MAESSEX-L Archives

Archiver > MAESSEX > 2003-05 > 1052054310


From: "John Slaughter" <>
Subject: Re: [MAESSEX] Recording dates
Date: Sun, 04 May 2003 06:18:30 -0700


>I think it much more likely that the date of 4 Mar 1671 in a VR book is
>4 Mar 1670/1 as the compilers had changed the year. By checking a
>number people in a particular town, you can usually tell if the
>conversion had been made.
>
>bob gillis

Bob,
That is exactly my point. The compilers of the VRs made changes. No matter
how tempted we may be to put in our records what "we" think it should be, we
MUST use exactly what is in the VRs unless we have far better evidence that
another date is accurate. If we do make a change, we are bound to adequately
annotate such change. To do otherwise is a failure on our part in our
responsibility as serious genealogists.

John Slaughter
In loving memory of our son, Brennan, 11/10/88-5/31/01
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Brennan.html
History of Ipswich, Essex and Hamilton
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/IpswichHistory
Pictorial tour of Ipswich
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/WalkingTour
Bradford Town Records
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Bradford
Massachusetts VR lookup requests
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Mass_VRs
Early Massachusetts Vital Records to 1849
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/VitalRecords
Groveland Congregational Church
http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Groveland


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