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    1. [ENG-KEN-WOODCHURCH] Pearce Corrections
    2. BOB CHOWN
    3. Dear Sheila Many thanks for checking those BTs against my Parish Records Transcript. Most could be found on the Website by putting in the Surname and leaving the years selection and Forename blank. Some of the spellings in the Parish Record are different (Samuel/Samuell) and I try to transcribe the first name or names to proper English where the Curate had a certain peculiarity (Elisabeth/Elizabeth). I never change the Surname (Ransly/Ransly) from that written by the Curate. The Ransley expert, David Hills, told me on Friday that he has found over 20 different spellings of that particular surname. I sometimes add something, usually additional hard information not another guess, and that is in square brackets []. If the Curate added something it is in round brackets (). I cannot replicate superscript or Greek and 'ye' is transcribed as 'the' on the advice of the leading Secretary Script Archivist at Canterbury. Two entries you highlighted need checking against the original at the Centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone; Walker Abigail Blatcher 1769 - really a girl's name? Thomas Walker 1771 - No John and Mary Walker christenings other than this one but 3 John and Mary Walter's. Edward Pearce is Perce by mistake and I will contact Gary Samson to change it. I take all possible care to ensure that the transcript is complete. Nothing infuriates me more when researching my ancestors than to find transcriptions for say 1850-1875 with gaps. Usually these are someone's list when looking for their ancestors. You will note that when you find a Baptism/Christening on our Website there is a page number and baptism number. Before 1754 for marriages and 1813 for Baptisms and Burials the pages were unnumbered unless the Curate took the fancy. In my former life, I was an accountant so I was trained to look for a control total if possible. I therefore number each page, whether or not it has one, and then number each entry. When the transcription is finished I check that my page totals and pages match the Register I have completed. This finds entries I have missed because I am lazy or asleep or both. I have good days and bad days. So far, I have transcribed over 20,000 Woodchurch CMB entries. I rarely referred to the Bishop's Transcripts when transcribing CMBs in the past but now I am transcribing pre-1754 marriages, Canterbury Archives, if they are not too busy, kindly let me use two Film Readers, one with the Parish Register and one with Bishop's Transcripts. This causes much amusement with others. Many thanks for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you again. Bob Chown

    09/16/2007 03:33:49