Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

How accurate is 1837. online? Advice please

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Aileen

Aileen Report 5 Nov 2003 09:14

I first looked at FreeBMD and found what could be a relative (Alfred Thomas BOOM: Vol 1C Page 545) then thought I'd check it on 1837online as I had credits. The entry on that site is Alfred Thomas BOON: Vol 1C Page 545. Will I have to physically check it at the FRC before reporting the 'error' to FreeBMD?? Who's right??? Thanx Aileen

Unknown

Unknown Report 5 Nov 2003 09:58

1837 is right as it is the original, freebmd has been transcribed, so is open to errors.

Dorothy

Dorothy Report 5 Nov 2003 10:01

1837 has inaccuracies too. I've found several, where I already knew the facts. The only way to be sure is to get certificates from them, or consult the church records for the district. I believe the 1837 records contain human error, and I don't assume anything until I have several sources.

Margaret

Margaret Report 5 Nov 2003 11:39

1837 has to be more correct than FreeBMD, 1837 is the scanned images of the original indexes. The only way they can be wrong surely is if they were indexed wrongly in the first place. In which case wherever you look, FRC, library or CRO they will be the same. I agree that some are missing, but that is not the same as being inaccurate. FreeBMD is a transcription so is open to human error. Margaret

BobClayton

BobClayton Report 5 Nov 2003 12:40

The position as I understand it is that the 1837 online indexes are the national ones which were taken from the local Indexes, they are not actually the originals which are held locally, so they are really "second generation". To quote Yorkshire BMD "We work from the original records. Once every three months the records held at the local offices were transcribed and sent down to the GRO where they were then re-indexed. At each stage of this transcribing, copying and re-indexeing, errors could occur. Hence the local records are always going to be more accurate and more complete". So always go for local ofices/ web sites etc. I think free BMD are using the local indexes as well so they could be right and 1837 "wrong". Hope this helps Bob Clayton

Researching:
Clayton