Welcome!
I originally created this site to test a new cloud-based script (called TNG genealogy), during software version updates. I used the Grindstaff data I had collected from family members who had a connection to that branch (I personally, do not). I neglected to exclude the web robots, spiders and search engines (silly WebMaster!), and soon the links were all over the Internet.
People began requesting registration, and soon they were starting to input their own NEW family information on the Grindstaff Family (and connected branches). Just check out the "What's New" link to see a sample of the most recent additions. I love it when you can look into the eyes of your Ancestors!!!
I let this activity continue for a couple of months (as I still needed the test platform), while hoping to spark interest in family members wanting to collect, document and share the history of this family. Other family members had contacted me over the years, saying they wanted a site, so I thought I would let it run itself for awhile and see what happened (also, I hate broken links on the Internet when doing Genealogy searches).
Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that there was a very diverse group of contributors who did not always agree on sources or content of the family history (some even attempted to dispute or ignore Primary source documents like birth and death records). It was apparent that the site needed a good family Administrator who could arbitrate these disputes (can anyone say "Hatfield and McCoys??). A very kind-hearted family member stepped forward, but I think they were overwhelmed, and soon they asked to "step-down".
So, the site has no real Administrator now and financial considerations have forced me to begin consolidation of my efforts to my own family sites. I can no longer continue to host this site, on it's current scale, without compensation (the ISP charges me for this space). As a result, we have had to discontinue (or reduce) access to the current site, for all registered users (effective 5/8/2012), while we archive the data to an offline storage media for long term storage.
If, in the future, the "Grindstaff" family wants to collaborate to create a history, I will try to reconstruct this site using the backups. For now, please be aware that this is ONLY a private software test site, and may disappear, without warning, at any time.
Thank You.....The WebMaster
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