Recording place names

[HannahJ]

Hello all,

I've just switched genealogy software (from PhpGedView to RootsMagic, if anyone's interested  ), and consequently have been spending a fair bit of time tidying up sources and so forth.  The whole process has got me thinking about place names, and how they're recorded in the case where county boundaries have shifted. 

At the moment, I record places as they were at the time of the event in question, but this results in a lot of duplicates (e.g. I have 'Settle, West Riding, Yorkshire' pre-1974, and 'Settle, North Yorkshire' post-1974), and it's not obvious that they're actually the same place unless it's an area you know.  I'd be interested to hear how the rest of you go about it.   

Cheers,

Hannah

[Plummiegirl]

I have a similar predicament with Gloucestershire & Somerset.

If at the time of birth the place was in Somerset then I put that in and if it changed to Gloucestershire when the boundaries were moved about I just mention that in the notes. 

In my mind I feel that is the more accurate way of recording where a birth was.

[LoneyBones]

I simply use the county as written on the certificate. I work on the principal of KISS. (Keep It Simple, Silly)
And since most research sites will give either county where it's doubtful, as most will give alternate spellings of names, I haven't had many problems.
It's only when I don't know stuff, since I live in Australia, that I have problems. Like London/Greater London/ Middlesex etc matching up to particular dates. It's fiddly, but I get there in the end.
I learned long ago about Wales/Shropshire/Salop. I have a few ancestors from that area. It was confusing to say the least.
And thanks Plummie, your reference to Gloucestershire/Somerset has just solved another one for me.   
Leonie.