Chief Langley Genealogical Lecture getting beyond Myths, Folklore and Beliefs

Some researchers become concerned about incorrect information in census records, even to the point of not believing it’s their ancestor because one piece of information is incorrect. Even though the surname was misspelled it doesn’t mean it’s not my grandpa. Researchers need to remember that records are created by people and people make mistakes. Errors are going to creep into records. We need to properly analyze all of the information to determine if the information matches that of our ancestors.

We also need to remember that the census was not created for genealogists. They are a serendipitous genealogical result of the government’s program to account for the U.S. population. Census takers may have thought the records would never be seen again, resulting in less than accurate recording. Thus, strange or obviously incorrect information is riddled throughout the census records.

As you look for your ancestors, remember to examine each potential record with a shrewd but realistic eye. Understanding the limitations of records such as the census will help you become a better genealogist. It will also save you a lot of headaches!