Genealogy Chat

I always try and report any transcription errors (they have a option on the screen) - not sure if it does any good - but it feels worthwhile.

If the transcribers had only used block capitals instead of those florid ones, our lives would me much easier. If the rest of the name is mangled you can at least do a wildcard after the first few letters, but if the first bit is wrong and you have a very common first name, you have loads to wade through. Just to give an idea, I have had S transcribed as T and L M transcribed as T (!) J transcribed as D P transcribed as C B transcribed as R and W (!!) so really you can be as imaginative as you like! nell

I think part of the problem is that you know who or what you are looking for but the transcriber is taking a stab in the darkwhen he/she sees unfamiliar names and writing. Good hunting Dave

Hi Sometimes I find ancestry transcription awful & so just so by first name year of birth & place of birth. Finch = Smick & I could see it said Finch!! Penny

Have been looking for a Fisher for 1871 and found mistranscribed as Tisher. So had a look at images for some of the others and they all looked like 'F's to me, so anyone looking for a name beginning F could also try it witha 'T' instead. Cheers Ronnie