How accurate are the LDS Ancestrial files?

[Sandyq]

On the LDS Ancestral file George Bower born 1827 Belper is shown as marrying Elisa Hansard from Boston about 1858.

Using www.1837online.com I have found Elisa Hansard's marriage reference at Boston  Sept qtr  1854 7a 526.

However when I look at the same quarter for George Bower to make sure the index's tie up he isn't there.

Is it more likely the indexes are wrong or could it be the Ancetral file on LDS is incorrect.

Opinions or advise would be most welcome.
Thanks
Sandra

[casalguidi]

Hi Sandra

The ancestral files are just information submitted by other researchers ie. me, you or anybody.  Therefore, you can't take any of the information as correct - it all needs checking out.  It could be that the person has researched the family very thoroughly but, alternatively, it could be a lot of guesswork.

The entry you are looking at gives no marriage for George and Eliza so the researcher hasn't seen it and is only assuming that it is around 1858.

Go back to your own information, check everything out and if you can get back to one of the children of George & Eliza with certainty then get a birth certificte to verify that and then look for their marriage.

Of course, it is always possible that either BOWER or HANSARD have been misindexed in the GRO indexes (1837 online).

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[spendlove]

Hi Sandra,

Eliza Hansard  marriage to George Bower
is on free BMD as September Q 1854 Boston 7a 526, however his name has been spelt
BOWERS.

I agree that it is not safe to assume the info on IGI is correct, however this looks
as it may be the original entry which  has an S added to it.

I have George & Family back in Derbyshire by 1871, if you have not got this info
please send me personal message.
Spendlove

[Sandyq]

Spendlove,

Thanks very much for that.
I think the problem was when I looked on freebmd I was putting in Elisa not Eliza
which is why I didn't find there and resorted to 1837online.
Can see what you mean now though.
I have got the 1871 Census info thanks - will now send off for marriage certificate

Thanks again
Sandra