--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00104 Date: 04/19/98 From: EILEEN MORGAN Time: 07:11am \/To: JEAN HALVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: Accuracy of census records Jean, the census records are only as accurate as (1) the knowledge of the person doing the reporting and (2) the accuracy of the person doing the recording and/or transcribing. I have only encountered conflicts in ages from one census to another, not any mis-spellings or obviously erroneous information. If, for example, a son or daughter was the one who provided the information, he/she may only have guessed at her parents ages (bearing in mind that, at that time, this was something that was not discussed with children); also, it was not unusual for a wife, who happened to be older than her husband, gave inaccurate information to "reverse" the situation. As far as mis-spellings, again it could be because the person reporting was illiterate and didn't know the correct spelling of the name - again a common situation - so the census- taker filled it in as best he/she could. Or it was just recorded/transcribed in error. I have one relative who was reported as age 6 at the 1851 census (which would make him born in approx. 1845); 30 years later, by the 1881 census he had only aged 26 years; by the 1891 census, he had aged a full 13 years in only 10 years! Good luck finding your Daniel. Regards, Eileen emorgan@fido.island.net > I have been researching my maternal grandmother's > line. I've been using the > census' to try to figure out if her folks were where > the surviving siblings > have placed them, but I'm having a bit of dificulty. > First I thought I had found the D. Watson (with a good > portion of his > reported 18 children still living with him), but when > I got the next earlier > census he had the wrong name (David instead of > Daniel). The wife has the > correct name as does one of the known younger siblings > (she was retarded and > stayed with her mother: they both are buried close > by), but I can't seem to > connect any of the given initials with the specific > daughter I'm descended > from. Not only that but the year of birth that we have > may be wrong. Just > HOW accurate are the census reports? I know that on > another line I've > encountered four different spellings for the same last > name. The only reason > that I'm sure about that line being mine is that the > person's name is rather > unusual and they occupied the same piece of property > for 30 years. Also, > just how prevalent was undercounting? > I welcome any comments or advice. > Jean Halverson > ... Researching: ALLEN (KY),HENLEY (AL), HOBBS (TN), > RICHARDSON (IN) > --- > * Origin: * The Ratz Nest BBS * Texas * (817) > 447-1619 * (1:130/911) --- FMail/386 1.02 * Origin: (1:351/258) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00105 Date: 04/17/98 From: MARVIN RAVIS Time: 12:02pm \/To: JEAN HALVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: Advice -=> Quoting Jean Halverson to All <=- JH> ........ Just HOW JH> accurate are the census reports? I know that on another line I've JH> encountered four different spellings for the same last name. The only JH> reason that I'm sure about that line being mine is that the person's JH> name is rather unusual and they occupied the same piece of property JH> for 30 years. Census records often are incorrect, especially when it comes to spelling and dates. 1) Depends who answered the door when the census taker knocked on the door. Maybe a child that only guessed at the ages of residents and forgot to mention uncle John who sleeps on the couch. Maybe an adult that did not have a good command of english and did not really understand the questions nor could help with spelling. A crying infant at feeding time in the arms of the repondent, along with another small child hiding behind the mother's skirt surely would contribute to the brevity of the interview. Within the family they may have called each other by nicknames that didn't jive with their actual 1st names known only to the most senior members of the household. 2) If the census taker had difficulty with spelling names, especially those sounding foreign to the ear of the census taker or just guessed at the spelling, it was entered incorrectly. If the residents were immigrants no one was really concerned with spelling anyway, least of all the immigrants themselves. The inerview may have been abbreviated if the census taker was behind his/her schdule or maybe it was late in the day and the census taker rushed the interview so she could go home and prepare her husband's supper. Maybe the census taker really should have gone back to that residence a 2nd time and talk to an adult, but chose not to as it was raining that day or her own child was ill. Maybe as no one was home when the census taker called, a nieghbor gave the info instead and it was only in part correct. Who knows what! This is just a couple of reasons that could contribute to census errors. Use your own immagination and come up with another ten reasons. People are human and do make mistakes. Besides, I don't think anyone thought at the time someone would be scanning these lists with a fine tooth comb a 100 yrs or so later. Death certificates also often have errors, especially when the informant is a distant relative or is more than one generation removed from the deceased. Often they guess birth dates/places, parent's names, etc. of the deceased just to fill in the blanks and get on with the funeral. Remember this info was given at a time of stress. The common thread: the info is no better than that given by the informant and the scribe who entered it in the record. Marvin Ravis ... You can't call 911 now!! I'm downloading!! --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Reservation Only! (1:209/7211.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00106 Date: 04/07/98 From: GENA THEISS Time: 12:29am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: HARRISON I am looking for someone researching the surname HARRISON. I have a John Harrison Higdon b about 1848 in Grayson Co Ky. I know some named their children by the mothers maiden name and HARRISON is a Surname. This John Harrison is a son of John Uriah Higdon b. in 1808 beleived to be a son of Frances Higdon and Allie Louise last name unknown. Other children of John Uriah Higdon had family names and I am wondering if this Allie Louise is a Hsrrison and is the mother of John Uriah Higdon. A long shot I know but I need the name of Francis Higdon's wife and Jihn Uriah's mother. If anyone has any information on Harrison that has any connection to Higdon I would be so grateful for the information. This would make my day for a long time. Thanks Gena Theiss gtheiss@ka.net genatheiss@juno.com * OLX 2.1 TD * gena.theiss@ka.net http://www.ka.net/gtheiss --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Family TreeHouse, Louisville Ky.502-964-6831 (1:2320/310.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00107 Date: 04/11/98 From: GENA THEISS Time: 12:39pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Allie Louise ??????? Need Help!!!Has anyone run on to a female names Allie Louise last name unknown? or Has anyone run on to a female with the name Allie Louise that has a last name? anyone anywhere????? I need the last name of Allie Louise who married Francis Higdon in the late 1700's or early 1800's This could have been in Md. or Va. came to Ky. early 1800's Thanks, This is an important link in my Higdon family!!!!! Gena Theiss 8417 Burlingame Rd Louisville Ky 40219 gena.theiss@tfd.org * OLX 2.1 TD * Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (P)anic --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Family TreeHouse, Louisville Ky.502-964-6831 (1:2320/310.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00108 Date: 04/16/98 From: RUTH SCHAFFER Time: 04:31pm \/To: CHERYL SINGHAL (Read 2 times) Subj: Genealogy Software Re: Genealogy Software > Tree Maker for Windows. If you've had years of experience on mainframes > and in the DOS environment, FTM/W will make you crazy. If you are a FTM/W is not difficult at all... and even for the DOS person (which I am) it is very simple to use... I think it makes a difference what you want to do with it... some people use more than one program for different types of reports... FTM is extremely easy to set up and easy to use... others like Brothers Keeper some like Reunion... I think it also makes a difference WHAT you want to do.. if all you wnat to do is puch out an decendant outline report a shareware or freeware program may do just fine... but any software should have the capability to make a GED file of your info... that makes it easier to share info with someone using a different software package... --- VFIDO 7.13 * Origin: Witches Brew BBS (1:324/286) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00109 Date: 04/13/98 From: ROBERT AGAN Time: 10:25pm \/To: BILL MAXAM (Read 2 times) Subj: Genealogy Software BM>Hello All. BM>Being new to this Genealogy Search would anyone be willing to make BM>suggestions on what would be a good Genealogy Software to start BM>with??? Any help appreciated! BM>Bill, take a look at THE MASTER GENEALOGIST, developed by Bob Velke, president of Wholly Genes, Inc. 6868 Ducketts Lane, Elk Ridge, Maryland 21227 Tel: 410-796-2447. Give them a call and request a demo disk. This program is especially good for a beginner in genealogy because it reminds one to document our research. Beginners often overlook this important step when starting out. A beginner can install THE MASTER GENEALOGIST, work through the sample program, and then begin entering one's own data...all in the same day. There are many sophisticated components to TMG, however, these need not be utilized until one is more comfortable with the program. There are several good genealogy software programs on the market. I went from PERSONAL ANCESTRAL FILE (PAF) to TMG. And am pleased with the program. signed, donna and bob agan @ NEOPC.ORG BM>--- GoldED 2.50.Beta6+ BM> * Origin: Recipe Corner Greenfield, Ma. (413)774-3601 (1:321/155) --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 2 * Origin: NorthEast Ohio PC User Group BBS (1:157/427) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00110 Date: 04/13/98 From: LARRY MCGRATH Time: 12:23pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: McGrath/Richardson @1:157/627 1:101/170 I am looking for additional information on the following: ====================================================================== HUSBAND:Thomas McGrath BORN: 1769 WHERE: ? MARR: 22 Jul 1796 DIED: 1845 FATHER: ? MOTHER: ? SOURCES: Family record ======================================================================== WIFE: Olive Richardson BORN: 20 Aug 1775 WHERE: Attleboro, MA DIED: after 1850 FATHER: Cpl. Henry Richardson MOTHER: Olive Blackington SOURCES: Family record ==================================================================== S | NAME: Horatio McGrath O | BORN: Feb. 5, 1812 WHERE:Kennebec Co, Maine N | MARR: Oct. 24, 1833 | DIED: June 12, 1880 | BUR: Meigs Cemetery, Morgan Co., Ohio | WIFE: Margery Ann Keller | BORN: Mar.1, 1816 in VA DIED: Mar. 19, 1891 | | SRCE: Family History |NOTE: Horatio was one of eight children If anyone can add, subtract, or change any of the data listed above please advise. If anyone has any questions about any of this data feel free to ask! Larry McGrath, P.O. Box 102, Beach City, OH 44608 Email: larry.mcgrath@cancomm.com 1:157/629 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: CanCom TBBS - Canton, OH (1:157/629) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00111 Date: 04/13/98 From: JIM LOWRY Time: 06:33am \/To: HAROLD DOZIER (Read 3 times) Subj: MISSING WILL EC>On 04-08-98 12:19 HAROLD DOZIER Says: EC>HD>I am looking for the Will of my Grandfather who died in 1929 in EC>HD>Monroe, Ouachita Parish, in November 1929. I have written to the EC>HD>Clerk of Court and received a reply that "the Probate Index for EC>HD>the years 1927 thru 19 no Probate Proceeding or Succession in the EC>HD>name of my Grandfather". In my state, the majority of deaths do NOT result in a will being probated - even today. The major factors that would generate a will is size of the estate and whether or not there was Real Property in the estate. Also, he may have owned property in another county or state and the will was probated there. Jim jiml@hal-pc.org Houston: Home of the Humid. ---  CMPQwk 1.42 #1689 Genius is perseverence in disguise. --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: HAL-PC - (713)963-4100 (1:106/4100) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5G00112 Date: 04/13/98 From: JEAN HALVERSON Time: 12:59am \/To: ROBERT CARNEAL (Rcvd) (Read 4 times) Subj: NEED INTERVIEWING TIPS -=> Quoting ROBERT CARNEAL to ALL <=- RC> Hello. I just recently been bitten by the genealogy bug big time, RC> and am looking for a source with tips on how to interview older (people RC> in their 80s) relatives about family members they grew up with. What RC> is the best way to do this? Is there a source of "guidelines" to RC> follow? Asking my aunt to tell me everything she knows about my Dad RC> will probably get me one of her funny stares. So I need to develop RC> some more questions logically followed. Audio taping vs. video taping. RC> Advantages? Disadvantages? Does some pre-made questions to answer for RC> each relative exist somewhere I can get a copy of? I feel like I want RC> to play the game, but not ready to play for not knowing all the rules. Dear Robert, I have successfully gleaned much valuable information just by asking the question "do you remember your Aunts and Uncles? What about your Great Aunts and Great Uncles?" My 70+ year old sources have very unreliable memories about current things as well as past things that were unimportant to them, but they remember their favorite (and most hated) aunts and uncles. This has led me to the exact relative on the census due to the partial list of siblings that I glean from their talk. It is also helpful to ask them again when they are gathered together. Of course my folks are a rather talkative bunch and really enjoy the opening of closets containing skeletons, some folks are not so gossipy so I am rather fortunate in that respect. Also be _certain_ to ask if they remember so-and-so's middle name. That has given me a clue as to possible maiden names of some female relatives. Also ask to sit and look at pictures with them. My grandfolks went through four big boxes with me and had some wonderful pictures that when they saw how much I enjoyed them they gave to me. Pictures of unknown people who are relatives will be found and sometimes you may be able to descipher any writing that they may have given up on due to their faulty eyesight. I don't have but four direct sources and three are siblings, but they are still in contact with their cousins and sometimes will remember to ask the same questions to them. So I use a more personal approach. When I find something new (as I did a week ago) I share with them immediately so they know that I want them to enjoy the fruits of our mutual labor (their racking of brains and my research). I hope that this helps. I am by no means a seasoned genealogist, but I have been able to glean much from the few living relatives that I have and felt that I could offer advice in this one area. Best Wishes, Jean Halverson --- * Origin: * The Ratz Nest BBS * Texas * (817) 447-1619 * (1:130/911) --------------- ** A related thread FOLLOWS this message. FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 133 GENEALOGY Ref: F5LR2137 Date: 05/17/98 From: ROBERT CARNEAL Time: 10:35pm \/To: JEAN HALVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: R: NEED INTERVIEWING TIPS Jean, I am not an experienced genealogist, but I am getting better at finding information on the Internet on my relatives. I did not realize that there were THAT many hospital records available for public review! Ditto with prison records. Both allowed me to locate two relatives I did not know about and where they were buried. After people heard I did that, they have been wanting me to do THEIR families, thinking I can go back hundreds of years in just a few moments. Thanks for writing to me. You were a help. -Robert