Re: Genealogical evidence and data model

Wes Groleau wrote:
> Ian Goddard wrote:
>> singhals wrote:
>>> But, I'd venture to suggest that out of any 100 genealogists at least 
>>> 51% _still_ want a program to record their conclusions so they can 
>>> print it out.  
>>
>> If that wish were properly implemented things wouldn't be so bad.  But 
>> when I get back to the mid C18th the only conclusion for quite a 
>> number of lines is "A or B" or even "A or B or C".
>>
>> S/W which assumes that pedigrees can always be resolved unambiguously 
>> won't handle this situation.  I can't believe that the situation is 
>> uncommon so how do users of such S/W cope?  Do they simply stop
entering 
> 
> If you consider that Cheryl is using the popular definition
> of "genealogist," you'd realize that most of them pick the
> one they like best and assume it is fact.  (And one-third
> of those publish it on Ancestry or GenCircles or WorldConnect
> or LDS Ancestral file or umpteen other such sites.)
> 

That was the third option on my list.  Most of 'em do it.  It still 
doesn't mean I have to like it!

And the fact that the S/W which enables them to publish without 
sup****ting data is one of the things which makes me dislike it.

If, for instance, you search IGI for the marriage of William Goddard in 
1753 in York****re you get 3 entries.  This turns up three entries, two 
of which include the bride's name, Catherine Castle.  The "real" extract 
(despite misspelling William's surname) has the correct location, 
***berworth.  The actual registry entry for ***berworth is crystal clear 
in the fiche and leaves no doubt that both parties were from Kirkburton 
parish where the banns were read.  So why does one member submission 
give the location as Wath on Dearne and the other Elland?  We're used to 
dismissing such member submissions out of hand but one has to assume 
that they had some basis for naming Elland and Wath.  It's quite 
possible that the members have some other evidence which places one or 
both of these names in one or both of those towns at some time.  As I'd 
like to be able to eliminate from my enquiries one of the two William 
Goddards from Kirkburton I'd like to be able to evaluate this evidence.

The evidence is more useful than the conclusion.

-- 
Ian

Hotmail is for spammers.  Real mail address is igoddard
at nildram co uk