RootsChat.Com
Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Topic started by: flossy on Tuesday 26 August 08 17:20 BST (UK)
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Is anyone having the same problems as me lately with the IGI. It seems to me that there is a lot more misinformation than there used to be.
I know we are putting our trust in other peoples accuracy when using these records (and we all make mistakes) but recently some of the entries seem very sloppy.
Do you think it is worth using anymore?
flossy
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I think you are probably referring more to the submitted records than the extracted ones
Transcriptions from the original records by the Mormon Church are 90+% accurate - allowing for the age of the document being transcribed as well as it's condition and the handwriting of whoever filled out the details in the first instance
Submitted entries are usually to be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt and if you find one which may refer to one of your own ancestors - check the info out yourself
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I agree. A lot of the submitted entries just copy what is already on the IGI, and if there is an error, it has been replicated rather than corrected. I guess some Mormons are less than enthused about tracing their ancestors. It comes back to the old adage of checking the original records. The IGI is still a good starting point though.
Darren
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I had some discussion on a thread recently about strange records with an "I" batch number. My OH, having now been in touch with Cheshire Archives, has been given the correct records and it seems IGI has the wrong place shown for the baptisms.
Oddly, a possible distant relative of my OH's in USA, already had the correct info from IGI and she is adamant that it used to be correct and used to have a "C" batch number.
Lizzie
Modified - It was the London office of the LDS who gave my OH the correct film number, so they must have the correct records themselves, so why alter them on the website?
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The IGI is a wonderful research facility but as with many other research facilities it isn't fool proof as I have discoved on numerous occasions. As has already been echoed here, one should ALWAYS check the original record and NOT rely exclusively on the IGI.
Jayson