Thank you for the reminder about those commercial "histories". People certainly submitted only the information they wanted to see in print - there were no black sheep and no family skeletons in hidden closets mentioned. The document with the highest probability of error is, I think, the death certificate, particularly for an older person. Often the person providing the information is someone younger and chances are they are guessing at some of the deceased person's data, i.e., date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and sometimes even spouse's name. And as you say, there can also be mistakes in census inputs. My great grandmother's five children were recorded in the 1880 census. Three of them said their mother was born in New York, the other two said she was born in Pennsylvania. Again, thank you for your note. Jim Hindman -----Original Message----- From: Eileen Irwin <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Friday, May 11, 2001 11:37 PM Subject: Re: [PAARMSTR-L] Lookup Request - Jane NOBLE >Jim, > >Please be aware that many publications like Beers History were not >actually fully researched histories. Many asked for and received the >biographical sketches from the families of the area and these sketches >were not documented for factual accuracy and were only anecdotal >accounts. > >In this instance it is probable that some ancestor came from Ireland, >the question is "which generation". > >Almost every source, including census, social security, death, burial >records, contains a possibility and probability for error. It depends >on who was giving the information and when they were giving it. Even >the information given by the particular individual about him/herself can >be subject to error. > >Good Luck in your search. > >Eileen Irwin >Mesa, AZ > >James Hindman wrote: >> >> Thank you, John. She said both parents, William NOBLE and Jane MOORE/MOON >> were born in Penna, but it's questionable. In a biographic sketch in the >> Beers History on John Noble of Worthington, he said his great grandmother >> was a native of Ireland. So if there was a mixup on where she came from, it >> could be the same about William NOBLE. Maybe, someday, we'll be able to >> find out where he was born. >> >> Jim Hindman > > >NetZero Platinum >No Banner Ads and Unlimited Access >Sign Up Today - Only $9.95 per month! >http://www.netzero.net > > >==== PAARMSTR Mailing List ==== > > >