An aid regarding handwritten scans can be found via the Transcribers' Page at: http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/vindex.shtml scroll down to Volunteer Support & Resources and click on "How to read 19th Century Handwriting". If after reading this document individuals still can't decipher the hand written information then use the "Uncertain character format" which can be found on our Hints and Help For Beginners at: http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/beginhelp.shtml scroll down to "Uncertain character format". Allan Raymond ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Bate" <sueburt33@hotmail.com> To: <FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 19 November 2005 22:20 Subject: Re: Unidentified subject! I am quite bothered by a few queries on this list recently. And before anyone shouts at me that "this is not the place to air this concern" - this is the place I read the queries so this is the place I will put my concerns! Hand written scans are very different from the printed ones - and transcribers undertaking them should be given guidance. It would seem, from the queries posted, that transcribers are "thrown in at the deep end" with these hand written scans and just left to get on with it. I really don't think it should be a "free for all" when somebody can't read something. It becomes confusing when x amount of people suggest one thing and y amount of people suggest something else. Why aren't the transcribers asking their co-ordinators for guidance? Transcribing hand written scans is difficult and needs lots of explanations - both on hand writing and comparing with other entries on the page., not to mention deviations of districts. I am no expert, but have done enough of them to know that being "told the answer" isn't enough. I would be happy to help anybody with their problems - even though the answer may be "put *" Sue Bate ----- Original Message ----- From: g.armstrong-bridges@tiscali.co.uk To: FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 3:06 PM Subject: Unidentified subject! I have one line I cannot get in 1849M2-Q-0000.jpg. Line 20 between Quayle Henry and Queen Mary Ann, there is an unreadable line. I guess its Que_ , Heinry S moulton,X 351, Any suggestions? Keith R. Armstrong-Bridges. CITP. MBCS ___________________________________________________________ Tiscali Broadband from 14.99 with free setup! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/ ==== FreeBMD-Admins Mailing List ==== FreeBMD Transcribers homepage http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/vindex.shtml ============================== New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 ==== FreeBMD-Admins Mailing List ==== FreeBMD - http://FreeBMD.rootsweb.com ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx

Please can I ask you all to use sensible subject lines . I have had to recover all the mails relating to the "Unidentified Subject" thread from my spam checkers bin, as it marked them all as spam. OK that may be partly my fault for having an over-zealous spam checker, but usually it is reasonably accurate. Helpful subject lines are also brilliant at allowing readers to pick out the more relevant mails to their research from in my case the on average 100 genealogy mails a day. I do try and read all my mail, but at busy times, resort to reading subject lines only .....re Digest no. XXX or unidentified subject isn't at all helpful, so please people, just take a second to help us all out with clear subject lines Sheelagh