FamilySearch Derivative Source - how can I ensure it is reliable data and cite the original?

Question

The FamilySearch record https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4MB-RVD identifies the source as "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900" and identifies the batch and film number. Looking at the film number, this "Contains minutes of town meetings; roads; school district records; intentions of marriage 1773-1804, 1847-1891; marriage records 1787-1802, 1847-1861; a copy of marriage records 1787-1891; family records listing births, deaths, and marriages; another copy of the family records; depositions of births."

This tells me nothing about the actual source. Does this mean I would need to dig into these town records?

Answer 1

You can cite that transcription of the record. The usual approach here is to use the text that appears under "Citing this Record" on the FamilySearch page. The right-hand side of the FamilySearch includes the text "bk 4 pg 151", which suggests where the record can be found in the town records.

Ideally, we would also go back to the original record to verify the source. I believe that some films are available for online viewing at FamilySearch, but I can't see that in the catalog record for this one. (There are other WikiTreers who might be able to find it, if it's there.) For now, however, cite the FamilySearch record you found.

Comments

Thanks. That was what I had found. I was hoping to find the original as it could lead to other clues about the family. They aren't found in https://archive.org/details/recordsofproprie00inbuxt or in https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_Records_of_the_Church_of_Christ_in_Buxton%2C_Me

His father was one of four different Ephraim and they all get confused, so I'm trying to disentangle this. Guess I can plan a trip to Maine -- at least I'll get to eat lobster as part of the research!

Answer 2

If you cite the record as familysearch ask us to it gives the information needed to actually view that record. The bad news is that for that particular record you need to go to a Family History Library and ask them for either a hard copy or to let you view the image referred to, "Buxton, York, Maine; FHL microfilm 10,594" but the actual source should be viewable from there.