Genealogy Chat

see below

I have a dilemma – although I’m not technically a ‘newbie’ my knowledge is still growing – don’t think it ever stops with this really!!! The question is:- How much can you trust the LDS site and how on earth do you check the info that’s on there? I have just gone back to a line that I first looked at almost a year ago when I was a lot younger and not half as wise about this subject – therefore missing info that would later be important. Through other sources (1837, Ancestry etc.) I have now traced back to my 3x great grandfather GEORGE NEWMAN, born Hartpury, Gloucs. 1792. Having come back to this line being stuck on others, with more knowledge than I had a year ago I have turned up what appears to be another three generations on Pedigree Resource files on LDS !!!!!!!!! – hence the question above, how reliable is this info likely to be? If I try to check it back through Hugh Wallis, will I just be going round in circles back to the same info, or could this be counted as a double check if the dates etc. match, or is the only way to check it a trip to the records office? Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the trouble to read and reply to my ramblings! Trudy

I always stick to the rule - If it is ''submitted'', take it with a pinch of salt. If it is ''extracted'', it is more likely to be true, but still needs checking out due to mis-transciptions etc. You need to check information with the original Parish Records. You can either go to the records office for that area, or ask your local LDS centre to get hold of them for you. Use Hugh Wallis to get the Batch numbers. Batch C029024 looks like the one you'll need for your George. It isn't complete on the IGI though. Your George isn't on there. You will have to get the records. Pedigree Resource files are only someones GedCom that has been uploaded as far as I know. Don't take anything it says literally without checking it first.

Hi Tracy So if I can find, for example, George's father on Hugh Wallis, and the info tallies with the Pedigree File, then it is more likely to be correct. Sorry, as I have to take time off work to visit either the records office or my local LDS library, I would like to be a little more certain first before I start ordering films. Thanks Trudy

Hugh Wallis's site only finds you the batch number for a particular place. It doesn't contain any of the baptism, marriage or death data. So you don't really need to use his site to see if anything you have found in the Pedigree Resource File is on the IGI. (You can just search on Family Search putting in the names and dates and counties). But when you look at the IGI you will almost certainly find entries matching the ones in the Pedigree Resource File, with 'record submitted by a member of the LDS church'. You may also find the 'extracted' records for the same event, which I would consider to be independent-ish verification, but if not it could be because that church isn't on the IGI. I would usually put more trust in a 'record submitted' or Pedigree Resource File entry if it has actual church names and dates than just a town or village name and 'about...' then a year. But you should still check against parish records. You may be able to get a microfiche or CD-ROM of transcriptions of the parish records from a Family History Society - try on GENFair at www.genfair*com(replace star with dot). And it is also worth looking at Family History Online to see if they have what you are looking for. www.familyhistoryonline*co*uk (same again). I was having a look at the Pedigree Resource File to see what I think, but I've forgotten his details so I'll have to 'add message' and get back to you in a minute... Kate.

Thanks Kate, have managed to 'cross-check' with 'extracted' records the christening and marriage info for his parents and the christening for his grandfather, but am a bit stuck now. Think I might knock off in a bit and have a look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow. Thanks for all your help Trudy

Right - I think it looks as though the researcher who added these people to the Pedigree Resource File has got the information from parish records, or extracts thereof, or from somebody else who looked at parish records. But whether each generation is correctly linked to the one before, only you can decide. They do have pretty common names, so you would be best to look through parish records to see if they are the only Newmans around or if there are other possibles. I have seen some of my Rimmer or Marshall ancestors (also very common names) up on the Pedigree Resource File, but I don't really know whether they have been connected to the right parents because there is usually at least one other baptism with the same name around the same time in the same parish. So I need other sources such as wills to check. Good hunting! Kate.

Thanks Kate - makes a bit more sense now LOLOL

The IGI is an extremely rich source of information and invaluable for those researching prior to 1837 and who don't have access to record offices. However you need to understand what it is that you are looking at as not all information is trustworthy. I fell for this when I first started using the site, as I am sure have many others. First of all check carefully just which database that you are looking at. The following notes are from the site which may help if you are unsure :- 'Ancestral File is a collection of genealogical information taken from Pedigree Charts and Family Group Records submitted to the Family History Department since 1978. The information has not been verified against any official records. Since the information in Ancestral File is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy' 'The Pedigree Resource File is a new lineage linked database of records available on compact disc containing family history records submitted by individuals through FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. Family information is organized in family groups and pedigrees and includes submitted notes and sources' These two files are to all intents and purposes trees which have been submitted by various researchers. There is no validation and the information is only as good as the researcher. The IGI records proper, fall into two main categories. Firstly 'Record submitted by a member of the LDS Church. The record often shows the name of the individual and his or her relationship to a descendant, shown as the heir, family representative, or relative.' These are best identifierd by the Source Info being a Film No. Only as good as the submitter, and not necessarily taken from prime records. Finally, 'Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the date' These can be recognised by the reference to a Batch No in the Source Info, in the format M019881, C0234978, etc. These are in fact extracts from the actual Parish registers or Bishops Transcripts and probably the most accurate source of information, but again beware, only as good as the transcriber. Peter

Hi Trudie I would advise you to stick to the parish records on LDS for info. and then if possible try to look up the actual parish records Not the ones that have been submitted by people who think they know ,not what they know becuase they aren't always correct There are 5 different entries for my GT, Gt. Gt grandparents on LDS and all are from people in America who have put in what they think they know without bothering to check actual records. And when I have pointed out to some of them they are wrong they say the believe what has been written by past generations I have sent photo copies of entries in parish registers but they refuse to accept that I'm right Bren

As has already been pointed out, even the entries that have been taken from the actual parish records can contain errors. I found a marriage of one of my ancestors and the bride was named as Sarah Bonnes. I put her in my tree and although I could find no other person with that surname, I wasn't too concerned yet. It was only when I was checking for something else in the original parish records in the City Archives when I spotted the marriage I've mentioned above. The bride was actually Sarah BOURNE not BONNES! No wonder I couldn't find any other members of her family! Sam x

By using batch numbers, I identified my man, his wife and their neatly spaced ten children, extracted from a Parish Record. This family and their ten children appeared obligingly on every census. Not a thing to be suspicious about at all. But becaue I am a nit-picker, I ordered the Parish Record, just to check for myself. Ha! Nine baptisms had been correctly transcribed - the tenth, MY direct ancestor OF COURSE, is the illegitimate son of the sister of my man! I cannot imagine WHY this was incorrectly transcribed onto the IGI - other than maybe it was a rellie doing the transcribing, who wanted to cover up the 'shame'. Whatever the reason, and I think it had to be an 'interested party' involved, its made a right mess of my GR tree! Olde Crone

Another very good reason for checking the LDS info against the actual registers, apart from all the points mentioned above, is that even where the IGI record is accurate, the registers will often contain additional info that hasn't been transcribed. For a start, very few burials have been entered on IGI. I wonder how many people have ''ancestors'' on their tree that they have found on the IGI, when in reality these people may have died in childhood? Remember that infant mortality was around 50% or so. Columns such as father's occupation on baptisms, as well as marginal notes in the registers may give you more clues as to whether you have the right person or not. Marriage entries give names of witnesses, whether or not the bride & groom were ''of the parish'' or not (and if not, their parish is named), and whether the parties were bachelor/spinster or widowed at the time. The IGI and LDS site in general is a fantastic finding aid, but if you're serious about having a thoroughly researched family tree, then you should try and check everything against the original register films. I tend to ''pencil in'' names on my tree that are from the IGI, until I can get around to viewing the film and checking the original. Some records offices will send you photocopies of register entries if you give them the date from the IGI, which I have found to be invaluable since I'm the other side of the world from these records offices! Richard

Thanks to all who responded to this thread - more or less confirming my own thoughts - some I can 'double check' against IGI transcriptions from parish records, but think I may have to take a day off and visit the LDS library and have a look at the register myself. Trudy