The W.S. Carman manuscripts
There has been a great deal of conversation on
the Internet of recent weeks regarding "who" wrote
in the books. Well, a microfilm version of the manuscript
will only yield so much in terms of handwriting and ink
analysis.
Mr. Carman spent a great deal of time but did not provide
a great deal of sourcing in his work. Although his interviews
at the time are one of the best sources of information for
family members of the time.
For the most part Mr. Carman's work provides an excellent
outline to pursue better sources and documentation.
The fact, that someone or someones came later and wrote
additions in the book is rather a moot point. First of all they
didn't sign their name. Second of all, will it make a difference since
none of the suspected additional material was sourced.
So you can do carbon dating, submitt the work to handwriting
experts, DNA testing, analyze and re-analyze but in the end game
what do you have?
Anonymous entered the date "1606" but we don't know
where the date came from.
Okay soapbox time over! I feel better. Seek out those primary
sources of information, W. S. Carman did, interviews, wills, deeds etc.
I am not putting down W.S. Carman, I consider him the father
of Carman Genealogy, however, he is just one source in thousands!!
Hope this was helpful, Dan