Hi,

My name is Loraine Patchet Ertelt and I probably am related to

Linda Prince Smith:) I live in Humble, Texas (20 miles north of Houston)

where I am a first and second grade reading specialist and gifted/talented

coordinator. I am hoping we will bend the age range a little as my fourth

graders are only 9 but working on 6th grade level and above and could

really benefit from Kidroots and well as other Kidlink projects. We are

just in the process of getting our computer lab wired to the internet. I

am married and have a son 23 who lives in Indiana.

I have been working on my genealogy for 3 years and feel like many

others that it is an addicting giant jigsaw puzzle. I spent 2 1/2 weeks

in Ontario Canada this summer researching my Loyalist lines as both my

parents were Canadian and my mother's line is Loyalist. I recognized

several of Linda's names: Bell and Long. My mother's lines are CLINE

(original settlers in the Hamilton Ontario area) COLTON, and LOWERY

(from England). The CLINES intermarried also with many of the other

Loyalist families who emigrated

to the Niagara/Hamilton area. My father's lines include DRAPER AND

PATCHET. My husband's lines include Prince (from

Alabama), Moody, and Ertelt (from Germany).

I have enjoyed hearing the interesting stories from others who are

involved with this project. I too have found that history has come alive

through the pursuit of my ancestors (including 2 who were executed as

spies during the Revolutionary War) and have found new relations

via the internet who have now become as addicted as I am.

Good luck to all you teachers who are taking part in this project. May

you have a successful school year. Many thanks to the volunteers who have

graciously offered their time to help students grow and learn. I have

some material on the Niagara/Hamilton Ontario Canada area as well as

Loyalist and Palantine information that I would be more than happy to

share with students who need help. Also have a general book on Canadian

Genealogy that I have found very helpful (full of addresses and what's

available where).

Happy hunting

Loraine P. Ertelt

Humble, TX