Welcome!

Sooner or later, if we live long enough, we all ask the question "where did I come from?". For me that question, asked over six years ago, has led me on a fantastic journey. Trips around the country, late-night phone conversations with 95 year old aunts, and meeting and sharing information with cousins half a world away have made this "hobby" an interesting life challenge. I have been collecting family information, photos and records for several years now. I designed Alongtheselines.com as a personal genealogy site for Batts, Bachman, McGuire, and Holub (and many others), to share this information in a format which promotes my family history for all of my "cousins".

I cannot maintain this site alone. In many cases "branches" are assigned to relatives closest to that line. They keep the information fresh and provide photos and other information which I could not possibly gather alone. A HUGE "Thank you" to all of those "cousins" who help out by maintaining their branches! They are as much in love with this process as I am!

While the primary goal of this site is to share information, protection of the privacy of living relatives is most important. I have made every reasonable effort to remove names of living persons from the database (though they may appear in photographs viewable only by registered members).

As for the technical details... This site was built using 'The Next Generation' of Genealogy Sitebuilding (TNG), which was developed by Darrin Lythgoe. The data was exported from RootsMagic Desktop Genealogy Software, then imported into TNG via GEDCOM (an international standard recognized by all genealogy software).

As to the accuracy of data: I have spent considerable time gathering and attempting to verify the information you find here, but as all genealogists know, your data is only as good as your sources. I have very few definative sources here. What this means is that it is very likely that it is not completely accurate, mistakes can and have been made. Please feel free to contact me if you find that some bit of information is in error, feel someone is missing, or if you just want to voice a comment or concern. I enjoy hearing from you!

Finally, I want to thank all who contribute to the efforts you are now enjoying. It takes many, many, people to pull together the information which makes up a Family History. From those who provided personal information, shared family photographs, or just pointed out an error in my spelling, I am very grateful! Also, the biggest thank you goes to my mom and dad, without whom I probably would not care as much as I do. Mom, Dad, You may not have thought about it, but you are part of something bigger than us all! I love you!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sincerely,
Michael

P.S. The photo used on the home page are my paternal grandfather and great-grandmother: Clark Martin Batts and (his mother) Nancy Hortense (Martin) Batts standing in front of the Georgia cabin built by my great grandfather Elmore Jackson Batts. Notice the chicken and hog in the foreground. This is a wonderful picture which I am very happy to display!