Genealogy Chat

Hi Please beware of the search results from IGI. I have just keyed in my gg grandfather Joshua Rooney and whilst only glancing at it there appeared to be something not right (too many children). Upon looking further it appears that someone has entered his son Joshua's children in as well. If I hadn't have known better it would appear that he had fathered 4 children after his death, even though his date of death was on the result!!!!!!!!!! I am confused at the best of times, knowing not to trust anything until it has been double checked but this is !!!!!!!!!! Regards Lin

Lyn, ....agree with the mistakes taken from peoples donations and as with all information, the 'must check and re-check'principle should apply, but it's still a marvellous free resource. Bob

8 does seem to be the right number of kids, there are 8 in the 1901 census. It's just that the birth dates are all guessed, and in this case the guessing is wilder than usual. IGI is a mixture. Some of it is transcribed records. Some of it doesn't claim to be records at all, just other people's genealogy. Most of this was done years ago when censuses weren't accessible and other resources were much harder to get at. As a general rule, if a date is day/month/year, it's probably come from a record of the event. If it's just a year, the submitter hasn't got the record, so it's just an estimate or a guess, or at best it's calculated from an age on a later record

I have found details of ancestors on IGI but have then used these details to get a friend to find original records of the events at LMA. Good Luck Irene

I have done more than my fair share of moaning over the years about the inaccuracies and fantasies on the IGI. But, to be fair to the LDS, it does state somewhere on the page for IGI that some of these results are 'submitted entries' and that you should check them to your own satisfaction. Very wise words, which I ignored on my first sortie in the IGI - found my poor long-suffering 4x GM with 44 children! Old Crone

Can I also add thet you need to check just which database that you are looking at. The following notes are from the site which may help if you are unsure :- 'Ancestral File is a collection of genealogical information taken from Pedigree Charts and Family Group Records submitted to the Family History Department since 1978. The information has not been verified against any official records. Since the information in Ancestral File is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the file to verify its accuracy' 'The Pedigree Resource File is a new lineage linked database of records available on compact disc containing family history records submitted by individuals through FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. Family information is organized in family groups and pedigrees and includes submitted notes and sources' These two files are to all intents and purposes trees which have been submitted by various researchers. There is no validation and the information is only as good as the researcher. The IGI records proper, fall into two main categories. Firstly 'Record submitted by a member of the LDS Church. The record often shows the name of the individual and his or her relationship to a descendant, shown as the heir, family representative, or relative.' These are best identifierd by the Source Info being a Film No. Only as good as the submitter, and not necessarily taken from prime records. Finally, 'Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the date' These can be recognised by the reference to a Batch No in the Source Info, in the format M019881, C0234978, etc. These are in fact extracts from the actual Parish registers or Bishops Transcripts and probably the most accurate source of information, but again beware, only as good as the transcriber. Peter

I would only take anything from the IGI that is extracted from source. Other information can be noted, but must be checked with original records (microfiche/film).

In some instances, notably Devon and Norfolk, but I believe other counties as well, the information has been transcribed twice. The LDS have never quite grasped Old Style dates, so you can have baptisms and marriages in entirely the wrong year and occasionally ascribed to the wrong parish. I've found the IGI invaluable for suggesting parishes to look at, but it is sensible to recognize that the initials should stand for Incomplete (and sometimes inaccurate) Genealogical Index.

Tracy Even the info which is extracted from source isn't always accurate. I have a recent incidence of finding my 3 x GGM and her parents and siblings - all their baptisms accurately recorded on the IGI - EXCEPT my 3 x GGM, who was the illegitimate daughter of the sister of the man she called Daddy right date and place, but clearly the wrong parents. I had a moan at the LDS centre about this and was told by a member of the staff there that some of their transcribers will not always record the embarrassing truth about parentage in case it offends their descendants! ALWAYS check the Primary Source document. Old Crone