What's your name?

Have you tried to find your ancestors in the census but could not? Here is a picture from the 1850 census showing my gr gr gr gr Grandparents.

As you see, the census says John Hoofer, however his name was John Hoover.  Based upon whomever was giving the information to the census taker, it is very possible when they said Hoover, it sounded like Hoofer.  But you will find in the census many other mistakes, bigger than just changing an "F" for a "V".

How did this happen? In many cases a census taker was not always allowed to ask someone how to spell their names, so census taker (or the proper term enumerator) wrote the name how it sounded.  Also, many people were illiterate and unable to spell their own names.


Another problem encountered in the census is incorrect ages/birth years.  If a census taker was at the home of John Smith, and John Smith was not home, they could have asked anyone who was home, including children,  or the neighbor for information. Think about it now, would your neighbor know such detailed information about you?

Channeling Roger Daltry

Who are you? No, I am not referring to a song by the 1960's rock group The Who, but rather the subject of photographs.

One of the things I treasure most about doing genealogy is have a picture of the person I am researching. It is nice to put a name to the face, and also see which facial features carry on through your family line. However, the biggest problem I have run into are boxes and albums full of relatives, and having no clue who they are!

I inherited a box full of old photographs from my Great Aunt, and was unable to identify a good portion of picture subjects. I wish I had sat down with her before her passing and asked who everyone is.

That is why it is so important to go out and purchase an "acid free" pen (you can find them at craft stores and places that deal in scrap booking supplies) and identify all of your photos. Even pictures you have taken recently yourself. In the future someone looking at them, may not know who everyone is.

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