Hi Scott and All family researchers, The conversation on documentation is one dear to the heart of those of us who collect family data. Of course, documenatation requires extra work, but it is VERY HELPFUL when we share information. If I find information in VR of RI, East Greenwich, by J. N. Arnold, I say: "3-145 Aldrich, Thomas, and Susannah Spencer; m. by Joseph Nichols, Justice, Jan. 10, 1744." Source: Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, by James N. Arnold, Vol. 1., Kent County, Part II, East Greenwich (RI) Marriages, page 1. (Volume at the RI Historical Society Library, 121 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906) Now Mr. Arnold might have had a bad day, or miscopied this information, so ..... If we go to the East Greenwich, RI Town Hall and look (supposedly--- as I have not done this!) in the East Greenwich Town Vital Records, Vol. 1, page 145, we can probably say we have seen the original record (maybe get a photocopy), and the data agrees. If we have the original record, and so state, one could be more confident that the infromation is accurate. I think this is what Alison meant, when she said it was up to us to check the original records. I have often found that records given by the person whose pocketbook was involved at the time the event occurred, tended to be more accurate than someone who was recalling information told by someone else. i.e. a man writing his will, usually knew the names and relationships of the people to whom he wished to leave his estate; a man who was buying or selling a piece of property usually knew who the abutting property owners were, and the town he was in, or was from; a man who paid his taxes wanted to be sure that was recorded. A couple getting a marriage license probably knew their names and ages and hopefully listed their biological parents---(not step-parents who might have raised them.) On the other hand, because few of us write our own death records, it is hard to believe all the data supplied. Like Census records or Bible records, it depends who supplied the information. Genealogies are wonderful places to start, but like this typing, are subject to typo errors, and when info from a genealogy is passed on, the typo, or misinformation, is passed on also. Therefore, when we share info, lets give the source, because without a source the info has no bases in fact. If the info is in a data base, a library or archives, that is not a "source". That is the respository for the material. Thanks for all the information you all share. It's up to me to look in the original source if you have not included it. Sally