AFAM-JENKINS-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [AFAM-Jenkins] Integrity of information
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 13:27:44 EDT

Greetings,

All of us, at one time or another has run into conflicting information during
our research. Here are some things to think about during the evaluation
process:

Integrity of Information

On every source you need to consider how it was created. Birth certificates
were usually completed close to the event by hospital, doctors and/or parents
and places and dates should be very accurate. Names should also be accurate,
but there are errors sometimes.

Marrage certificates are usually completed by the people involved and names,
places and dates are usually accurate.

Death certificates are usually completed by a relative that may not know all
the
facts and may not be in the best mental state of mind while providing
information. Children may often be unsure of parents exact place of birth or
other datails about their parents. Younger siblings may not know the exact
place where an older sibling was born so errors do get on death certificates.

Grave stones are often made months or years after the fact and sometimes the
stone cutters make errors.

Always consider when and how the record was created and who provided the
information. Generally information provided at the time of the event by the
people involved is most accurate. Records created after the fact or by
uninvolved people are generally less accurate and the longer the time since
the
event the greater chance of error.

Published information always has a chance of error in transcription, typing or
interpertation. The web has allowed many more people to publish their family
information and allowed more errors to be replicated by people that don't
verify
information they get from published sources.

Documentation and verification with original records is the best way to insure
your information is accurate. Always consider the sources and how the record
was created in evaluating what information you should consider as fact.

Blessings,

George "DaPicMoocher" Jenkins

Jenkins-Jeffries-Lee Family Page - http://www.geocities.com/geojenk

Jenkins-Jeffries-Lee Family Picture Page -
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~geojenk/index.html

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