Genealogy Chat

Often when I am looking for my ancestors I find people on census with names like Jarichnaede, which is what my gg grandmother Gertude was mistranscribed as, and birthplaces such as Woodtriop or Gaurnsmfdjfgh in Wiltshire, for example. Also, I found a Thomas Brain on 1871 census with a rude sounding birthplace, living in London, S**tedpelob. Shows how these census transcribers are all amatuers. They must know that there will be no birthplaces or names like those mentioned above, even if the words are a bit illegible. And as for that rude sounding birthplace, whoever transcribed that thought the word said that and still put it in obscenely.

I am starting to transcribe for FreeCen and they tell you if it is illegible to leave it blank for experts to fill in. I've had a bit of trouble finding people on Ancestry because of mistranscriptions and when I look at the image it's quite clear what it says, I think transcribers for ancestry should get there act together, hope you don't mind my little moan, AL

Not just ancestry. I've been searching on the 1861 on 1837online and there are some obvious errors, like Furnham Green for Turnham Green, and Isaae for Isaac etc. nell

I too have come across many errors, some of which look obvious, what is not appreciated is that many census transcriptions were done abroad, in foreign speaking countries. Therefore what looks like a ridiculous mistake to us, would mean nothing to them.

What is the point of transcribing something that is obviously wrong? The transcribers may know exactly where a location is, for example, but transcribing exactly as the enumerator recorded it, when spelt incorrectly, appears utterly barmy! What chance has the researcher got? Thank you Gordon

The worst error I have come across was for a Clara who was down as George, I checked the image, it's a little smudged however ther is no way it says George. AL

I came across one last night on the 1871 on Ancestry. James Seidell, when I looked it definitely says Sewell! Kim

I'm transcribing for Freecen too and I think that by the sounds of it many people are uploading their pages to Freecen without using the verifying system that allows you to check every entry you have made. Using this system, I always find i have made mistakes no matter how careful I feel I am at the time. I have just taken 2 weeks to complete 1 page of death entries as I keep stopping for a day or so to give my eyes a rest. It's not easy you know and you really do have to copy it as you see it as sometimes you know it should be a 'c' for example but it looks for all the world like an 'o'. Some people did have unusual spellings for common names just as they do today. Please be gentle on us transcribers! Thanks

> What is the point of transcribing something that is obviously > wrong? From a research point of view, having intermediaries 'interpret' information is just about the worst thing that can occur. 'Wrong' is almost always a value judgement, as it far too easy to confuse unfamilar with erroneous, and value judgements are best made by each individual researcher within their particular research context. That is precisely why original records are so highly valued in historical research. Cheers