What I don't understand is why the transcribers so often choose the more unlikely reading of unclear handwriting.  For example, in the 1900 census one ancestor's first name could have been read as either Bosa or Rosa from the handwriting. The transcriber wrote "Bosa." In 1910, the same ancestor's first name could have been either Rora or Rosa from the handwriting. The transcriber picked "Rora." Only in 1920 was the name written clearly enough so the transcriber correctly wrote "Rosa." Some people do have weird names, but really!   Judy ________________________________ From: Marleen Van Horne <msvnhrn@jps.net> To: njhunter@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 2:21 PM Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] Family Search The reason the enumerators did not ask how the names were spelled is that many people could not read, write or spell. I was told when I first started my research that was the reason enumerators did not ask, which may be an urban myth. When transcribing original documents, you do not write what YOU think it should be, you do your best to transcribe what is actually on the paper.   You ability to do this depends on the clarity and the quality of the material you are transcribing. I am a CONGLETON descendant.  I have found this surname in the census with the following spellings: 1810.....Kunkleton 1820.....Concleton 1830.....Conkitton 1840.....Conklinton 1850.....Kankleton, Cankleton 1870.....Concklington Even for my own surname, I have to search Vanhorn, Vanhorne, Van Horn and Van Horne. Transcribers are not editors, their job is to transfer letter for letter what is on the original document. Marleen Van Horne Visit the Hunterdon County GenWeb page at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njhunter ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NJHUNTER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Comes under the category---What Were They Thinking? *Marfy Goodspeed **marfyg@gmail.com** Goodspeed Histories http://goodspeedhistories.com/ * On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 12:32 AM, Judy Winston <peasncarats@yahoo.com> wrote: > What I don't understand is why the transcribers so often choose the more > unlikely reading of unclear handwriting. > > For example, in the 1900 census one ancestor's first name could have been > read as either Bosa or Rosa from the handwriting. The transcriber wrote > "Bosa." > > In 1910, the same ancestor's first name could have been either Rora or > Rosa from the handwriting. The transcriber picked "Rora." > > Only in 1920 was the name written clearly enough so the transcriber > correctly wrote "Rosa." > > Some people do have weird names, but really! > > Judy > > > ________________________________ > From: Marleen Van Horne <msvnhrn@jps.net> > To: njhunter@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 2:21 PM > Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] Family Search > > The reason the enumerators did not ask how the names were spelled is > that many people could not read, write or spell. > > I was told when I first started my research that was the reason > enumerators did not ask, which may be an urban myth. > > When transcribing original documents, you do not write what YOU think it > should be, you do your best to transcribe what is actually on the paper. > You ability to do this depends on the clarity and the quality of the > material you are transcribing. > > I am a CONGLETON descendant. I have found this surname in the census > with the following spellings: > > 1810.....Kunkleton > 1820.....Concleton > 1830.....Conkitton > 1840.....Conklinton > 1850.....Kankleton, Cankleton > 1870.....Concklington > > Even for my own surname, I have to search Vanhorn, Vanhorne, Van Horn > and Van Horne. > > Transcribers are not editors, their job is to transfer letter for letter > what is on the original document. > > Marleen Van Horne > Visit the Hunterdon County GenWeb page at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njhunter > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NJHUNTER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Visit the Hunterdon County GenWeb page at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njhunter > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NJHUNTER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >