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June 27, 2004

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Cari Thomas

Hi Dick,

While I appreciate this very interesting history of the Barbour Collection, it occurred to me that there were no cautions expressed re: the accuracy of these records.

I have no Connecticut connections personally (so far), but the first thing that popped into my head - as early as the 2nd paragraph - was the word "transcription"!

As I understand from your article, the original town records were transcribed #1 and cut into small slips of paper - then the TRANSCRIPTION was transcribed yet again #2 onto full pages. And now "Genealogical Publishing Company has been publishing town-by-town transcriptions" #3 of the collection (ie of either transcription #1 or transcription #2)

Whether researching in version #1, #2, or #3, it seems to me a researcher should be reminded of the possibility of human error inherent in transcriptions and to always go back to the original, if at all possible.

Perhaps I'm not giving your readers the benefit of the doubt on this subject, but for so many, it seems: "if it's in print, it must be so." ???

As always, thanks for each week's informative newsletter.....

Cari Thomas

Helen Ullmann

Sorry if I posted a partial message by mistake.
As I was saying, I concur with the previous comment. White's transcriptions are taken from Barbour's transcriptions of Arnold's transcriptions of the original records.

When I published some of the Thompson, Conn., church marriages in the REGISTER in 2001, I compared them with Barbour and with the original Thompson records. Arnold/Barbour had quite a few errors, some significant.

Years ago I had occasion to compare a few original Kent records with Barbour and found errors.

There's an article in the June CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER comparing Barbour with another town's records. Haven't read the article yet, but it probably suggests the same caution.

Also, remember that there are a number of towns not in Barbour. Especially New Haven, rather a big missing chunk!

Helen S. Ullmann, CG, FASG

K Smith

Some caution and some imagination!

In reviewing the "Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records: Hartford Vital Records 1635 -1855", I discovered two Smith families with children with the same names and birth dates. Turned out that several entries for "Lymon & Hannah" Smith were actually for "Simon and Hannah" Smith, my ancestors. Simon is often spelled Symon, Simeon, and now apparently, Lymon.

But that little mystery aside, I could never accumulate all the wonderful bits of information in Barbour. It is a wonderful resource.

Jay Lillie

I know that the letter "m" stands for married. I dont know the letters s. means IE "Benjamen Holt, s. [Ezra & Ester], b. Nov 30, 1809"I think I know what b. means, Born but I don't know what s. means?
I don't know what d. means IE"Charlott Augusta, d. [Ezra & Ester], b. July15, 1813" Can you get clarification on the meanings of letters?

Thank you,

Deborah Southworth Sweet

In answer to Jay Lillie - "s." means "son of," in other words, using the example you gave "Benjamen Holt, son of Ezra and Ester Holt. [Benjamen was] b. Nov. 30 1809.
"d." means "Daughter"

As to the Barbour Collection not being completely reliable, due to human error. Since when has *any* secondary genealogical source been accepted as reliable? What has *always* been the Number One Rule of Genealogy? - Check the facts for yourself at the Primary Source!
The value of the Barbour Collection lies in the SOURCE it gives for each entry - the Town, Liber/Volume, and Page from which each entry was taken.
I have used the Collection as a stepping stone to send for certified copies of birth, marriage and death entries for many, many early New England ancestors, and have never been disappointed! Have I had to do some deciphering and creative thinking to figure out mispellings, multiple spellings, multiple entries, or why someone actually born in another town was listed in a different place? Sure, but nothing that determination and good research skills can't handle.
It's all part of the detective game we are all so addicted to, and part of the enjoyment of it all comes when that magic "Aha!" moment occurs, and the pieces of the puzzle finally fall into place.
Regards,
Deborah Southworth Sweet

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