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Archiver > TMG > 2004-12 > 1101911768


From: "Excalibur131" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Source Elements - Terry (all)
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 09:36:08 -0500
References: <d7.1ad76e69.2edf1be8@aol.com>


I got around all of this and quit worrying when I got to my wifes birth
record. Consider the following:

1. She was born in Newfoundland, Canada.
2. Her birth record was sent to the Confederation Building in St. Johns,
Newfoundland.
3. Her (and many others) original birth record was destroyed in a fire at
the Confederation Building.
4. Her Baptismal record from her place of birth was used to rebuild the
birth record. Baptismal and other records were used to rebuild other peoples
birth record, including (as I understand it) Family Bible Records.
5. I obtained a record of her birth in 1967. It was a laminated driver's
license sized card that was:
a. a "Certified True Original Copy".
b. Was not in any way a copy of the actual record.
c. Had no raised seal.
d. Signed by the employee or supervisor of the employee that found the
record.
e. Was the "short" form and did not provide all the information that was
available.

So-o-o-o, what I have is a piece of laminated paper that supposedly
represents something that was destroyed by fire. The information on it did
not come from the original source. Yet this piece of paper is "Certified",
"True", and is somehow an "Original Copy"! I always wondered how I could
have an "Original Copy" of anything. I envisioned it as being the very first
"copy" made and some poor employee was having to keep a record of how many
copies were made, and if someone else requested the same record they would
receive a "Certified True Original Copy Copy" -- since they could not have
the "Original Copy" because I had that one. There isn't even a raised seal
on it to make it quasi-official, yet this single piece of paper allowed her
to marry, move and live in the U.S, have children in the U.S., and become a
Naturalized U.S. Citizen.

For me, genealogy is supposed to be fun and part of that fun comes from the
never-ending "hunt". I also believe that the genealogical records I keep are
for me. If others enjoy what I have done, that is a wonderful side-benefit,
but not something I need to go to extremes to satisfy.

Tom

<Sn-n-n-n-n-n-ip>


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