Genealogical Research

Even in the census records there are errors.In the early 1900's and 1800's there were more illiterate people,who could not spell their name or the census taker would spell it incorrectly and the citizen would not correct them.

Plus the fact, census takers sometimes spelled a name phonically, in many cases from how they 'thought' the name should be spelled and/or from their own personal education. Several (MANY) names I have come across in my direct lines are spelled so many different ways, along with some of the spellings being shortened drastically when a family member who couldn't read or write told someone their name, they couldn't pronounce it according to the accent or what they thought they heard, so they wrote it down extremely shortened from its original. For instance, one line in my family is Hooper. The name originates from Hooppaugh. Variants of the name are Hoppaugh and Hoppaw, most recently translated to Hooper. Another name is Bell....originating from Beal, Beall, Bealle and Beale. In one census it is mispelled R eal. Still another is Levrets. Variants in that name are Leverest, Leveret and Leverrette. Good Grief. Not to mention the Smiths and Smythes. LOL It's a blind treasure hunt. And then - there's the variants in dates of births. Oh My Goodness! LOLOLOLOL

I understand those errors and the people who won't respond. There is a book, which lists what is supposed to be our family ancestry, however, the entire entry is completely incorrect. Like you, one of my duties is to try to correct that information through verification and documentation, which will prove beyond a shadow of doubt, the supplied information in the book is totally wrong. Of course, it's due to some guesses and not having access to the information we have today. Those errors have caused a lot of (ancestral) misconceptions in the past, but have supplied me with a triumphant challenge.

Sounds like my family.It was easier to research my grandmother's family because alot of research had already been done.Most of my family that side were helpful in answering my questions.My grandfather's side the family was and is not so cooperative.Plus it didn't help that my grandfather did not talk much about his family.Wow,President Lincoln,cool.

I have met quite a few.I live in the area where my ancestors came from Ireland.Those one that came from the next generation ancestors that migrated to other states I email,snail mail and talk to them on the phone.We have genealogical libraries here where we look at the micro fiche at the census records and there is thousands of books there.