[T05] When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records

NYG&B Team

[T05] When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records

Use this thread to discuss When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records, presented by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL. 

Session Description

The Genealogical Proof Standard says to resolve conflicts in data... but like so many things that sound good, it’s easier said than done. What exactly are we supposed to do when we encounter conflicting evidence? What are the basic types of evidence conflicts and the methods—and tips and tricks—we can use to resolve them?

Thu, 09/08/2022 - 15:08
Margie G

American records posted in England

Judy,

I still have not received an answer to this that satisfies my question:

I have been researching families in New England in the 1600s and early 1700s. This situation I'm asking about has happened in more than one family, which makes me question the answer I keep getting.

Have you EVER heard about families who are now in America, sending their vital record information (baptism, marriage) to be posted in England?
Again, I ask because I've had MORE than one family, and MORE than one incident, where I have found, as a perfect example, a record of a marriage of a couple who married in America, also posted in particular areas in England.

If the names were different, or the dates were different, I'd agree to dismiss these. But they AREN'T!

Have you ever heard of this happening? Everyone says no, this didn't happen. However, on my other side, I have the birth certificate for my grandmother, born in England in 1901. Then the family went back to Poland and registered the last four children, including her, as born in Poland.

Thanks,

Margie

Fri, 09/09/2022 - 12:15
biwgatm1

American records posted in England

Margie, I don’t have an answer to your question, but it’s interesting. I have never seen this situation myself. Are there other records in America (perhaps land transactions or wills) showing that the family was in America before the marriage or baptism occurred? In the 1600s and 1700s I assume you’re dealing with church registers, not government vital registrations. Are you able to see the dates of the registrations of other events around yours in the registers? If so, can you tell which country had the registration recorded first? Were the events recorded on time in one country and after the fact in the other?

I’m wondering if these events might have taken place in England, then the family came to America, and they registered the events again in America, either because they thought they were supposed to, or they thought it might be advantageous in some way.

Or did your families belong to a church that was not well represented in America? Could there have been religious reasons that they wanted these events recorded in a register of “their” church, not the church they’d had to use in America, so sent word of the events back to England for duplicate recording?

Sat, 09/10/2022 - 00:54
NYtrees

yes for Switzerland

In Switzerland one was considered a citizen of your particular town or village by birth, even if you lived somewhere else. If folks moved and had a child, they would send back birth information to their birthplace. Then, if they became citizens somewhere else, they would write back for their information to be sent and transferred. I learned about this on the familysearch research wiki for switzerland. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Switzerland_Finding_Your_Ancestor_…. Have you used that tool for Poland?

Sat, 09/10/2022 - 14:59
AndreaM

yes for Netherlands

I've definitely seen that for Dutch records from New Netherland. If someone returned to live in England, bringing the family back (like the Eatons/Yales of New Haven), it would make sense to bring the records of baptisms for the church to record, but I can't say I've seen it myself. And for those who stayed in America, dunno. Great question.