Using the modern address can create a real problem for researchers when trying to locate documents. My ancestors settled in what is now Hopewell Twp., Mercer, New Jersey. They arrive in that area in about 1680 and the area was called West Jersey. In 1710 it became part of Burlington, in 1714 it became part of Hunterdon County, in 1839 was assigned to Mercer County, in 1844 was re-assigned to Hunterdon, and from 1845 until this day was part of Mercer County.
When searching for your ancestor's records you need to search the jurisdiction where the records were created. If I had only look for records in Mercer County, I would have lost 159 years of possible records. So, I always list the place name and jurisdiction of where event occurred at the time. Carol Elk Grove, CA -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Montgomery Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 11:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] location name changes I agree with Jonathan's approach. Why make life more difficult? I use parenthesis to reflect the original such as "Lawrenceville (was Maidenhead), Mercer County, New Jersey". If the county is different I do the same there - "Monmouth County (now Mercer County )" or the like. If necessary additional data (such as dates, etc.) can go into events or notes. I have found that the great majority of the people who peruse my info are not into genealogy as such but just generally interested in the family. Using the contemporary location as the primary is something they can relate to - will tell you very quickly that you have the wrong community in the wrong county, etc. You must then explain to the elderly great aunt what it is all about and this she will (sometimes intentionally), not understand - many just find it confusing and simply loose interest. I prefer to be practical about these things, not technically correct. The technically correct will still have the info and can change to whatever they feel is proper - "makes no nevermind to me". TomM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Coddgenealogy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 8:32 AM Subject: RE: [LegacyUG] location name changes > I decided to use modern names in the Birth, Death, Event, etc. Place > fields, but then I use Legacy as a database to organize knowledge, > documentation, and sources, not as a software equivalent of historical > reenactment. Filling such key data fields with stuff that no longer > exists makes research harder, as records mostly reside in the modern > versions of place. Everyone knows that counties and territories > subdivided; defunct geographies, orthographies, entities, are assumed. > If antequated names are relevant, I put them in any of the many fields > that hold explanatory notes. One often needs to know the history of > place to interpret a record, but I'd rather optimize the data to > interact with modern-day life (on line databases, GIS) than > recapitulating the past. > Jonathan > > > > Enter the drawing for a FREE Legacy Cruise to Alaska or a FREE > research trip to Salt Lake's Family History Library. Open to users of > Legacy 6 Deluxe. Enter online at > http://legacyfamilytree.com/FreeTrip.asp > > Legacy User Group guidelines can be found at: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp > > To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/ > > To unsubscribe please visit: > http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp > Enter the drawing for a FREE Legacy Cruise to Alaska or a FREE research trip to Salt Lake's Family History Library. Open to users of Legacy 6 Deluxe. Enter online at http://legacyfamilytree.com/FreeTrip.asp Legacy User Group guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/ To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp Enter the drawing for a FREE Legacy Cruise to Alaska or a FREE research trip to Salt Lake's Family History Library. Open to users of Legacy 6 Deluxe. Enter online at http://legacyfamilytree.com/FreeTrip.asp Legacy User Group guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To find past messages, please go to our searchable archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup%40mail.millenniacorp.com/ To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp
