Aunt Josephines Notes and Where They Led Me.

Monday 26 Jan 2010-------I could wait no longer ---- it is 11 pm and I have been at it since 6 pm---I found some data that I had to research---just in case......and whala.....I did establish some headway on Etta May's father's father. I also followed up the lead to footnote.com. Military records found at footnote.com has some information for me --- so this week I need to sign up for footnote. --- I hope it is not a dead end. But frankly this is the third source that has led me to believe that William B, Dikes did in fact fight in the 19th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Burford’s Cavalry).

How did I get this far?? I know the data is not complete, not in order, but I have known her my entire life. I think I can decipher my aunt's writings. I am reviewing notes hand printed by Josephine Louise Hayley my intelligently handicap but surely not incapable aunt. I kept these notes in my folders because I know they were copied in love. Also they are samples of my aunt's handwriting that I have known and loved all my life.

I often since my Grandmother's death asked to look at my grandmother's Family Bible. It is chock full of names, dates, relationships, locations that I wanted to copy. It was never convenient for me to review the Bible. But because I had requested it a few times, my aunt with limited read and writing capabilities, on her own, decided to try to copy the writings in the Bible for me.

If you knew Aunt Josephine, you would know this is just what kind of thing she would do for anyone. My grandmother home schooled Josephine. Josephine needs assisted living arrangements. When Josephine puts her mind to do something --- she continues until she finishes her task. Taking these notes involved several days work and great concentration on her part. As you can see from Aunt Josephine's printing, Grandmother did an excellent job of teaching Josephine to take pride in her work and to do it to the best of her ability. Josephine also paints by number, knits and is just a very loving person.

Yes, they are different to read, but in the notes I see dates, towns, names; and I do know a little bit about how she (my aunt) puts things together. These notes has been the best hints yet...........and is allowing me to go one step further in my research. Truly I have had so called "non-challenged" relatives that has records just as difficult to put together.




To help translate this note ---it states Wife's Genealogy (meaning Etta May's Genealogy)




Mother's Name was Birdie Susan Parks born March 4, 1872 died March 7, 1923
Place mother dies was at Higgins, Texas


There is six pages of Aunt Josephine's handwritten notes. And where have they led me .......... well I have made quite a bit of headway on finding more documentation and clues as to where to look ...... an example of my research made possible by Aunt Josephine's notes see below

see : http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3003888773397329530&postID=1692173867619688086

Researching William Dikes leads to Texas History Lesson at Genealogy is Ruthless without Me Blog.

We Love You Aunt Josephine, Your niece Ruth

Madness Monday's------William DIKES revisited

After another several hours of again researching Mr. Dikes, and because I wanted to vacuuming my back bedroom, I went over to file and arrange my research papers. It has been said before and needs to be said over and over again---- after one or two years no matter how detail complete you think you have been----review all your records. I found new data!!! By "New" I mean data I have had for at least 10 years, it is notes Josephine copied for me, I kept the notes because it is Josephines unmistakeable handprinting and just like everything she does---she did it in love. I thought I had copied all of Josephine's notes,in full, for any glimpse of a clue. I can tell the notes are not always in the best order but I found missing data!!!! I started feeling like a COLD CASE detective ---

I am excited to start my "new" research ---- but I had to make myself a promise to pace myself on Mr. Dikes-----If I do not discipline myself,I can spend days on him. So I have made weekly dates with Mr. Dikes. This finding the data was a test----- if I would drop everything and start plugging in data------but Mr Dikes must wait for his allotted time if I am to be professional in my research. I have other issues to research and must discipline myself to have a more effective and efficient genealogy journey! No; the room did not get vacuumed yet. But you know your room is out of control when your husband offers to help you put things away!!!!

I will try today again to finish cleaning the room and next Monday I will post about new data on Mr. Dikes---I am feeling very very optimistic about this-----but like I said I truly have other things to do right now----and this is just a test.....If I am following my ancestors-----My ancestors have a strange sense of humor!!!

Sentimental Sunday----My Parent's Anniversary

I write my blog for my family. I am, to the best of my ability, trying to record my memories from my perspective, my resources, and cite any documents, photos, or published works that support my data. As I continue my recording and piecing together our family history, I have joined several genealogy groups, sites, societies etc. Besides being excellent resources for information, encouragement to continue what is turning out to be rather challenging work, there is also great ideas to inspire to "write" my families story. Sunday was my parent's wedding anniversary. Although a day late----I am having a Sentimental Sunday on Monday Morning.

Here is Thomas MacEntree's suggestion for blogging:

Don't forget that today is Sentimental Sunday. If you have your own genealogy or family history related blog, you can participate in Sentimental Sunday. What is it?

Sentimental Sunday is a daily blogging theme used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

To participate in Sentimental Sunday, simply create a post in which you discuss a sentimental story or memory about an ancestor, or maybe even a family tradition that touches you. You can read more about Sentimental Sunday here at gene@pedia.

My parent's anniversary was usually a special time of year. What made it so special was as a child it worked as a meter to understanding the family dynamics on any given year. Like most marriages my parents had high points, low points, and just in the middle points. But if the planets aligned, finances were solid, and family dramatics were not sucking the blood out of their veins, my parents would celebrate their wedding anniversary. Although each year added more surprises there was always a cometary about the celebration. A little background first:

My mother liked everything Oriental :(I use that word today because it was the word used in our household) Mom's favorite color was red. When my parents remodeled their bedroom, they did it in black lacquered furniture and a light switch plate that spelt Love in Chinese. Mom would say Japanese was her favorite everything:: although over 80% of her decorations were Chinese inspired.

Suzie Wong

was one of mom's favorite movies.
We lived very close to San Fransisco.
At the end of January, Grant Ave, San Francisco displayed one of the largest Chinese New Year's Parade in America.

My parents anniversary was many times celebrated at the Chinese New Year's Parade in San Francisco. To accommodate the working class, the holiday was always celebrated on a Saturday. My parents would leave early in the day and spend the day wondering all the shops on Grant Ave. I know this because more than once (not on an anniversary) I would wonder those same shops with my parents. Mother would be looking for interior decoration inspiration. Also presents would be purchased for all of us kids. In particular my present often was dried coconut candy covered in crystallized sugar and clam shells when opened in a glass of water that would open and display small tissue flowers that would unfold and expand upwards and wave in the water. Always a big favorite! I think the boys received firecrackers but my parents were very strict. The girls must not know about the firecrackers and they were to be lit in the confines of our huge backyard only after the girls (that means my sister and myself) were fast asleep. Sometimes "the girls" would find evidence the next morning in the form of ashes and bits of red tissue paper.

My parents had a favorite restaurant in Chinatown that they frequented each year during the early years. But later Dad employed a man, Mao, a very sweet hard working man. Mao respected my dad a great deal so in about 1968, my parents anniversary took on an evolution in that they were invited to spend the new years with Mao and his family each Chinese celebrated New Year's Day. Mao's home faced Grant Ave and they would sit on a balcony and watch the parade below. Dad and Mom would enjoy a special home-prepared feast and great company. Although the elders and even Mao and his wife had difficulty with the language barrier, the younger generations, seeing mom and dad there each year, helped mom and dad learn the traditions and culture. Mom and Dad just became one of the family. The friendship grew, Mao and his family often went to the lake after Dad retired. When Mom's or dad's health did not allow them to make the festivities, Mao would pack up his car and bring the special feast to mom and dad to the lake.

One year Mom and Dad came home so excited!!! Dad had taken Mom to a dressmaker and they were making Mom a dress like "Suzie Wong's" Rich silk, form fitting, frog attached collar and all. But there was a month of excitement and joy until Mom and Dad returned the next month to pick up the dress. I think it cost the un-godly much of 100 dollars to be made!!! it was definitely a reason to celebrate and honor such a dress. Later, I think granddaughters wore the dress if nothing else than to model for my parents and bring tears to their eyes in remembrance of a special time.

On January 17, 2010 I noticed on the church bulletin that no one had volunteered for the flowers for January 24, 2010. I approached the minister after the service and requested to bring flowers in honor of my parents wedding anniversary. I prepared a huge bouquet of 3 dozen long stem roses of yellow (mom's favorite flower), pink, and white roses in a huge vase. It had to be large enough to be seen from the pulpit. Several of the women knew why I made the bouquet and ohhhhed and ahhhhed over the display of roses.

Dear Family, Did any of you meet Mao at Dad's shop or at the lake??? Does anyone remember the heirloom dress or it's whereabouts now??? Did any of you go on those all day shopping trips with Mom and Dad through every shop on Grant Ave and the back alley shops??? I would love to hear your experiences.

Love Aunt Ruth

William DIKES born 1835/6 Texas -- 4 months later

Searching for William DIKES born 1835/6 Texas, father USA born via 1870 census. Part 2------- 4 months later

William Dikes

---
Grandma Etta Mae's father's father. To catch everyone up to what I am investigating:
I am researching my great great grandfather
my father's (Claude William Hayley Jr (b) 1924 Hutchinson Kansas)
mother's (Etta Mae Dikes (b) 1905 Little Rock, Arkansas)
father's (Charles Bell Dikes (b) 1870? LA. dies in 1940s Los Angelas California)father: William ? Dikes. See previous Blog for confirming data.

This is called a "brick wall", An elusive ancestor, or just a pain in the neck ---- literally.

Researching this guy on Internet, in books, in libraries, in cemeteries, newspaper articles, military records, land deeds, church records, and asking my dad, my aunt and my uncle what they remember being said about him. Not only researching him but researching his wife, his wife's family, his children, his neighbors, and anyone having close to the names of any of the above.

What is so ironic is the notion that we all thought researching Grandpa Claude's father's father was going to be difficult and it turns out Grandma's grandfather is proving to be difficult.

I am compiling a special notebook now

---- taking him out of my Hayley Book --- and giving him his own notebook. I continue to journal and add the "not this way" signs around this maze of a journey. Yes I have doubled back up on myself several times!!!!


They say for all unsuccessful searches - you should call them successes because you know at least he is not there........I have a lot of unsuccessful successes in the last 4 months. Here is a small list including but not limited to my so-called

unsuccessful successes

----

FHL call no. 976.4 M22b, 6 volumes: Robert's guide & index to Texas confederate pension application and payment records, 1899-1979.
FHL call no. 976.4 M22k: Index to applications for Texas Confederate pensions
FHL call no. 976.4 M22w: Index to Texas CSA pension files, by Virgil White
FHL call o. 976.42815 V3e, 11 volumes: Ellis County, Texas, cemetery records
FHL call no. 929.273 P223j
FHL call no. 976.4736 V3h: Haskell County cemetery records
FHL call no. 976.4 M2y: Reminiscences of the boys in gray, 1861-1865
FHL call no. 976.4736 H2sh: Haskell County history
FHL call no. 976.4736 H2s: Just passing through Weinert : a history of Northeastern Haskell County, Texas
FHL call no. 976.4736 H2f: Haskell County and its pioneers
FHL call no. 97.4736 H2sb: Cow pokes and sod busters: a history of rural communities in Haskell County, Texas 1885-1940
FHL call no. 976.42815 V2h: Ellis County, Texas, marriage records, 1850-1886
FHL call no. 976.42815 P22t: Index to the probate packets, 1850-1930, of Ellis County, Texas
FHL film no. 1034589: Deeds, 1845-1901; index, 1845-1913, Ellis County, Texas
FHL film no. 1651039: Marriages, 1850-1911; index, 1850-1921, Ellis County, Texas
FHL film no. 1575590: Haskell County Marriages and Index 1885 – 1980
FHL call no. 929.273 P223j: Parker by the Watters Sisters
www.cemeteriesoftexas.com/wtx/haskell/listhaskell.html
http://haskellco.viobibgen.com
www.ancestry.com: California Death Index
www.wikipedia.org: Nathaniel Macon Burford

www.ancestry.com: 1870 U S Census was also printed in order to see if any additional information might have been available. In this census he stated he owned $1500 of real estate property, with $100 in personal property. He was living in Cummins Creek post office area. The search in the grantee and granter (buyer and seller) indexes to deeds in Ellis County, did not mention his name. This was surprising in that the 1870 U S Census stated he owned property in the county. A search for William on the 1850 U S Census also was unsuccessful. In Gonzales County, Texas is a Dikes family who lived there for many years. Their person named William was born in 1843 in Texas which would make him five years younger than our William.

So I decided to chase Abigail after William's death----She, William’s wife moved to Haskell County, Texas, a search was done in all of the published cemetery records with no results. This did include two websites that had the cemeteries for Haskell County. No Dikes were mentioned the records at all. Because Ann could have moved to Haskell County after his death a search in the published records at the Family History Library of Ellis County’s cemetery records did not have a person with the surname of Dikes. This search included the different spelling of this surname.

I did find the Dikes cemetery but William nor Abigail are listed as being buried there.

I am not 100% convinced about concerning William military service in the Civil War. He may have served in 19th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Burford’s Cavalry). So I looked up this Captain--Nathaniel Burford, the captain of this unit, was born in Tennessee and became a lawyer in Tennessee. He migrated to Texas and later became a judge in Waxahachie, Texas. His Civil War military service begins in Ellis County, Texas. From the personal history of Nathaniel Burford, we can now be assured that William joined the Civil War from Ellis County, Texas. This would mean that he was living in the county prior to the Civil War. According to Harpers Weekly (a newspaper/magazine from the 1860’s), this unit fought in Virginia.

It seems that after the end of the war he went back to Ellis County, to his family. Research in the various Texas Civil War Pension Indexes was done and did not find the correct William Dikes.

Research in the Ellis County Marriages for a marriage between William Dike and Ann Johnson was also done. This was unsuccessful. If the reason Ann/Aby moved to Haskell County was because her family might be from there, a search in the Haskell County marriages was also completed. This search was also unsuccessful. By using the California Death Index posted to Ancestry.com we can be assured that William’s wife’s maiden name was Johnson. Both of their sons (William M and Charles B) who lived in California stated the same. And Abigail Clementine Johnson's name is in Grandma Etta Mae's Bible as his wife.

A catalog search for published family histories in the Family History Library Catalog, involved the surname Dikes and Texas. The Watters Sisters wrote a book about the Parkers’ from Texas and mentioned the Dikes surname. This family moved to Texas from Georgia, Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee & Kentucky. I could not find a mention of a William Dikes,

So what now::::

Next steps:

In Van Zandt County a man named W. F. Dike filed for a pension. I will send for those records.

I have ordered several more family books from the FHL which I am hopeful.

I have contacted the Nazarene archive files for William's son application papers and Etta Mae's application papers to see if they could help me trace some more data.

Also researching a Dike family living in Nacogdoches County during the 1850’s? This family did not have a son named William.

And needless to say; I am planning a genealogy trip back to these places to research some records.

I have been asked on occasion exactly what am I doing to find this guy----well--here is 4 more months of searching this guy like a dog after a bone. At least once a week I check the ancestry hints, several message boards, and converse with other genealogist. I have met some other great people also following the Dikes line. There seems to be more than one Dikes who is there and then disappears and ends up at neighbors, at work houses, hospitals, orphanages or friends homes.


Of course when and if I find this guy---I will post immediately so we can all celebrate-----but until then I hope to post my fustration (oops I meant journey) in another few months.


So Happy Trails to you----Until we meet again----

Summer Vacation when I was 12 years old..... SNGF

Here is the Genealogy game created by Randy Seaver.....

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Remember When?
Hey there, it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!!Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music!), is:1) Remember when you were 12 years old? On a summer day out of school? What memory do you have of fun activities?2) Tell us about that memory (just one - you can do more later if you want to) in a blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a comment on Facebook. Here's mine:

Water skiing --- My dad and many of his friends had speed boats and teen agers. I was one of the youngest of the water skiers. At night when the group of teens went to the movies or joy riding, I had to go to bed early. I was 12, they were teen agers. Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day week ends ---we would make a huge circle with our 20 or so tents in a resort along the Sacramento delta near Antioch----- the delta was unbelievable to ski on, there were sloughs as flat as ice and just you and the boat --- you needed to be careful because cattails grew on both sides of the slough--- so you needed to stay in the middle of the smooth corridor.

The men bragged a lot about speed, and torque and boat performance. So one of the things we use to try to do ---- is see which boat had the best torque to pull the most skiers. I was small so I always was included. Because the others did not want to get stuck in the wake (a more boring ride) ---I also was the skier in the middle. So we would ski 5 to 8 behind a boat ----

My dad laughed so hard when he noticed I started directing the others to lean to the left, or to the right and the guys would lift their ropes for me to ski under. We would go back to camp and the women would be cooking --- yes the women did all the cooking and the men did all the driving of the boats----no one drove while I was skiing except my dad. they would set us younger ones down first and feed us. Because soon it would be dark--- we washed up, took a lantern into the tent and played PIT or some other rowdy card game. Later after all the men had gassed up the boats for the next days activities and secured all the boats, The adults would come in and put us younger children (probably those children less than 14 years of age) down in our sleeping bags to go to sleep. With the sun, the water, and no stop water fun, I would fall asleep very quickly. The adults then enjoyed a dinner, a campfire, a sky full of stars and the relaxing out of doors. The teen agers would drive their cars around in the hills, or go into a small town nearby for a movie show.

Sometimes some of the men woke up early and, if we, children asked, we could go fishing with them. It was always a quiet special time on the lake, No talking, no pressure, just watching your line, broken up with small excitements when we got a nibble or caught a fish. There would be the quiet comparing sizes of fish, and always the anticipation to wait to see if someone would measure your fish and declare your fish was long enough to qualify as "a keeper". We would string the fish on a single rope and carry the fish into the camp. The women would prepare the fish for breakfast. Usually it was catfish , the big mouth catfish with the meaty thick jaws. Someone would always say "tastes like chicken".

I was too young to understand when the older teen ager girls would say they did not want to eat the fish, or go skiing, or spent half the mornings in the restrooms. The teen age girls would come out of the public restrooms with bee hive updos kept in place with lots of hairspray, bathing suits, terrycloth wraps, cute sandals, huge straw purses and sunglasses. I would look down at my bathing suit with some stupid skirt attached, stringy hair, dirty canvas sneakers and go the opposite direction.

I was just happy when I was able to ski, or fish, but I knew the middle of the day, I would be down at the roped off swimming area playing in the water until it was my turn to ski again. The boys had rigged up a swinging rope with a big knot on the end on the far side of the water hole. And if you could swim across the boat ramps--- you could climb the hill and have a turn at the rope. You would swing far out on the rope and drop into the water.

There was also a huge floating sun deck out further in this water hole. The sun deck had very high sides that was not easy for me at the age of 12 to climb. It was pretty well known that the sun deck was for the teen agers and if you could not swim to and board the raft yourself --- you were not welcome.....no one was going to help a 12 year old on to the raft.......and if you ever did make it up there, as soon as the older kids came around ----they would throw you off_____.

These were wonderful times I remember with my father and mother, my two older brothers (teen agers), my younger sister and myself. My parents were enjoying friends, getting away from daily pressures, sharing interest with other adults with similar interest in boats, family, kids, and camping.

AfriGeneas-----Genealogy Buddies

I love that concept----buddies. Because I do not think one side of the story can be told without looking at the other side. And until we come together to tell our stories will we start to understand this American experience. This experience will probably be very hard on me. I am a sensitive soul and as the stories unravel, I grieve. My goal is to find ancestors of the people of my past. I want to share stories of mutual love and acceptance of families living together. For example; I would love to give to the ancestors of my ggg grandfather's horseman, letters I have explaining his ability and knowledge of horses. Hearing these personal accounts of ancestors gives life to the names, dates, locations, and occupations of our past. I think in some cases it would do good to understand the conditions and the families with some lived.

Being a native Californian, I have a very limited understanding and appreciation of the struggle of the African-American. I in no way want to justify, minimize nor past judgement on what truly has been a horrific part of American culture. I do know there is hatred, evil, and inhumane acts performed now today and in the past everyday and all the time.

Because it is such a horrible past -- many are reluctant to open that chapter of their lives. I "get it" But I am learning there are some very brave souls out there that want to explore this past and learn more. Just like me --- they were raised with stories of great grandfathers and great grandmothers sharing the past with them.

Ok, anyone, who knows me, knows I will and do go places people fear to go. There is an elephant in our genealogy past and instead of ignoring it, I plan to explore it's orgin, it's past and if possible learn from it. I am exploring and pleased to announce there are websites, scholars and experts to help piece these families together.
Although I grew up with stories from the south and knew of stories of slaves that lived with my family. It kind of shocked me to see my family react to my genealogy research.
My family was so surprised when I shared wills, bill of sales and court records indicating our ancestors did in fact have slaves. Once I recovered from the shock and hearing other genealogist speak, I decided what a unique and wonderful opportunity I have to learn and share more about American history. I have loving stories written by ancestors about the people who worked on their lands. I think it would be great if I could read or hear from one of the families---from the other side as to say. I know there was abuse by some but I also know there was love and acceptance. The word AfriGeneas is derived from African American Genealogy Buddies. It's pronounced: A · fri · GEE · nee · as. AfriGeneas is a site devoted to African American genealogy, to researching African Ancestry in the Americas in particular and to genealogical research and resources in general.

So I am willing to be a "buddie". But I feel my own genealogy work will not be complete unless I do in fact embrace and explore this important part of our ancestral past. This genealogy journey is not a path for the weak and meek. But we must strive to present a balanced truth. I may read about families and incidents that allows me just a glimpse into the past. but there is also stories of heroism and compassion beyond comparison.

Stories of heroism and compassion do not usually sell books or newspapers but they are there for those who seek them: Can we write? A story of tragedy and triumph detailed through meticulous research and personal interviews that makes your heart ache and your spirit soar for those who survived in spite of Congress, American Leadership, the Media, Political Buffoonery. A triumph of justice, human compassion and good over evil.

I know this is a rocky path but I think my ancestors stories and letters regarding life long friends are important to share with their ancestors if at all possible. I truly cringe at the concept of "being led by the ancestors" but I know through letters and stories there was a lot of love, admiration, and compassion --that my ancestors will not let me ignore. They want their "family" to be remembered by their descendants.

I will blog my progress here through emancipation records, black cemetary records, african-american genealogist and societies, slave schedules, wills, court records and the lovely people I meet along the way. I do have several names in mind that I have already started finding family to share/buddy.

if it is not sourced "it never happened", if it is sourced "it might have happened".

My dear friend and marvelous mentor Susi Pentico posted to her blog the following question;
So for Monday Madness, well a sort of frustration, of wasting time/space taken up in a genealogical program I would hope to hear from many out in the big genealogical community on this topic. Is it fair to ask this person to not share this data, or should we accept their contributions. This is the second time I have seen this in the last year. The first time to have it indirectly affect my researching thought process.

This has been a concern for me ----- I have old documentation (pedigree charts, land deeds, marriage bond sheets,)--- dates/ locations/ etc. But I often see data that does not agree with my data. But the information not agreeing with my "documentation" seldom is sourced. I am adopting the attitude if it is not sourced "it never happened" if it is sourced "it might have happened".

"This is the history my mother wanted me to document."

I am trying to be true to my family history. I publish both data points. But I am keen in presenting the family history as presented by my known ancestors. Great Grandmothers that I remember (example Armenita C. Chapin, Cecil M. Hayley). This is the history my mother wanted me to document. I do find collaborating data to confirm this data. When in question (and I did state this to my family) I choose "our" data and references. I reference the other source also but only as a footnote. My thinking is----it is our history. I do find out and out inconsistencies and mistakes in my family history. These are referenced and show up in "NOTES" only. I want to preserve the letters, books, and documentation that has gathered throughout my family. Every written account of our family does have mistakes. In some cases I know why. The person giving the data did a best guess-timate at the time.

I am a serious genealogist and keen on documenting, verifying and validating my data. Several data points get "approval" by the so-called experts that I do not agree with---and there are those "close enough issues". I am writing four generation trees including the same people. But each have their purpose.

One for my aunt to present ancestors to temple.
One for DAR to pass their "data points". Probably the closest to "the history my mother wanted me to document".
One rather inclusive tree---exploring off shoots and distant relations that tie into history.
And one that I call my "sanitized data": a small subset of the above.

Why ?? because as stated different criteria and purpose. The all inclusive tree notes all variations of the DAR and the LDS. The reason I do this is "the path of least resistance". If the LDS or DAR accepts certain truths. I can build upon their foundation. Yes, I can go through and submit corrections etc. And I do in my own notes. But because I am multi-tasking and unwilling to call my data the absolute truth---I will serve my purposes better to give them what they want with disclaimers. Why do I include the disclaimers?? because if they ever find that in fact their data is faulty---maybe my data will survive the dumping of all assumptions derived from "this" data. It is happening all the time. Assumed data is being scrutinized and failing. All data based on those assumptions is being thrown out. My desire is to reference our data as so our data will not be subject to the "throwing out the baby with the wash".

Rightfully or not -- I have noticed that "legalistic" institutes (in an effort to be by effective and efficient) will place "laws, rules, criteria" that must be met to be accepted. Therefore you tell them what they want to hear to pass their criteria. I follow the letter of the governing laws set up. But I add "as footnotes" the intention and truth of the findings.

It's not easy being me......lol