You know, it remains a constant mystery how I can transcribe stuff off of a roll of microfilm and then find someone/anyone coming up with not only some totally new material and/or even contradictory material rarely. Did someone "splice" the microfilm? Did the clerk make more than one copy? (no way). Did I really miss this much? I guess it has to be the last....but the CC County stuff is a real puzzler. There is just no way I could have missed that much stuff. I'm concluding that it's one of life's mysteries but will resolve to take about twice as long to scan any new microfilm I transcribe. <g> Maynard -----Original Message----- From: Barbara P. Neal [mailto:bp_neal@earthlink.net] Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:56 PM To: POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Additions to Charles City Co, VA Poythress listings Thanks, Maynard. From the appearance of Ayres' book of transcribed abstracts, with his Additions & Corrections (catching her typos, mainly) in the back of it, I sort of figure both of them must be longtime Virginia researchers. Bradley's Note at the beginning of his May 16, 1971 Additions & Corrections reads: "These additions and corrections are the result of a careful comparison by the author of the printed text and a microfilm of the original order book, which is quite legible. A review of the printed book by this author appears in the April, 1969 issue of "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" on page 214. Only instances of omission and incorrect reading of persons' names have been included. Minor errors in transcription such as Gilley for Gilly, Roland for Rowland and incorrect amounts of tobacco paid, etc. have been ignored, as the printed text should only be used as a guide to the original order book." ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== Poythress Genealogy Research Web www.poythress.net

<g> amen, Maynard, one of life's mysteries. Probably the difference is between you/any of us "scanning" for Poythress, versus the pro who is reading every word for abstracting all the entries. Thanks again so much for all your great work on tackling these things. Barbara

This is solely the opinion of an "older" genealogist. The only true way to get information correct is to go, in person, to the Court House and transcribe or copy, personally, the original record book. This requires a solid background on knowledge of the original Virginia immigrants' names and their spelling. However, I am not sure that in today's world, one would be given access to the original record books. Fortunately, in many cases, years ago, I had the opportunity to do just that regarding my Wynne family information. You all are doing a great job! Deloris Wynne-Riley -----Original Message----- From: John M. Poythress [mailto:brerfox@bellsouth.net] Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 9:39 AM To: POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: Additions to Charles City Co, VA Poythress listings You know, it remains a constant mystery how I can transcribe stuff off of a roll of microfilm and then find someone/anyone coming up with not only some totally new material and/or even contradictory material rarely. Did someone "splice" the microfilm? Did the clerk make more than one copy? (no way). Did I really miss this much? I guess it has to be the last....but the CC County stuff is a real puzzler. There is just no way I could have missed that much stuff. I'm concluding that it's one of life's mysteries but will resolve to take about twice as long to scan any new microfilm I transcribe. <g> Maynard -----Original Message----- From: Barbara P. Neal [mailto:bp_neal@earthlink.net] Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:56 PM To: POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Additions to Charles City Co, VA Poythress listings Thanks, Maynard. From the appearance of Ayres' book of transcribed abstracts, with his Additions & Corrections (catching her typos, mainly) in the back of it, I sort of figure both of them must be longtime Virginia researchers. Bradley's Note at the beginning of his May 16, 1971 Additions & Corrections reads: "These additions and corrections are the result of a careful comparison by the author of the printed text and a microfilm of the original order book, which is quite legible. A review of the printed book by this author appears in the April, 1969 issue of "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" on page 214. Only instances of omission and incorrect reading of persons' names have been included. Minor errors in transcription such as Gilley for Gilly, Roland for Rowland and incorrect amounts of tobacco paid, etc. have been ignored, as the printed text should only be used as a guide to the original order book." ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== Poythress Genealogy Research Web www.poythress.net ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== Poythress Genealogy Research Web www.poythress.net

Alas, I have found that many of the original record books in the court houses no longer exist, and haven't for a very long time. What one will often find in the courthouse is a transcription (or even a second transcription of the first transcription) of the original - for those very old records. In general I've found that the LDS films represent about the oldest versions of records (sometimes the LDS people were able to locate, and film, an older version, or transcription, than what one will find in the actual court house version. And just to add to the confusion on "versions," occasionally one will find - if you dig hard enough - that the LDS was not the only one who made film copies. The LVA, for example, has some films that did not come from LDS copying. In such cases it's always a challenge to try to figure out which is the oldest, or most near the original, version. I think it's this transcription of a transcription, etc., phenomenon that may be the source of some of the differences being discussed. For what it's worth to this discussion... Lou Poole -----Original Message----- From: Deloris Riley [mailto:delorisriley@satx.rr.com] Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 11:06 AM To: POYTHRESS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: Additions to Charles City Co, VA Poythress listings This is solely the opinion of an "older" genealogist. The only true way to get information correct is to go, in person, to the Court House and transcribe or copy, personally, the original record book. This requires a solid background on knowledge of the original Virginia immigrants' names and their spelling. However, I am not sure that in today's world, one would be given access to the original record books. Fortunately, in many cases, years ago, I had the opportunity to do just that regarding my Wynne family information. You all are doing a great job! Deloris Wynne-Riley