Comments on: Using a Death Record to Learn about Their Lives

By: Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:06:43 +0000

Marilyn, I think this is the contest that you are referring to: http://ancstry.me/zuIRmy

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:09:58 +0000

I tried to post my daily entry into the “Enter to Win Sweepstakes” usually on the Who Do You Think You Are? page of Ancestry.com, but cannot find it because of the new 1940 census demo. I know I can enter daily until May 18, but can’t do that if I can’t find where to post it.

By: Burgess

Burgess — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:01:27 +0000

To Anita Msg 1
Who told you you could view the 1940 census on March 10?

By law, it is not yet available to the public.
http://www.1930census.com/1940_census_countdown.php
And, it will not be indexed at the release date.

By: Burgess

Burgess — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:57:10 +0000

To Judy Msg 8 and 9
Not just you – many are having the problem. There is an apparent server problem. See the thread on the message board: http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.ancestry.ancsite/11879.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.2.4.1.2.3.1.1.1/mb.ashx

An ancestry.com staff member has posted, asking for specific details to be reported.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:36:39 +0000

MsWinston, Thank You for this information!! All these comments are Appreciated!!!! I did not know that happened in VA.

I know that my grandpa’s father’s side had Cherokee but noticed everyone seemed to have to lay claim of being “white”. My gg.grandma…to my mom had some darker skin. They all show “white” however. I call myself “an American Mutt”. I knew I was many races…however even more then I origially thought thru research, although I have taken no test…but would sure love one!!!!realizing….I am many races.
It irritates me to no end when documents question me what race I am!! That has always bothered me and since I haven’t figured what all I am……I am stumped as to what I should enter. Many expect me to make an entry by the color of my skin, and even get irritated I did not check “white”. I grew up with a melting pot of brothers and sisters…literally..and feel blessed that I did!!,so I take offense to questions like “what race are you?”.
Now I only wish I could find a geneologist to help me with couple of tough questions. LOL
Thanks

By: Rita Guzzo

Rita Guzzo — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:33:26 +0000

I, too, agree with many people on the inaccuracies in the Census and in Death Records. In my case, my grandfather’s third wife gave the information for his death certificate, which gave the wrong name for his father. Also, the enumerator of the census contributed to my grandfather’s worst spelling of his surname possible, Cimarman for Zimmerman. I was informed by a very king person many years ago that Cimarman is the Czech spelling for Zimmerman. The only way I did find him on the 1920 Census is that I knew where he lived at the time and I read every page for the county.

By: Margaret Adams

Margaret Adams — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:48:36 +0000

I find the dubious remarks made on a majority of WDYTYR episodes do a disservice to honest research. After combing though many census years, mostly through Ancestry.com, I have found serious mistakes in spelling across all races & nationalities. Any competent researcher or academic historian would know that the info given on the census depends on several factors: the census taker’s spelling acumen; the informant/person giving the info to the census taker; legibility of filmed and or original records. The same can apply to death certificates. The information is only as good as the informant who may not be aware of all the facts concerning the deceased. Additionally MANY people of all races signed legal paperwork with an “X” as education was not always as readily available or open to them.I’m really surprised that ancestry hasn’t discussed the glaring list of factual inaccuracies that seem rampant in this series with the producers given the company’s prime business is providing good historical info to its customers & not opinions on historic events.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:39:12 +0000

I would also like to point out that in the Bettis episode they dramatized the fact that his relative signed his name with an X, unable to sign his name. If you watched the show the slave owner also signed his will with an X which was not pointed out. It is not unusual for individuals in the south both white and black to be unable to read or write.

By: BEE

BEE — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:48:12 +0000

I agree that death certificates can yield good and useful information, but also errors – my uncle gave an unheard-of name for his grandmother on his mother’s death certificate, an aunt gave a wrong birth date on her father’s death certificate, but known facts.
I also agree about names on census. I’ve found some very “American” surnames spelled wrong on every census from 1850 to 1900. Ethnic surnames are sometimes impossible to find, especially when the family was using adopted “American” first names on one census, then back to their ethnic name, then nicknames.
As far as names signed with an “x”, that was common among not only with my ancestors who didn’t arrive until after 1900, but many whites up until that time.

By: MsWinston

MsWinston — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:26:20 +0000

In Virginia there was a public official in the mid-20th century who set out to eliminate (on paper) the identity of Native Americans in that state. His method was to classify them all as “coloured,” which has to this day caused many Native Americans in my state no end of trouble to obtain proof of race. The Virginia Historical Society documented this man’s “reign of terror” in an issue a few years ago.