The worst Ancestry transcription ever?

[trystan]

Generally speaking, it does make you wonder if the method used for transcribing some records (and I'm not saying this is how it's done in these cases) is by recording people reading text, and then using speech-to-text software to 'transcribe' it. Some examples sound as if it's the syllable sounds that are transcribed possibly? It may be a really effective method a lot of the time but come with the errors that we see at times? Just a thought, that's all.

[ymfoster]

That sounds very feasible Trystan. 

Also people unfamiliar with old style writing misinterpret letters, & then transcribers in foreign countries transcribing the census. 

Yvonne

[Bookbox]

The unchallenged champion Worst Ancestry Transcription Ever can be found in the collection All London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1925.

Search for Rock Doffethor.

I should like to propose another contender for this award, from the same database.

Search for Wilhout Any.

[horselydown86]

Certainly a solid contender, Bookbox.

I think Rock Doffethor shades it for creativity and I will always admire the way the transcriber simply discarded all the letters which didn't fit his theory.

However, Wilhout Any (and the whole Any family*) wins points for sheer bloody-minded refusal to consider meaning as a useful adjunct to transcription.

*  I see the Any family were prolific suppliers of Freemen to the City.

[stonechat]

Familysearch have some good ones too. My Great great grandfather Staffurth Clarke was transcribed as Huffenth o children's baptisms. Family search have I think a correct version now as well

[PrawnCocktail]

How about this one -

"The Tmdon Boock" in the new Deddington burials. Reality is The Widow Crockford!

[isk]

An interesting one on an emigration record from London to Sydney calling at a place Marsouffles,  reasonably clearly it should be Marseilles.  isk

[Geoff-E]

Some beauties here - Wales 1851 at Aberystruth, Monmouthshire.

W S Bullard, born Corenhouse - actually William Ballard b Crickhowell
Iza Bullard, actually John Ballard
Mary Anna J Smert, born Frooper, Somerset - actually Mary Ann Sweet b Frome

Without prior knowledge, I'd have trouble agreeing with much of what you say are the correct transcriptions.

[judb]

Hi Geoff-E
Yes, I do have other records which show that my transcription is correct.  The image shows appalling handwriting by the enumerator and is heavily scored  and blotted.  With the information I already had I could make out that the image does have the correct names etc - just very difficult to read and I can see how the mistakes have been made.

Took me a long time to find it though!
HO107/2447/415 p 18

A fascinating thread!
Judith