> Our courthouse burned theirs, after they 'transcribed' them to computers! I wish they wouldn't do that. Records need to be filmed, not just transcribed. Only transcribing them before destroying the originals allows too much chance for error. I often find myself wishing that I could see the original record, on the chance the transcription was in error. I've seen enough 400-year-old handwriting to know how easy it is to misinterpret some of the words or letters. If records are filmed, it means we still virtually have the primary document. If they're only transcribed, we've lost that advantage. Liz J

Handwriting back then makes our work that much more difficult because in order to find something you have to try variables on the spelling. Example one of my surnames is Crosnoe. I've seen it Crosno, Crossno, Crossnoe, Crossnow, Crossnour.... and in one instance Crophnow all because of the double SS http://www.usgennet.org/family/smoot/oldhand/ especially check out this link within the above http://www.usgennet.org/family/smoot/oldhand/long-s.html This is the Long "S" a.k.a. the Leading "S" ----- Original Message ----- From: "E Johnson" <iris.gates@gmail.com> To: <PA-OLD-CHESTER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 11:57 AM Subject: [PaOldC] Re: old records > > Our courthouse burned theirs, after they 'transcribed' them to computers! > > I wish they wouldn't do that. > > Records need to be filmed, not just transcribed. Only transcribing > them before destroying the originals allows too much chance for error. > > I often find myself wishing that I could see the original record, on > the chance the transcription was in error. I've seen enough > 400-year-old handwriting to know how easy it is to misinterpret some > of the words or letters. > > If records are filmed, it means we still virtually have the primary > document. If they're only transcribed, we've lost that advantage. > > Liz J > > > ==== PA-OLD-CHESTER Mailing List ==== > Unsubscribing..... To leave PA-old-chester-l, send mail to > PA-old-chester-l-request@rootsweb.com > with the single word unsubscribe in the message or subject slot." > > If you have ANY problems, do not send them to the list > contact me personally....list manager ferg@ntelos.net > > NO VIRUS WARNINGS...contact me personally ferg@ntelos.net if posted you will be unsubscribed > > please visit the Chester Co rootsweb site...it is full of area photos, helpful URLs and lots of county information > http://www.pa-roots.com/~chester/ > > ============================== > 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 >