In
preparation for a talk I gave recently about Online Parish Clerks, I reviewed
some of the examples of entries in English parish registers again. We all
recognize there are many inaccurate transcriptions on the online websites,
mainly due I think to people not being familiar with old handwriting. It does
not help that many transcribers are not familiar with the people or communities
shown in the original records being interpreted and can misinterpret what the
records actually say.
There
are always shortcomings with indexes – spelling errors, missed notes, poor
transcription of old handwriting, etc. There is no substitute for seeing the
real records, whether the originals in record offices or images from scans and
photographs. Sometimes, though, you can run into unexpected problems with the
images stemming from inconsistencies between datasets or sometimes careless
work in the duplication, transcribing and indexing processes.
Here is one example. I will have more to show in subsequent posts.
Mary
Smith
A
few years ago, I was searching for information about my 3rd
great-grandmother. Her name was Mary Pearson, née Smith, and, according to many
records, she was born in Ashow parish, Warwickshire around the turn of the 19th century.
There
was only one Smith child baptized in Ashow during the time period of 1796 and
1803, when various documents indicated Mary was born. It was a female, but none
of FamilySearch or the commercial databases, Ancestry, FindMyPast
or TheGenealogist, had her first name. Ancestry, TheGenealogist
and FamilySearch all had images of the baptism register page, but the
particular event was not clear as the page had been torn and a corner folded
down right over the child’s forename.
The
Online Parish Clerk for the area, Susan Tall, went to the record office to get
a close-up view of the register. She was able to unfold the tear and sent me a
photo of the name. This little girl, Mary, based on other information we had,
had to be my ancestor. The information also then gave us information on her
parents and a few generations back.
 |
Right: Ashow,
Warwickshire baptism register page – 1795-1799; page torn and folded under at 6
August 1797 baptism entry for Smith child (source – Warwickshire County Record
Office, Warwick, England, Warwickshire Anglican Registers, Roll: Engl/2/1053,
Document Reference: DR 156 retrieved 22 October 2011 from Ancestry.com); Left Bottom:
enlargement of portion of entry at 6 August 1797; Left Top: photo of unfolded
tear at 6 August 1797 entry showing name of Mary Smith
|
Remedies
If
there is a discrepancy between different images, such as between parish
registers and Bishop’s Transcripts, let those in charge know so they can get
the right information online or at least append notes to recognize the
differences.
In
all cases where information is inconsistent or in obvious error, consult as
many other sources as possible to determine what the true facts or most likely
interpretations are. Remember that all records were made by people using
information they were given my others and may contain errors of fact or
transposition.
