very true and we may never know for sure especially when records conflict so documenting for the future is VERY important!! Charlie surtees9@localline.com wrote: > Very interesting. We were always taught that the record closest to the > actual event was the most accurate. Seemingly the parents should know best > when the child was born. So bible records would be the most accurate. And > the census year they first appear in SHOULD be accurate, except the census > info could have been given by a neighbor if the family wasn't home - or by > one of the children if the parents were out in the fields working. > > I have a problem with death records because usually the ones giving the > info for them - even for tombstones - had nothing to do with the actual > birth of the person they are reporting on. Guess that's why we have to > check so many records - and try to sort out the "real" info. > > Diane in Indiana > > >>then i would go with family history and a tombstone any day >>over a census but would note the possible error for future >>researchers! >> >>Charlie > > > > ==== 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 >