Hi Marta, I agree completely with the need to verify facts with as many
primary sources as possible. One can not depend on secondary information
found in many books or especially trees shared on the Internet! Too often,
name and date approximate matches is all that has been used to make the
connection.
Concerning the spelling of names, its certainly important to determine the
most commonly used spelling. Many people were unable to read or write even
just their name. Even the person doing the writing was often not well
educated so they misspell names. Sometimes the misspelled name becomes
accepted and continues to be used. Almost every limb of our tree has varied
spelling for the name.
Marge
----- Original Message -----
From: ""marta"" <wicomp(a)whidbey.net>
To: <casteel(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: [CASTEEL] CASTEEL Digest, Vol 4, Issue 51
Marge, I would think that Theresa's reference to cross reference
would
mean
to take the information one sees as a secondary source (ex. another person
research or book) and look for a primary source (ex. census, photocopy of
actual records such as birth, death, marriage, land) to verify the
information that is important to that individual doing their own tree. It
also helps to use at least two original sources (or more) to verify that
the
person is actually fitting in correctly into the tree you are working on.
I enjoy the exchanges of thoughts and information's on the site. Oh, also
remember to double check spellings on secondary sources especially and
also
in the primary sources. There are many secondary records that are not
always correctly spelled and sometimes that is a lost ancestor's reason
for
being lost when they are not really lost.
Best. Wishes.marta
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