I like to get at least 3 census - say 1850, 1860, 1870 - and then compare the age for an approximate date and so state it in my records - if I have nothing else. One census year people were advised before it began to write down all the people in the household and their proper age in case they were out in the field or gone from home on the day the census taker arrived. This was because of so many errors in names, dates of birth, and place of birth. Often one of the older children would be at home taking care of the younger children and would get things wrong.......or a new second wife might not get the ages of all the children from a previous marriage correct. Also - I love how people would change their names. For example the father might be Peter and the son Peter Isaac.....when the child was young the family called him Isaac, then when he was grown he might have used his official name of Peter or Peter I...it also seems women were very willing to change their names when they got married, to use a middle name or just pick a name they liked better than the one they were given at birth.....that makes marriage records interesting because it is usually the first time the young woman could give her name as SHE wanted to be called and not what her parents called her. And again, you have to know that Polly or Molly might have been a Mary, or that Maggie could have been Margaret, etc. Then you throw in some of those horrible names used at one point - think they were Greek Goddesses or something...... Mary

But isn't it fun??? And exciting when you figure all these people out...better than crossword puzzles. Having been born in Nashville I am acquainted with that "southern twang". When I see a name that looks funny I just sit and prounounce it over and over until it comes out right...for 10 years I had a middle name of Minchey on a cousin of Dads' (and there are Minchey family in Tenn) as that is what he heard when actual name was McHenry. I make it a practice to copy in my notes the exact spelling as recorded in the census, and then add my notes of knowledge below that. And while we are on documentation - About 30 years ago my aunt who was born/reared/died in the area was tickled "pink" when she saw how I was collecting family histories. In my before computer notes I wrote the date and her name and what she told me. Over the years with census records all I had recorded of her past memories I found to be factual. My sources matched. Re Cal's (Gregory of Macon Co.) Column...I have found his records to be factual as far as my Green family. That article in the early 50's was the beginning of my diggin' in the census. How thankful I have always been for his keeping tract of families so we would be able to use it today. And to Charlie....again I thank you for the service you and others are giving us...I have so enjoyed meeting other wonderful people who are willing to share and work together as we build our families of the past. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks. Melba Melba -------Original Message------- From: Mary Miller Date: 10/25/05 07:31:32 To: TNSMITH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [TNSMITH] Census vrs records!!! I like to get at least 3 census - say 1850, 1860, 1870 - and then compare the age for an approximate date and so state it in my records - if I have nothing else. One census year people were advised before it began to write down all the people in the household and their proper age in case they were out in the field or gone from home on the day the census taker arrived. This was because of so many errors in names, dates of birth, and place of birth. Often one of the older children would be at home taking care of the younger children and would get things wrong.......or a new second wife might not get the ages of all the children from a previous marriage correct. Also - I love how people would change their names. For example the father might be Peter and the son Peter Isaac.....when the child was young the family called him Isaac, then when he was grown he might have used his official name of Peter or Peter I...it also seems women were very willing to change their names when they got married, to use a middle name or just pick a name they liked better than the one they were given at birth.....that makes marriage records interesting because it is usually the first time the young woman could give her name as SHE wanted to be called and not what her parents called her. And again, you have to know that Polly or Molly might have been a Mary, or that Maggie could have been Margaret, etc. Then you throw in some of those horrible names used at one point - think they were Greek Goddesses or something...... Mary ==== TNSMITH Mailing List ==== Visit Photos Of Cemeteries Of Smith County Over 500 + Cemeteries online with pictures and Descriptions http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/tngen/cempics.htm