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Archiver > PIATT > 2001-03 > 0985956377


From: Elise Jourdan <>
Subject: Re: [PIATT] Still need help
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 08:46:17 -0400
References: <1159166.985904608624.JavaMail.imail@doodle.excite.com>


Manuscripts are like census records and death
certificates, etc.: The validity of the
information depends entirely on the accuracy of
what the person knew who gave the information.

There is an excellent example of erroneous legal
records in my own family. My great-grandmother
gave the information for my great-grandfather's
death cerificate in 1915. The death cetrificate
which is on file in the State of Kentucky states
his father was named David. There was never a
David in the family. Many other records of
Kentucky and Missouri prove his father was
Christopher.

It is not uncommon for oral family history to be
inaccurate. I have had people tell me they know
something is a fact because it was written in the
Bible. The question is who wrote it and when. If
the Bible was printed in 1915 and the information
written in it is about people in the 1800s, one
wonders where did they get their information.

There could be innocent reasons why a child would
be left out of a family history. One possibility
could be that when he was tiny, the mother was not
well and a childless relative took the child to
raise. This happened sometimes in large families
and since the child did not grow up with siblings,
he/she was more or less forgotten.

Don't give up!

Elise





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