![]() ![]() The problem? The way searching worked at the time, the site didn’t think Lowd was a possible variation of Lowe (or Low, for that matter).Įven using wildcard characters was tricky with such a short surname, because requires that names contain at least three non-wildcard characters. I tried all the usual spelling variations, adding and subtracting search data. But when I first looked for him, his entry refused to be found. Lowe shows up in indexes of the 1850 census as “Lowd,” which would seem like a simple error to overcome. We’ll go over seven problems that can trip up even the most intense census search, and show you how to overcome them. Understanding these common enumeration mistakes and how they affect your searches in online census records can help you find even the most elusive ancestors. Our families might have neglected to pass down correct information about where Grandma lived in 1920, or a transcriber may have misread the enumerator’s handwriting. For example, Mary Todd Lincoln was listed as 28 years old in the 1850 census, but only 35 in 1860 as her husband began campaigning for president. Ages might be rounded off to the nearest decade, or fudged to be more flattering. Human weakness and imprecision are often to blame: Spelling wasn’t always our forebears’ strong suit. More likely, though, your ancestors are in the census, but hiding in an unexpected place or with a strange name.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |