Meet our Members: Laura DeSpain

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to meet another one of our Wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Laura DeSpain.

Laura became a Wiki Genealogist in February of 2020.  She is very active in many of our projects, particularly our Greeters, US Southern Colonies and England projects.

What are some of the surnames you are researching?

Cribb, Gilliland, Skaggs, and several others.

What are some of the locations you are researching?

I do a lot of research in England. I also research in the U.S. North & South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. 

When and how did you get interested in genealogy and family history?

I have always been interested. My grandparents and great-grandparents used to tell me about my ancestors. Eventually, I wanted to learn more. 

Who's your favorite ancestor and why?

I am not sure that I have a favorite. I have several with interesting stories. The Skaggs has been the most interesting line. The Longhunters who braved the wilderness to settle parts of Kentucky, which were still a part of Virginia at the time.

Tell us about a brick wall you hope to bust through.

I hope to break down my maternal line brick wall. Due to the time period and location records and sources have not been easy to locate. I also have a 4th great-grandfather that came from Maryland to South Carolina. Our family members have not ever been able to find his family.

If you could pick one person in history to be related to, who would it be?

Albert Einstein

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

Reading, touring old historical sites, and hearing the history. I have a lot of various interests; I am a very curious person. I am always wanting to learn something new and see something new.

[Interview continues in comments.]

Comments

How long have you been on WikiTree and what do you spend the most time doing?

I joined WikiTree in February of 2020. I am a Team Leader for the England Project's Managed Profiles Team, a Project Coordinator for the Greeters Project, a Team Leader for the US Southern Colonies Project. I am also a Ranger and a Mentor. I am a project team member of the Medieval, Southern Pioneers, US Civil War, Appreciation, and Ambassadors projects.

What brought you to WikiTree?

My Uncle started a family tree here years ago. For years I was doing my own research. I started using paid sites and after several years was not happy with them. I decided to try WikiTree, and well like they say that was all she wrote. I found what I had been looking for. Collaboration, a care for accuracy, the idea of a single tree. Working with people who truly care about what they are doing and are interested in it.

What is your favorite thing about WikiTree?

I love that we all work together, and that it means something to all of us. My favorite feature, I love, love RootSearch. I also like the ‘Relationship to Me’.

If you could improve one thing about WikiTree, what would it be?

Add a Pre-1800 along with the Pre-1700 and Pre-1500.

What is an example of how WikiTree has helped you with your genealogy or how you’ve helped genealogy with WikiTree?

It has helped me learn to research older documents better, source better and build better biographies. I owe that to the England Project and WikiTree. I have learned collaboration working with many different people across WikiTree and admire and appreciate our differences and the knowledge we all bring together.

Any tips for someone just starting out on WikiTree?

Do not be in a hurry, you may only create more work for yourself later. Read the Help pages, refer back to them. Ask your Greeter and ask in G2G. Join a project that will help guide you. Remember that we were all new here once.

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It's nice to know more about you, Laura. I wish you luck with your brick wall!!

    :)

Claire

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Thank you, Claire! 

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Wonderful to meet you Laura, we are so happy to have you on wikitree, you are a wonderful genealogy and are always helping out

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Thank you, Susan, you are always my WikiTree ray of sunshine.

Answer 1

Nice to meet you Laura. That is an interesting interview.
You are a great asset to WikiTree.

Congratulations to be mentioned as this week's Wonderful WikiTreer.

Comments

Thank you, Dieter! I really appreciate that.

Answer 2

Thank you for sharing a little more about yourself Laura and thank you as well for the contribution you make to WikiTree.

Nice to put a face to the name too 

Comments

Thank you, Rosalie, it is very much appreciated!

Answer 3

What a lovely interview Laura, it was so nice getting to know you a little more. I also have to concur with Rosalie and thank you for everything you do here. Have a super day 

Comments

Thanks, Pam! It is so sweet of you to say that.

Answer 4

I can only agree with that, nice to meet you. It's great to work with you in the Greatest Gang.

Comments

Thank you, Lothar, my fellow Greeter! It is always a pleasure working with you in the Gang! 

Answer 5

Congratulations, cousin, on being this week's Wonderful WikiTreer.

Comments

Thank you, cousin! 

Answer 6

Laura is an awesome person and is such a pleasure to work with in the England Project. I'm glad she was recognized for the Wonderful WikiTreer that she is!

Comments

Thanks so much, Traci! I enjoy working with such a wonderful person in the England Project.

Answer 7

Great story Laura.  I really enjoyed "meeting" you.  Have lots more fun!  

Oh, BTW, we're 10th cousins too   -Brad

Comments

Thank you, Brad. Hello, cousin, I am glad that you told me.

Answer 8

It's great to know more about you, Laura. Hard to believe you haven't been a year on WikiTree yet! We don't really work in the same projects, yet I always hear about you :-)

Thanks for all you're doing.

Comments

Thank you, Isabelle, I appreciate that. It feels like I have been here a lot longer than I have been. I recognize you, I have seen you around WikiTree.

Answer 9

Very nice interview Laura. Finally a face to the beautiful person I have been talking to all of this time.  I am so proud to call you my friend. You do a tremendous amount of work for WikiTree.  Keep up the great job, and again, wonderful interview.

I think I learned one thing about you. 

Comments

Thank you, so much Cheryl, my friend. I am proud to call you my friend too. You know I am going to email you and ask you what you learned that you didn't know.