Incorrect Census transcriptions on Ancestry

[MarthaJane]

I totally agree with Willow regarding the search engine which can be very frustrating having to trawl through pages and pages of irrelevent entries.  It will be interesting to see what email she gets back about this.

However, going back to mis-transcriptions, I do feel that if an entry is unreadable it should just put just the initial letter rather than guessing and coming up with nonsensical names.  Yesterday, searching for one family on the 1871 I had Hassiette (Harriett), Minette (Michaell),  Asbury (Arthur), Carlnelens (Cornelius), and Rigmore (Eleanor).  Hmm, reminds me of Eleanor Rigby that one!

Having said that I don't regret having paid my subscription because I live a long way from any Records Offices and am new to research.

Also, I would like to say how wonderful people on Rootschat have been in finding information for me when I have hit a brick wall, plus the researchers in the Chat Room have been absolutely brilliant.  They really can find a needle in a haystack 

[ludovica]

A particular favourite of mine was
 Maria Silverstone.. where born, "Llanidloes, Somerset"

On looking at the actual document, it was quite clearly "Spanish Town, Jamaica"

 

[Gadget]

Now that is a particularly brilliant one 

Please give us the census ref so that we can go see how it got to be that 

Gadget

[PaulaToo]

I love that one. puts all mine in the shade

[Springbok]

I had a questionare from Ancestry today. Mostly it was ticking boxes regarding ease of use and where did you find Ancestry etc(I plugged Rootschat !) (TWICE) they also asked queries with comparisons to GR and findmypast.

At end there were 3 boxes asking for suggestions about improving the site.

Although I had 4, in the end all 3 were related to improving the Search facility.

I wonder what other Chatters would have put?

In no special order.

When searching the Census Description areas give a printed list of roads,rather than a facimile of the enumerators return.

When doing a general name search put page numbers(rather than "Next") so that rather than trawling through page by page, you could at least skip to the more indistinct records.
Due to age,incipient Senility and the Hour, the last answer has fled from my mind. But you get my drift.

Spring

[ludovica]

Ok well its the 1851 Wales in Carmarthen St Peter
 I think it is HO 107/2473.. it says Jamaica-Spanish Town 5th down from the top

[Ecneps]

I had a questionnaire too!  And plugged Rootschat!
Just hope they act on the suggestions for improvement 

Barbara

[millymcb]

I suggested they go back and check all the transcripts and fix all the wrong info.  I can't imagine they will do it but I imagine lots of people said the same thing.

I wish I had thought to put about listing the street names from the enumerator page though - that's a great idea Springbok 

Milly

[Stumped!]

In addition to telling them that I thought their interpretation of the census records left something to be desired, I suggested that they reviewed what they have recorded as the first and last names on each page of their full BMD records.
I also suggested that it might be a good idea if they made making corrections a lot easier.
Peter