The following are the primary sources that I have used so far:

• “Elders” in the family

I have gotten input from many people, but a few relatives provided the bulk of the information. On the Workman/Mullins side, the primary contributors were Doyle & Barbara Workman, Damon Workman, Hollie Workman, Phil Hayes, and Carolyn McNutt. On the Kiser/Rider side, input came from my grandmother (Laura Kiser), my mother (Catherine Workman) and two aunts (Nancy Miller and Norma Criner). Of course, some of the information comes from first-hand observation.

• “Some Branches of the Workman Tree” by Ralph Hall Sayre

Ralph, a cousin, was a certified genealogist. This is a great book that provides general information about the Workman family in America and specific details about our branch of the family. His book is out of print; however, an online PDF copy is available via the following link:

http://www.workmanfamily.org/histories/sayre/index.html

• Ancestry.com

This is probably the most popular web-based genealogy site. Some parts of the site are free, but to gain full use, a fee is assessed. The best feature may be the DNA test, which allows people to identify regions where ancestors settled (and migrated from) and to discover previously unknown/unidentified relatives.

Web link: https://www.ancestry.com

• FamilySearch.org

When it comes to ease of use and the depth of its tools, FamilySearch is perhaps the best free genealogy website on the web. It is operated by the Mormons (I disagree with their theology, but they do a good job with genealogy). It is easy to find relatives by using this service. It also has a family tree tool that lets you quickly add ancestors you find to your own genealogical tree. Overall, I think it is the best site available on the web. I have been using it a lot lately…it has become my go-to website.

Web link:: https://www.familysearch.org

• findagrave.com

Surprisingly, I have found some “nuggets” on this website—it is particularly useful for locating cemeteries/grave sites and headstone inscriptions.

Web link: https://www.findagrave.com

• MyHeritage

• Other Sources

There are a multitude of public and private records that can provide important information. Some key ones include the following: census records, military service records, immigration records, naturalization records, birth and death certificates.

The short answer to this question is, “It depends.” The goal is to be as accurate as possible, but many factors influence the accuracy of the information:

• What is the source?

Written documents, such as birth/death certificates, marriage certificates, and military records probably have a higher degree of accuracy than does verbal communication. Even with these, however, errors can and do occur. I have seen the same name spelled several different ways. This seems to be the most common error (particularly with Census Records). Transcription errors also occasionally occur.

• How much time has passed?

Record keeping has definitely improved over the years. And the sheer volume of information is exponentially greater today than it was only a generation ago. It should be noted that while older documents may be less plentiful, they can be just as accurate as newer ones.

• What assumptions have been made?

Sometimes, assumptions are made that can influence a whole chain of information. I recall seeing conflicting genealogical information about one of our ancestors several generations back. There was just not enough information available to the 100% sure about a particular ancestor, so the editor made a choice (assumption). This becomes more of an issue the further back one goes.

I considered a couple dozen different names, most of them ending with “connections.” It seemed logical to include Bentree, since both sides of my family lived there (and I lived there the first twenty-one years of my life). So, BentreeConnections is descriptive and unique…and, I didn’t have to worry about picking a name that others would choose. Note: the actual name is bentreeconnections.com. Capitalization does not matter on the web--but be sure to input it without a space. To make it easier to read, I may write it as BentreeConnections, Bentree Connections, BENTREECONNECTIONS, or BENTREE CONNECTIONS.

As I mentioned elsewhere, this type of website will never be finished. There will always be information to add, certainly for descendants, if not for ancestors. My goal is to input most of the ancestral information in the next few years. Long term, maybe one of my kids will keep it up.

There will probably not be a regular schedule for updates, but I will try to let everyone know when one occurs. As stated in the Home Page section, it is my goal to keep a running “change log” that itemizes major changes since the last issuance. It will be placed in the MJW Blog folder (within the MJW & DLW Chronicles menu tab).

I plan to publish some family tree & timeline charts for selected family units (e.g. Walter & Bertha Workman). Detailed individual records will not be published on the website. That information may be available through the Reunion app. Customized charts can be generated within Reunion. Contact me if you are interested in this. I may eventually create some custom charts that can be made available to others.

Images (including photos) posted on almost all websites are typically low resolution. The low resolution is required to reduce the file size so the web pages can load more quickly. These images might be acceptable for small print sizes; however, they would not be acceptable for anything larger than approximately 8”x10”. I have higher resolution originals for all the photos/images, so if anyone needs them, they can be made available.

There is no cost to you as a user. I have the domain name BentreeConnections.com through GoDaddy, for which there is a yearly fee. In addition, I pay a yearly fee to SquareSpace for the actual website.

I would welcome any input, including new photos or information, additions/corrections to posted materials, stories about our ancestors, or suggestions for new content. You can use the Contact Form (in the menu bar) to send me an email with the details.

The genealogy app (database) that I have used for a couple of decades is Reunion by Leister Productions, Inc. It is set up so I can share information with others. If you have an iPad, iPhone, or Mac Computer (and an internet connection), you can potentially access my master file. Reunion generates great charts, family trees, and specialized reports. It is my plan to post an example chart, soon. Reunion does not work on Windows computers.

It is my goal to keep the “change log” in this tab up to date. It documents major revisions along the way. The Home Page also has sections (Website News) that track changes at a macro level.