Reliability of sources?

[iconstab]

Who can you trust?

Pallott's marriage index seems to have four cards for the marriage of Thomas BEGIN and Jane NOVELL, all marked 1818, Christ Church Newgate.

The LMA image of the marriage entry in a parish record book is listed on Ancestry as a statement of Banns (which it isn't) at St Leonard's Foster Lane, City of London.



Ian

[iconstab]

Answering this myself.

It's Ancestry that's wrong.

Browsing Christ Church marriage records (the year 1818 is missing), I note that in 1819 the vicar was Samuel Crowther.

He was the vicar on the supposedly St Leonard's Foster Lane certificate in 1818.

Hah!

Ian

[Redroger]

Which makes the point get as close to the source document as possible. Even this will not completely eliminate errors as mistakes did and do happen, but it's the best that can be done.

[coombs]

Yes that is very important. Indexes are finding aids only.

[iconstab]

Thanks.  I take all these points, of course.  My real concern now is that Ancestry's lack of care reflects badly on LMA

Ian

[Koromo]

A Google search brings up various references to the fact that St Leonard's Foster Lane was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 and not rebuilt — the parish was merged with Christ Church Newgate.

The parish registers have probably been labelled/indexed/archived at different times under both (or either) names.

[iconstab]

Ah.  Thank you for this.  I may have spoken too soon, as usual. 

Ian

[Redroger]

Fortunately they survived, unlike those at Blandford Forum lost in the 1731 fire which really messes up my research.

[sugarfizzle]

I have come across the same problem with a marriage in 1818, given by ancestry as at St Leonard's, Foster Lane, and by others as Christchurch, Newgate Street, with Samuel Crowther as Rector.

However, if you look at 1831 records - 'Marriages solemnized in United Parishes of Christ Church and St Leonard Foster Lane, in the City of London' (indexed as St Leonard's) and 1832 records - 'Marriages solemnized in United Parishes of Christ Church and St Leonard Foster Lane, in the City of London' (indexed as Christ Church).

Ancestry does give source citation in all 3 years as Christchurch, Newgate Street, Bishop's Transcripts.

According to London Family History Centre - 'St. Leonard Foster Lane, an ancient peculiar under the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, was united ecclesiastically in 1670 with Christ Church Newgate to create Christ Church Newgate Street with St. Leonard Foster Lane Parish. Records of civil functions were kept separately.'  It lists records for St Leonard's up until 1836.

So, whilst I am not normally one to stick up for ancestry, I must admit they may have had problems trying to sort this one out!

Margaret