opinion of sources: family search ancestral files and grave markers

Question

I was asked what people thought about using information on grave markers:  <br>

I added that all my information came from the family search web site ancestoral files. ... Glad you were able to find most of their graves etc. I use info off the grave markers as a source mostly because other web sites do not have the info I need. Not sure what others think of this?? What is your view on this??   <br>

my response:  <br>

Great question!  Here’s my take, but I think I’ll start a G2G discussion on it too.  <br>

The information on tombstones and the location of the graves are invaluable clues. However, I like to find documentation to support the grave marker.  For example, my gr-grandmother’s tombstone has her maiden name misspelled. And one of the pictures I took on this past trip was a grave marker for parents who died 1809 and 1830, respectively... in a cemetery established in 1846 in a plot purchased by the son in 1866.  And they had divorced in 1809 and neither died in the city where the cemetery is as far as I could find (1809 might not be right either – the  father’s estate was probated in a different county in 1817). Also, I was just starting on a profile for the second wife of a collateral ancestor whose tombstone I took a picture of – the Find a Grave writeup  notes that the marker says b 1870, but census records show she was 3 in 1870 (so, born in 1867 more likely – definitely before 1870 – although Census records are only as good as the information provided and the accuracy of the enumerator – not to mention the transcriber if you’re not looking at the original record).  And... the examples go on and on!  I think one of the best/worst is the marker that includes the incorrect mother for the person buried there.

Comments

It is possible to have people whose death dates pre-date the establishment of a cemetery. Two of the oldest cemeteries in Wichita have a few. For the oldest cemetery, some of the people buried on homesteads were moved to it after it opened. In the other cemetery, across the street from the oldest one, many people opted to dig up their kinfolk and have them reburied in the other cemetery.

On census records and age/birth year, they are a nightmare. I saw one person with a 20-year span on birth year. In one census, it was 1830, the next census 1850, and the third census 1840.

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Paul Smith, I agree with you that records on age/birth year are a real nightmare. The original census of different years are and sometimes the writing is not legible to a person that is transcribing them and that could be just as bad.  The transcribers do a great job with sometimes almost impossible handwriting. I would not want to transcribe. It seems to be one of the more difficult jobs.

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 Ancestral files are not a good source they are user submitted and without sources and so really just the older equivalent of the ancestry tree.

Family Search's own caveats

The Ancestral File has several key limitations.

• It contains no notes or sources.
• Submitters are responsible for the accuracy of the information. FamilySearch did not check the accuracy of any submission.
• Submitter information, previously available, is now hidden for privacy reasons.
• Ancestral File contains many errors and corrections are not accepted.
• Ancestral File also contains duplicates which were not identified and merged (often due to inconsistent or scanty data).
• Unlike the new FamilySearch Tree and Pedigree Resource File (PRF), Ancestral File is static.
• As previously mentioned, information in Ancestral File is second-hand. Verify the information before accepting it.

https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ancestral_File

Answer 1

Grave markers are a great resource - sometimes the first one you come across and sometimes the only time you'll find an exact date for birth and death.  But honestly, they aren't exactly the best sources.  I remember ordering my grandparents' headstone.  We needed their birth and death dates, with I provided from memory.  The woman taking the order didn't ask for evidence of the dates, but simply accepted what we told her.  

Imagine a 60 year old man providing this information for his 90 year old father in a time in which there were no vital records kept.  There's no way to know if he had the right information - did he consult a family bible or did he say, "well, he knew he was born in the spring and he thought he was about 90 years old... so let's say March of 1785!"  People did the best with what they had.

Like Liz said, grave markers are a great starting point, but I always try really hard to find other evidence to back up the information.   And also remember to cite that the information comes from the grave marker.

Answer 2

Hi Liz,

Errors can happen anywhere, anytime, and some things, like names or spelling of names can change over the course of a person's lifetime.  We all have seen gravestone, census, and birth or deaath certificate errors.  "To err is human; to really foul it up takes a computer!"

I consider a photograph of a any data evidence created at or near the time of an event (i.e. birth certificate, Bible rcord, marriage license, census data, gravemarker, etc.) as a primary source.  Everything else, I consider secondary resources. The source  or resource just tells  the reader where the data was found.  There will sometimes be conflicting photographed sources, and those should be noted.  

The important thing is to add whatever sources or resources you can find to as many WikiTree profiles as you are able. Links to on-line sources and resources are greatly appreciated!  I always prefer to be able to look as the source or resource myself, but I can't get to a good genealogy library very often.  Links are crucial to our WikiTree development.  

Answer 3

For those interested in sources and evidence, I highly recommend Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  If you don't want to read the multi pound book, she's got a great Facebook page by the same name with daily tips.