Genealogy Chat

I am looking at the Bedfordshire Parish & Probate records on Ancestry and they might as well be written in Chineese for all the help they are! Have pasted a couple of entries below, can anyone tell me how you decipher them and what I should be seeing. Many thanks in advance. Trudy W237 Williamson, Wm., yeoman Keysoe about 34 06 Nov 1778 W 19 H123 - Shotley Taxpayers. W253 Willison, Mary Toddington 22 - H263 S390 - W254 Willison, Thos., farmer Chalgrave - - - - H300, K14 County: Bedfordshire Country: England W261 Wilson, Eliz. widow Henlow - - T 48 T112 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W237 Williamson, Wm., yeoman Keysoe about 34 06 Nov 1778 W 19 H123 - Shotley Taxpayers. W253 Willison, Mary Toddington 22 - H263 S390 - W254 Willison, Thos., farmer Chalgrave - - - - H300, K14 County: Bedfordshire Country: England W257a Wills, Thos., farmer St. Neots, Hunts. - - - - W218, B317

This looks like info that Ancestry has stolen from somewhere. The original would have an explanation of the codes used, which look like references to page numbers or sections within chapters. Are there no help or explanation buttons to convert gobbledy gook into something meaningful? Failing that the relevant records office/local studies library/family history society should be able to explain where the info comes from.

Thanks ET, thought I was going mad for a bit there - will have to have a bit of a search on the site, there must be some info somewhere, but I'm blowed if I can find it. Trudy

I am sure Ancestry has followed the correct procedure and not 'stolen' these records. It says on their site (click on parish/probate records and then scroll down) 'How do I find copies of the originals? These records are a finding aid that help researchers locate an ancestor in a particular time and place in history. With a location and an approximate date, the microfilm number of pertinent corroborating records can often be found on the LDS Church's FamilySearch site (www.familysearch.org) in the Family History Library Catalog. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA has the largest collection.' nell

Thanks Nell, but as above, I really cannot figure out what I am supposed to be looking at, and all it gives me is a page of entries one after the other that all look like my original message. Trudy

There have been complaints in the past, Nell, that locally produced indexes have found their way onto sites such as Ancestry, ignoring the copyright issues. This is one of the reasons that small groups are increasingly turning to sites like familyhistoryonline, which protect the data from such abuse, rather than producing microfiche or cds which can be pirated.

Thanks Tabby You live and learn! nell