Hi LIST; I have a concern regarding the Keith Matthews Name Files and am hoping a few of you can offer your input. Perhaps you have a copy for your Surname and can take a look at them for me. Bear with me: The project Dr. Matthews undertook was an extensive one. In the days before Cutting, Pasteing, and Databases. His research began on "the geographical region of West England, specifically Devon and Dorset, collecting information on individuals, families and businesses involved in the Newfoundland trade and later expanded his scope outside the West country to include people from London, Bristol, Ireland, Channnel Islands as well as residents of Newfoundland".....some 7,300 surnames. Here is my concern/issue: Using the abbreviations guide to decipher his notes is most often straightforward. My concern arises in those cases where there is no mention of NEWFOUNDLAND. I am finding for example birth and burial records extracted from English parish records. "So and So buried Topsham 1729" "So and So born. Townstall to Jon and Ann 1730" AS opposed to other citations such as: "So and so of Devon buried Twillingate1765" "So and so born 1788 St. J's to Rich & Mary of Dorset" This is where my question arises. Did Dr. Matthews interject English Parish record information into his Files on individuals which May or May Not have had a connection to Newfoundland ? I can see perhaps why he did this for his own personal interest but if you begin to examine the files are we looking at "data" that was selected because it fit the outcome the researcher desired? I don't know if what I am stating is the very Obvious or the very Subtle. What I would like is for anyone with a KMF to go and look at the earliest entries and determine whether the Entry is simply a Parish record from Abroad or states a relation to Newfoundland? I am not in anyway trying to diminish his work. I am trying to build upon it. As Matthews himself clearly found the need to expand his scope of Familes Abroad who were involved in the Newfoundland Trade....would it be fair to include the Parish records of Similar Surnames in Ireland or New England if the record did not state of NFLD. or from NFLD? It would clearly be interesting research...it may Imply a connection but would we too simply be trying to find data that "Fit" our Theories. Is that Valid research so long as it is Clearly stated that it is an "Assumption"? Am I adrift, lost or total wreck at this point? (No need to answer that but any Input on KMF is appreciated :) Joanne

Joanne Interesting subject. In my reserch I would have made a serious oversite, if I had not reviewed Dr. Keith Matthews file before proceding to the PRO records in England.While serching the Parish Records for Christchurch films for the third time, I discovered that a baptism record for a ancester was practically obliterated by a more recently added record, and that is why I misse3d it the 1st and 2ond time through, even tho I knew it must be there.The point is, Dr. Matthews must have used something other than Parish records to get his information, and I suspect it was the Bishop's Transcripts, which should reflect the Parish Records, otherwise he would not have that record to past daown to me. In answer to your question re the contents of his files, It was collected by his students, and contains information on Surnames involved in the Newfoundland Fishery, and only the generations of that family that was involved.Breifly this means parents and grandparents etc. of people that eventually settled in Newfoundland. Yet they themselves may not even have been to Newfoundland.But then again, may have been involved in the Seasonal fishery, but not in the colonization. This is my understanding after talking to Dr. Keith Matthews and his staff, on a visit to the History Department years back. Angus ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joanne" <connors1@bellsouth.net> To: <NFLD-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 8:46 AM Subject: [NF-ROOTS] Keith Matthews Name Files ? > Hi LIST; > I have a concern regarding the Keith Matthews Name Files and am hoping a few > of you can offer your input. > Perhaps you have a copy for your Surname and can take a look at them for me. > Bear with me: > > The project Dr. Matthews undertook was an extensive one. In the days before > Cutting, Pasteing, and Databases. > His research began on "the geographical region of West England, specifically > Devon and Dorset, collecting information on individuals, families and > businesses involved in the Newfoundland trade and later expanded his scope > outside the West country to include people from London, Bristol, Ireland, > Channnel Islands as well as residents of Newfoundland".....some 7,300 > surnames. > > Here is my concern/issue: > > Using the abbreviations guide to decipher his notes is most often > straightforward. My concern arises in those cases where there is no > mention of NEWFOUNDLAND. I am finding for example birth and burial records > extracted from English parish records. > "So and So buried Topsham 1729" > "So and So born. Townstall to Jon and Ann 1730" > > AS opposed to other citations such as: > > "So and so of Devon buried Twillingate1765" > "So and so born 1788 St. J's to Rich & Mary of Dorset" > > This is where my question arises. Did Dr. Matthews interject English Parish > record information into his Files on individuals which May or May Not have > had a connection to Newfoundland ? > > I can see perhaps why he did this for his own personal interest but if you > begin to examine the files are we looking at "data" that was selected > because it fit the outcome the researcher desired? I don't know if what I am > stating is the very Obvious or the very Subtle. > > What I would like is for anyone with a KMF to go and look at the earliest > entries and determine whether the Entry is simply a Parish record from > Abroad or states a relation to Newfoundland? > > I am not in anyway trying to diminish his work. I am trying to build upon > it. As Matthews himself clearly found the need to expand his scope of > Familes Abroad who were involved in the Newfoundland Trade....would it be > fair to include the Parish records of Similar Surnames in Ireland or New > England if the record did not state of NFLD. or from NFLD? > > It would clearly be interesting research...it may Imply a connection but > would we too simply be trying to find data that "Fit" our Theories. Is that > Valid research so long as it is Clearly stated that it is an "Assumption"? > Am I adrift, lost or total wreck at this point? (No need to answer that but > any Input on KMF is appreciated :) Joanne > > > > > > > ==== NFLD-ROOTS Mailing List ==== > Receive a message from a well meaning friend or acquaintance informing you to delete a certain file because it may contain a virus, check http://www.snopes2.com/ to make sure it isn't a hoax!!! > >

Hi Joanne In regards to the K.M. Name Files: I was told by a Nfld researcher this is how the info for each surname was organized: all the little seperate strips of paper for each surname were on a drawer loose. The first person who wanted to access the data was required to be onsite to put them in order in a type of laminating sheet. In that way, they gradually became usable for those of us far away, so we can pay for copies to mailed to us! I have the files for Pittman, and I think in some cases the entries with no mention of Nfld are Dr. Matthews speculation, or educated guesses concentrating in the usual southwest counties associated w/ NFLD. My conclusion is that in gathering data, they did collect some Parish data that might or might not have had anthing to do with Nfld. A sea captain or merchant in the Nfld-Eng trade would be followed back from his NFLD trade connections with Poole, Bristol or Teignmouth; then to the outlying communties nearby. Then they did some parish records for the area of these ports. This can be hit-or-miss. Some parish records may be from the Navy in and out of Nfld, these records often stated the specific town in England the enlisted was from, and it seems to me they follwed that trail to specific parish records. There may be many more in the parish with the same surname but not listed as they only took a sampling of what was available, I'm sure. Some will connect to Nfld lines, some not. Does it seem this way any of you who have used the Name Files? --Michele PITTMAN-Wingerter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joanne" <connors1@bellsouth.net> To: <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 10:46 AM Subject: [NFLD-LAB] Keith Matthews Name Files ? > Hi LIST; > I have a concern regarding the Keith Matthews Name Files and am hoping a few > of you can offer your input. > Perhaps you have a copy for your Surname and can take a look at them for me. > Bear with me: > > The project Dr. Matthews undertook was an extensive one. In the days before > Cutting, Pasteing, and Databases. > His research began on "the geographical region of West England, specifically > Devon and Dorset, collecting information on individuals, families and > businesses involved in the Newfoundland trade and later expanded his scope > outside the West country to include people from London, Bristol, Ireland, > Channnel Islands as well as residents of Newfoundland".....some 7,300 > surnames. > > Here is my concern/issue: > > Using the abbreviations guide to decipher his notes is most often > straightforward. My concern arises in those cases where there is no > mention of NEWFOUNDLAND. I am finding for example birth and burial records > extracted from English parish records. > "So and So buried Topsham 1729" > "So and So born. Townstall to Jon and Ann 1730" > > AS opposed to other citations such as: > > "So and so of Devon buried Twillingate1765" > "So and so born 1788 St. J's to Rich & Mary of Dorset" > > This is where my question arises. Did Dr. Matthews interject English Parish > record information into his Files on individuals which May or May Not have > had a connection to Newfoundland ? > > I can see perhaps why he did this for his own personal interest but if you > begin to examine the files are we looking at "data" that was selected > because it fit the outcome the researcher desired? I don't know if what I am > stating is the very Obvious or the very Subtle. > > What I would like is for anyone with a KMF to go and look at the earliest > entries and determine whether the Entry is simply a Parish record from > Abroad or states a relation to Newfoundland? > > I am not in anyway trying to diminish his work. I am trying to build upon > it. As Matthews himself clearly found the need to expand his scope of > Familes Abroad who were involved in the Newfoundland Trade....would it be > fair to include the Parish records of Similar Surnames in Ireland or New > England if the record did not state of NFLD. or from NFLD? > > It would clearly be interesting research...it may Imply a connection but > would we too simply be trying to find data that "Fit" our Theories. Is that > Valid research so long as it is Clearly stated that it is an "Assumption"? > Am I adrift, lost or total wreck at this point? (No need to answer that but > any Input on KMF is appreciated :) Joanne > > > > > > > ==== NFLD-LAB Mailing List ==== > Please do not submit, or respond to, virus alerts, chain letters, or other off-topic material sent to the list. >