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10 Hard Truths About Genealogy
1. There is no "A" in Cemetery.
2. The census takers, more often than not, didn't really care when your relative was born, or how your relative's name was spelled. They spelled it like it sounded. They also didn't really care if the two year old hanging off of the Polish woman they were questioning was a boy or a girl, and they couldn't understand Polish anyway. Thats why your great uncle is a girl in 1900 and a boy in 1912. Its still the same person.
3. There are occasionally errors in original records. There are quite often errors in transcriptions. The guy transcribing the 1880 census didn't realize that your great grandmother was really a proselytine (a missionary), and wasn't actually a prostitute. Sorry about that.
4. Just because it was printed in a book, doesn't make it true.
5. Just because it was posted on the internet, doesn't make it true.
6. Just because someone else downloaded it and re-posted it still doesn't make it true. If they can't get your grandfather married to the right woman, most likely the lineage to Joan of Arc isn't quite true either.
7. "newspaper clipping" is not enough information for a proper source citation. Neither is "Aunt Mable".
8. Buying every subscription to every online website will not guarantee you find your grandfather. (Steven Morse found your grandpa in "one step", though - http://stevenmorse.com/grandfather/index.html)
9. Doing all of your research online is like licking your fork and calling that dinner. Go to the library! the courthouse! the cemetery! Write some letters! Call some relatives! Dare I say it... turn off your computer! (ok, but only for a little while)
10. Only another genealogist will be interested enough to listen to the story of your ancestry back to Charlemagne. But you have to be willing to listen to theirs too. He's my 35th great grandfather, by the way ;)
Free Toolbar of Genealogy Websites http://RelativelyCurious.OurToolbar.com/
2. The census takers, more often than not, didn't really care when your relative was born, or how your relative's name was spelled. They spelled it like it sounded. They also didn't really care if the two year old hanging off of the Polish woman they were questioning was a boy or a girl, and they couldn't understand Polish anyway. Thats why your great uncle is a girl in 1900 and a boy in 1912. Its still the same person.
3. There are occasionally errors in original records. There are quite often errors in transcriptions. The guy transcribing the 1880 census didn't realize that your great grandmother was really a proselytine (a missionary), and wasn't actually a prostitute. Sorry about that.
4. Just because it was printed in a book, doesn't make it true.
5. Just because it was posted on the internet, doesn't make it true.
6. Just because someone else downloaded it and re-posted it still doesn't make it true. If they can't get your grandfather married to the right woman, most likely the lineage to Joan of Arc isn't quite true either.
7. "newspaper clipping" is not enough information for a proper source citation. Neither is "Aunt Mable".
8. Buying every subscription to every online website will not guarantee you find your grandfather. (Steven Morse found your grandpa in "one step", though - http://stevenmorse.com/grandfather/index.html)
9. Doing all of your research online is like licking your fork and calling that dinner. Go to the library! the courthouse! the cemetery! Write some letters! Call some relatives! Dare I say it... turn off your computer! (ok, but only for a little while)
10. Only another genealogist will be interested enough to listen to the story of your ancestry back to Charlemagne. But you have to be willing to listen to theirs too. He's my 35th great grandfather, by the way ;)
Free Toolbar of Genealogy Websites http://RelativelyCurious.OurToolbar.com/
Views: 57
Comment
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Comment by tami osmer glatz on July 20, 2009 at 8:22am
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Definitely all true, UA - except that's not "my" prostitute... Ours wasn't really a prostitute, but the 1880 census transcription at FamilySearch had her listed as such. The actual word on the census under occupation said "prosletyne" (missionary) -- rarely a eupemism for 'shady ladies'!
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Comment by Unknown Ancestor on July 20, 2009 at 1:23am
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Terrific!
I posted the card citing your prostitute on my Skeletons post here. And I've tried to get GenyWise (and many users) to refrain from featuring royalty and illegitimate Coats of Arms.
In my Organization group's outline I mention these issues.
The problems of genealogical research include:
- Genealogy is more of an art than a science.
- The interpretation of genealogical data is very subjective.
- Conclusive proof is NOT possible in genealogical research.
- An identity problem exists for each person in each locality.
- The value of references in compiled genealogies is doubtful.
- Fraud and negligence are common (especially when it comes to heraldry and royalty).
- Most sources were NOT created for genealogical purposes.
- Genealogical information is hearsay evidence.
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Comment by Doug Tallman on July 12, 2009 at 8:30pm
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This is a great blog post. It should be kept on a page for 10 Best Blogs on GenealogyWise.
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Comment by Jessica Hammond on July 12, 2009 at 12:55am
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"The guy transcribing the 1880 census didn't realize that your great grandmother was really a proselytine (a missionary), and wasn't actually a prostitute. Sorry about that."
Hee! Should I discover an ancestor with an apparently shady past, I will be sure to keep this possibility in mind. :)
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