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Archiver > PALACKAW > 2000-10 > 0970968556
From:
Subject: Re: [PA-LAC] 1910 PA Census comment and question
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 21:29:16 -0400
References: <01c030aa$a5d5ce00$9b856fd8@default>
May I make yet another comment on the mistakes which confound us :
In the 1910 census for Pittston, Luzerne County, I found my greatgrandmother who operated a boarding house, listed as "husband James Chynoweth". Her name was Jane and she was a widow! Good thing I knew my greatgrandfather's name (and the fact that he died in 1902)or I would have thought his name was James instead of Joseph and could have gone off on a wild goose chase of several months (or years) duration.
Lois Morgan
"Jim Britz" <> wrote:
>
> HA! Let me tell you about misspellings!!
>
> In the 1910 census, my ancestor Leopold Klemencic is listed as "Leo
> Leopold". The census-taker, obviously having a bad day, apparently
> repeated the first name as the surname. Since Leo was the head of
> household, and all of his children were still at home, the entire Klemencic
> line was "mis-filed" for the entire decade. I found the listing because I
> knew the address from a city directory.
>
> Terri, your word of caution is well put. In my brief experience in
> genealogical digging, I've noted that the likelihood of a document
> containing a material error is extremely high. Simple name and address
> listings are typically off somewhere in the 10% to 20% range. A document
> with many bits of information, like a death certificate, is almost certain
> to contain an error somewhere.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Terri Pointon <>
> To: <>
> Date: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 6:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [PA-LAC] 1910 PA Census comment and question
>
>
> >One more note about the 1910 Miracoded census:
> >
> >I noticed that there are quite a few misspellings, so, as Alaine
> >said, try EVERY possible variation! My McGinnises are listed as
> >Maginnis, Hines as Heinze, etc.
> >
> >Also, some names have letters in the wrong places: I saw a Nicoteri
> >listed as Nociteri, Scranton as Scrantnon, etc.
> >
> >Also, this is probably obvious because many are women, but "Husband"
> >in the "Relation" and "Relatives" columns should have been "Head of
> >Household."
> >
> >Finally, my question: I noticed "Servant" listed in the "Relation"
> >column. Does this mean the person actually lived with the family or
> >that they worked for them and were just in the house when the census
> >was taken?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Terri
> >
> >-----------
> >>>Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 10:26:39 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >>>Miracode is the variaton of soundex used in some
> >states for the 1910 census. The interesting thing is
> >that ancestry does not appear to have soundexed the
> >database which they built, which seems to somewhat
> >defeat the purpose of it having been miracoded in the
> >first place. <g>
> >
> >For example, to find my Charles Pobgee's, who were
> >spelled incorrectly in the 1910 census as Pobgaa, you
> >have to look for Pobgaa. Hunting for Pobgee will only
> >bring up Charles' father & brother who were spelled
> >correctly. Also, if you try doing a global search that
> >includes soundexing, it won't access that database
> >(the 1910 miracode) at all. So don't request
> >soundexing & make sure you try every possible spelling
> >variation -- counting on the miracode WON'T work.
> >
> >Alaine, who could never be as creative in her spelling
> >as some of those census takers were <g>
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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