Genealogy Chat

Help Please, all you kind folks out there. I can find a marriage for my relly George Pettitt in 1723 on IGI, why can't I find his birth on the site? Thanks in anticipation. Rosalie

I would say you are very lucky to find a marriage for such an early date on there! Previous to that, I think you will do best to search the parish register. Kate.

Only a small percentage of parish records are on the IGI and many of these contain errors. It is best if you can check the parish records yourself to confirm details Paula

where was he born there are 2 on familysearch one christened in march 1700 canterbury kent father George Hughs mother Pru Pettit the other march 1695 sunbury on thames father Edmund and mother Ruth

Hi Kate and Paula, Thanks for your help. Yes I can't believe my luck in finding the marriage. I ordered the film for my paternal side of the family and found my maternal relly. Although it said paternal side was on the film, it was short by 5 years and I was disappointed, but I was ectatic that I found George, when not looking for him!!!! Will try and get to records office later in year to research parish records there. Thanks once again. Rosalie

Rosalie I echo the other replies ... I have found that IGI transcriptions of early records often contain errors and sometimes complete fantasies.Does it give an actual Church and a FHS film number?If not, its likely to be rubbish. I have also found that these very early parish records contain more information than has been transcribed - it depends who did the extraction I suppose. One register I looked at was actually almost complete (and readable) from 1528 but had only been transcribed from the mid 1770s. Marjorie

You're talking about writing on paper which is 300 years old. You are hoping that the register has survived flood, fire, mice and insects (and other unspecified decay). You are hoping that the register has not been lost and that the ink has not faded. You are hoping that some kind person has transcribed what may remain of the register and has submitted it to LDS. A trip to your nearest records office (not necessarily the relevant one) to look at some registers of the period should convince you that the absence of a convenient birth on the IGI is not the result of a conspiracy to deprive you of access to your ancestry. (Or perhaps you were joking ... I guess you were ... weren't you?)

HI valerie, Thanks for your reply. He could well be the son of Edmund and Ruth born Sunbury as his son is Edmund (maybe after Grandad) If I could find who that George married i could confirm. My George married Elizabeth Frost d.o.b.. 1695. Thanks again Rosalie

Hi Geoff, Yep I was joking...... I know he was married in Norton, Suffolk. The LDS office ordered the BTS film, I suspect maybe the last 5 years may not have been legible or transcribed. (see my reply to Valerie) and therefore I could not find him. I am in the South West, can I go to the county record office here and research Suffolk parish records ? Thanks again. Rosalie.

Hi Marjorie, Sorry I didn't reply to you, was busy looking up a suggested George. Thanks for you reply, I have read what others have said about the IGI not being 'Gospel' facts , if you'll pardon the pun.! I have already been down one route with IGI and had to back track as I found it wasn't my relly after all. Thanks again Rosalie

No, I doubt it ...... in the event that you weren't joking, I suggested that you look at a 300 year old register - any 300 year old register - to see the problems involved!. There *are* some people who have never seen a register for themselves and think that everything should be on the IGI.

Thanks again Geoff. A trip to my home county is on the cards this year and hope I will be able to ferret out a couple more generations, always supposing I find George's birth and that he is the correct relly. Regards Rosalie