I had been using Unknown for unknown surnames. I just didn't know what else to do. I am thinking of changing my unknowns to the surname in brackets; but actually, I am not sure that helps me much since I am doing a one name study. LOL But, since I am also doing the ancestors of those in the one name study, it might help for those oddball (not the one name study name) names to help differentiate them. By jove, I think I will change to the brackets! Thanks!
Infant deaths I record as Baby Surname with the label of male or female checked if known. AS to birth dates or death dates. I like to assume dates. So, if I have no death date---I figure 100 years after whatever I have as a birth date , & show it as "Bef year source : Assume died before 100 years old. If I have a marriage record with no age and no birth dates....I assume they were at least 14 to get married and calculate 14 years before the marriage date and show it as " born Bef year source: Assume at least 14 at time of marriage" . So this is generally the latest the girl could have been born. If I find a marriage record for a child and have gotten the parents names from that record (which doesn't have their birth dates). I will assume the mother was at least between the ages of 14 and 50 when she gave birth. So, if the mariage took place in 1850 and I am assuming the bride was at least 14--that would mean the bride was born "bef 1836". So, if the daughter was born bef 1836 and the mother also had to be at least 14 when she gave birth and 50 to still be giving birth--the mother's date would read born "btwn 1786 - 1822 source: assumed mother was between 14 and 50 when she gave birth to first child Sarah." The dates might end up a couple of years off (rarely) and I at least have some type of dates to work with as opposed to blank dates that could be in the 1600's, 1700's, 1800's etc. I find this helps me tremendously especially with my study (Some names were popular and I have a plethora of Pierres and Benjamins etc , all with the same last name). That's all probably as confusing as mud and I apologize for that. It makes sense to me and works well for me. :) Colleen 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/ For online technical support, please visit http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp
