Should locations be listed in the state they are currently located in, or where they were at the time?

Question

Example, a profile states the location of a 1789 birth is "Windsor, Kennebec, Maine, United States". Had it been 1769 it would not be correct to include "United States." But in 1789, Maine was not part of the United States and, in fact, Windsor was a part of Massachusetts until 1820 when the state of Maine was recognized and admitted as a state. How should the location be listed? Windsor, Massachusetts (Kennebex county wasn't established until 1790).

Comments

On Source says that the area that comprises present day Windsor was not settled until 1790 as New Waterford Plantation Lincoln County.   This does not prove that the person of interest was not born there.   Many Maine towns recorded birth dates for residents who were born elsewhere often without a remark about their actual birthplace. If I managed the profile I would mark the place of birth uncertain and make a research note with all the evidence.   

Answer 1

I always use the location as it was referred to at that time. I have several relatives that were born in xxxxx Massachusetts and died in the same town xxxxx Maine

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Location_Fields#Location_names_that_changed_over_time

Answer 2

We are supposed to try to use the name that existed at the time.

For the specific example in the question, this gets difficult. Not only is there an issue regarding "Maine," but Kennebec County hadn't been created yet (it was created in 1799 from areas previously in Cumberland and Lincoln Counties) and Windsor also reportedly didn't exist yet (incorporated in 1809 under the name Malta).

We've been urged (by people knowledgeable about Maine -- see this earlier G2G thread) to include the name "Maine" in the location data for Maine places before 1820. I think that makes a lot of sense. One reason is that  it avoids a lot of confusion, another reason is that it apparently is formally correct for at least some of that period.

If Windsor and Kennebec County had existed in 1789, I would use:

Windsor, Kennebec County, Maine District, Massachusetts, United States

But I don't know what to do under the actual circumstances... What information appears on the record you are using?

Answer 3

I know it is advisable to put in the place name at the time.   BUT IT IS SO HARD, the location dropdown help a bit.

But I do not know most of the time. Ancestors who came from what is now Poland, then either Germany or Prussia when did this all happen?  Do I stop and find out each time I enter a profile - should do I suppose but I would probably not add and leave it for later (probably never add).

Technology could help - I often wonder if we could have a DUAL system of entering the place as it is known Now and a database which would auto highlight based on date the actual name at the time.  So both are shown.

Not impossible - but would need a huge effort.