Hi Seonaid ... I'm honoured to be the first in your group :)  I'm from Newfoundland, still living here (St. John's), so of course your group caught my eye, and I had to join.

Some of my tree - the Pynn's - have a long history in Harbour Grace, very near to Carbonear, though I don't think our trees intersect anywhere that I'm aware of.  I wonder if  you've encountered Mack/Mac? Butt in your genealogy travels ... he's a friend of my father and I think he's been doing family history research for quite some time in that geographic area.

I have my family lines back as far back as I can get through Internet research only, but they fizzle out before leaving Newfoundland - haven't found the particular individuals who immigrated. Though that's still quite far back - in some cases to the late 1600's here in Newfoundland.  The exception is a French line on my mother's side ... the whole French Canadian line seems to be very well documented right back to some adventurous garcon who left Paris in the 1600's.  My mom also has some Norwegian and Mi'kmaq only a couple of generations back.

I love this format for geneaolgy ... a social network approach.  I think it has tremendous potential.  I can see from your credentials that I don't have to convince you how addictive this can be!  I am a mere 'dabller' in the field myself.

Anyway ... hello from Newfoundland.  Good luck in growing the group.
 

Rob