Genealogy Chat

After finding that almost all my FAIRY/Fairey clan had become Farry/Farey/ Ferry on Ancestry I decided to have a crack at one VERY mysterious Fairy -in the 1881 census. Someone else found him, not me, as HENRY. There are several tricks to try - others may have more; 1. Search for occupation 2. Search for an unusual christian name within the family 3. Search by age in the right area as you think/know. 4.Use a wildcard 5. If you are requesting look ups advise the the kind soul doing the look up of the variations you are aware of. ANY OTHERS??? Cheers Marlene

I spent nearly 2 years trying to track down my Great great Grandmother Callow (Chilvers.) I did not realise I had actually found her on the 1881 census ages ago as she was transcribed as Caroline and her husband Edward as Edwin (Creek.) I then found their marriage and on the certificate she is also listed as Caroline. I suppose, as she could not write, she did not realise that the entry was incorrect. If it had not been for an 80 year old relative knowing the connection to the name Creek, I might never have found her. I was also looking for her daughter Harriet Chilvers and found her in London on the 1871census, born in Sporle, Norway (NORFOLK!!)

My examples (so far) from the 1901 census. Transcription error - my Grandfather and siblings all born in Looling - it should have been Tooting. Original census error (gave me some grief - thank God for wild card searches) - my paternal Grandmother and family all entered with surname GALLIS - it should have been GALLIE. It only takes a simple error to throw you out. But I've learnt the lesson and try all variations now.

I,ve got a Betsy Hobbs as Belor Hobbs on 1871. The worst one was a married name of H. Jaunt on a death cert, says she is a daughter. With help from here in the 1861 census I found out she was Hannah, it turn's out she was a Gaunt, took me almost a year to get that one sorted. Happy hunting Amanda, London

1871 census Matthews mistranscribed Marthers 1891 Smoothy mistranscribed Smithy 1901 (top site for mistranscriptions - lol!) Charity - Chanty Jeuel - Denel Lemuel - Leonard and my all-time favourite Smoothy became Lenorthey! This was v. difficult as I couldn't put in the first two letters and *. I had to find it on Christian names and be glad the relatives I was looking for had 3 each. Smoothy isn't written well, but the L bit comes from a big crossing out in front of it. Mind you I've often had to correct my typing when posting messages. It's easily done! Trouble is that sometimes you can work out different spellings (Gray/Grey or Chouns/Chowns) or see how T could be misread J, but sometimes its impossible which is where we all get stuck.

I have had lots of mistranscriptions 1901 and most have been corrected, but the best one had to be the original census entry instead of Lewis Hy Judd was down as Louise Hy Tudd male! on the original handwritten entry ! Sex change and name change. They can't change that as the error was on the original. I've had Dale as Cale and Dare too KIM

I found some people on the 1891 & 1901 census's on Ancestry who have been recorded as Glasgow and not Glasscock.

I have had Salmon/Sowman, Buckle/Buckledee Liz

There is a website for 1901 amendments http://www.census.pro.gov.uk/changes_index.html

Val I transcribe for Freecen aswell as YorkshireBMD, and in both instances we have to copy exactly what is written. Jeanette

I did know a man who's 2nd name was Mary, so it is possible. Also as a transcriber we have to transcribe what is actually written, I came across a mistake in the district code used, but had to put what was actually written!! Val

It is no surprise to find mistakes in transcriptions. The problem as I see it is that once the Transcription is done it seems as if it is carved in stone. What we really need is a site where we can submit our corrections and have SOMEONE take notice and amend them. It would be really nice to look at a book or CD knowing that it is as error free as possible. Perhaps that is too much to hope for in this culture of a quick-fix and instant response. Jim

The most notable mis-transcriptions ar probably the ones you haven't found, because they are so much at viriance from the original that you would never look there!

I was doing some transcribing for YorkshireBMD yesterday and came across someone with the forenames William Mary. Work that one out! lol Jeanette

I feel I must stick up for the transcriber's here. it can be sooo difficult to translate another's hand writing so unless you have tried it don't knock it. But it can send you on the wrong path it happened to me but now I can empathise with the people who transcribe. Ann

Ageshuey - presumably for Agnes Lucy - she was Lucy A on the previous census.

Remember that bmd transcriptions are taken from registers and not certificates! And if you look at the errors we make on the boards, be a little forgiving of possible transcription errors - we are not working from the actual register or census, only an image of it. You need to see some of the writing to believe it!

I have Marrien when it is definitely Maurice, also his childrens names are wrong I have looked and saved the actual copy of pg and it is definitely Maurice. They also missed off his occupation as they couldn't read it and clearly says smacksman (fisherman) I guess its easy when we know but if you are blindly looking at it it may be difficult to read. Emailed 1901 people and still haven't changed it. Took me ages to find this family because of this! There names are also mis-spelt on FreeBMD but not on certificate - Morris for Maurice and Mary Jane Crofs but is actually Cross!! It makes me cross!! keeps us on our toes though! zoë

Hi , I have Puncher as Punsher and Poore as Ppol. Karen : )

Albert/Ubert jogged my memory.... I had an Honor who became HOMER on the 1901!! Last name not Simpson though....LOL