph (d. Oct. 14, 1921) We would like to know about the English family of this William Self.

ALEXANDER COUNTY: EVA SELF, b. 1880 in Ohio, living in Alexander County by the turn of the century.

ALEXANDER COUNTY: UNKNOWN SELF, m. Mary ---, b. 1862 in MO. Children: Jesse (b. 1890) Annie D. (b. 1895) Grandson: Willis Pratt (b. 1907)

You can see the earlier "Loose Ends" families in past newsletters, beginning with April 1999.

SELFS IN SPACE

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