RootsChat.Com
Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Topic started by: Nick29 on Monday 08 June 09 10:32 BST (UK)
-
A while ago, I downloaded a transcript of the 1911 census return of my grandfather's sister, to confirm the names of her children. Not only had FindMyPast got her name wrong - the page title was Ellen Phillips, and her name was Eliza, but they had also transcribed her son as being born when she was 13 years old. I thought maybe the son may have been from his father's previous marriage, at the time I wasn't too interested in spending any more time/money to find out.
Very recently I have made contact with the descendant of one of Eliza's children, so I decided to purchase the image of the 1911 census return, to see if it revealed anything about children who may have died. When I got the image, I found that her son was not 35, as shown on the transcript, but quite clearly 25. I was also able to see the number of children born & surviving.
In future, I am not going to bother to purchase transcriptions, because they are so innaccurate, that I have do end up spending another 30 credits to get the proper information, so I might as well get the images to start with, and save myself 10 credits on the deal. I'm really looking forward to the 1911 census going on Ancestry, because then maybe we'll get some decent transcriptions !
-
I made the mistake of purchasing the transcripts at first - shame as it was a bit of a waste of money.
The most interesting info for me in many cases was definitely the number of children born/survived, from that found out a few who had missed being on previous census altogether - so obviously ended up buying both transcript and then the original when I realised what it included!
My fault though - I was so keen to get going I didn't read the info properly and just charged ahead. ;D
Haven't noticed any transcription errors yet, I suppose there's bound to be quite a few lurking around.
-
Nick and Rachel, You're not the only ones saying this... I haven't bought any 1911 stuff yet but the general reaction to the transcripts has warned me off.
The age being shown wrongly is inexcusable- and would have sent you off on a useless search Nick.
charlotte
-
There are loads of mis-transcriptions. I only found the entry for my great-aunt by finding one of her other children, because her name was wrongly transcribed, and her son's age was 10 years out. I (and many others) have tried to make FindMyPast change the transcription errors, but they don't want to know. I think FindMyPast must have hired some pretty dim people to transcribe the entries, because the errors are basic and stupid. Ancestry have transcription errors too, but at least they take notice of what people tell them, and they add alternative transcriptions to the ones they originally provided in the 1841 to 1901 censuses.
I won't stop downloading the actual 1911 pages from FindMyPast, because there's no alternative source right now, but I won't be wasting any more credits on useless transcripts.
-
I'm really looking forward to the 1911 census going on Ancestry, because then maybe we'll get some decent transcriptions !
Good heavens - are FindMyPast really worse than A******y when it comes to transcription errors?
It will be better when 1911 is offered on subscription because then if you open a sheet as a result of a transcription error you won't be so angry about the cost- it's only cost you time.
All the best
Gobbo
P.S. I hope that you are all reporting these errors to FindMyPast so that they can be corrected before I get round to spending my money!
-
Hi Nick
You might have a long wait for the 1911 census on Ancestry, cos this is the reply I got earlier this year
Thank you for your email.
We don't currently have plans to purchase the 1911 census early. We are currently focusing on sourcing historical records that go further back in history and will soon be launching the London Metropolitan Archives collection, which includes pre-1837 parish registers
ricky
-
Just to remind everyone; if you can get to the National Archives at Kew then acess to 1911 census is free. There are 60 dedicated "1911" computers, you can book a 1 hour session, and only pay for any printing.
Nanny Jan
-
I think the contract between FindMyPast and the National Archives runs until 2011, so Ancestry won't be doing it until then. I'm not sure what the "normal" quality of FindMyPast census documents are like, because I've never had a subscription with them.
-
I previously posted a link to a FOI request (deleted for some reason) about FindMyPast / BrightSolids contract with the National Archives & 'exclusivity' - basically, the Nat Archives dont enter into such arrangements, and when BS complete and return the raw data, 1911 is up for grabs for other commercial parties....
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/contract_with_find_my_past_limit
as Ricky shows in his correspondence with Ancestry, they have other priorities at present - so only time will tell ....
-
I must be lucky then, no mistranscriptions amongst my lot and I never bothered with the 10 credit transcriptions from the start. I wanted the images so it seemed a duplicate to get transcript as well. ::)
Kerry
-
You must be lucky. Had I not known my grandfather's address from my mother's marriage certificate, I would not have found the family using the name search facility. Fortunately they have an address search too.
-
You're right, address searches are very useful. The only surprises I had were that my great grandfather was onboard a ship as a Boy Class in the Navy. Nobody knew! And the family of one of my other great grandfather's had 5 more children than I knew about all born and died between census records. Terribly useful thing that question about how many children the marriage had produced.
Kerry
-
I think the contract between FindMyPast and the National Archives runs until 2011, so Ancestry won't be doing it until then.
where was that from ?
-
In my opinion transcripts are not a waste of money but I do feel they should only be bought when you are uncertain you have the right family. If you are sure you have the right family then, if you can afford it, I would say you are always better off getting the actual record for the extra information it contains.
I know there are mistranscriptions on the 1911 but lets be honest there are on all censuses whoever transcribes them and most people seem to agree tha of all the major providers ancestry has by far the worse transcriptions.
I think how people react to FindMyPast determines whether they will take on transcription errors or not. Personally the transcription errors I have requested have been done and I have also been refunded the cost of abortive transcripts bought because of their mistakes.
I thing it is wrong to transcribe the people who transcribe the records as "stupid" and worse. The transcriptions were done as I understand it in the Phillipines. I wonder how people here would get on transcribing Phillipino records.
Finally I think a lot of the descent will subside once the 1911 is available on subscription.
-
I thing it is wrong to transcribe the people who transcribe the records as "stupid" and worse.
Good job nobody did then ! ::) I said that the people were dim to have made so many stupid errors.
The transcriptions were done as I understand it in the Phillipines. I wonder how people here would get on transcribing Phillipino records.
That is truly irrelevant ! They shouldn't employ people who are not up to the task. They're charging full whack for this service..... I want value for money !
Finally I think a lot of the descent will subside once the 1911 is available on subscription.
Well, maybe it will - but it won't make the people any easier to find.
I previously posted a link to a FOI request (deleted for some reason) about FindMyPast / BrightSolids contract with the National Archives & 'exclusivity' - basically, the Nat Archives dont enter into such arrangements, and when BS complete and return the raw data, 1911 is up for grabs for other commercial parties....
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/contract_with_find_my_past_limit
as Ricky shows in his correspondence with Ancestry, they have other priorities at present - so only time will tell ....
The reply was rather misleading - at first glance it appears that Brightsolid's images would be made available to all - or did they just mean that the actual documents will be available to anyone who wants to go through the whole photography, transcription and database process again ? If it's the latter, I'm not surprised that Ancestry don't want to touch it yet. Ancestry have probably realised that they can make more out of the digitisation of the LMA records anyway, because the 1911 census has limited appeal. I've just about run out of people to look up on it.
-
I agree that the 1911 has limited appeal, how many people didn't manage to spend all their ppvs?
Kerry
-
The reply was rather misleading - at first glance it appears that Brightsolid's images would be made available to all - or did they just mean that the actual documents will be available to anyone who wants to go through the whole photography, transcription and database process again ?
not misleading at all, seems perfectly clear.
However, all National Archives digitisation licenses are non-exclusive, and once the raw document images are deposited with The National Archives they will be available for re-sale to other genealogy publishers.
-
I think the contract between FindMyPast and the National Archives runs until 2011, so Ancestry won't be doing it until then.
where was that from ?
asking again, as it seems to contradict the FOI info .....
-
The reply was rather misleading - at first glance it appears that Brightsolid's images would be made available to all - or did they just mean that the actual documents will be available to anyone who wants to go through the whole photography, transcription and database process again ?
not misleading at all, seems perfectly clear.
However, all National Archives digitisation licenses are non-exclusive, and once the raw document images are deposited with The National Archives they will be available for re-sale to other genealogy publishers.
Yes, on re-reading I concede that point. Ancestry must have realised the limited appeal of the census.
-
I agree that the 1911 has limited appeal, how many people didn't manage to spend all their ppvs?
Kerry
I've still got 50 credits left..... fortunately they don't expire for another 9 months :)
-
OK, if you dont know where the 2011 termination date came from no worries ::)
-
Maybe if you'd asked the right person, you might have got the answer a bit quicker.
There are several "Nicks" on this forum - I'm Nick29, not Nick99 ::)
-
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
not many others in this thread tho.
-
And most of us were trying to stay on-topic.
-
I believe it was 'on topic'
as much so as your derisive comments about the transcribers.
Bored now, lets leave it there as you obviously have no facts to base your 2011 comment.
-
I thought we'd established that 4 posts ago when I said "Yes, on re-reading I concede that point."
-
The reply was rather misleading - at first glance it appears that Brightsolid's images would be made available to all
The point being conceded was that the FOI statement was perfectly clear.
I was trying to ascertain from whence you obtained the 2011 date.
I think the contract between FindMyPast and the National Archives runs until 2011, so Ancestry won't be doing it until then.
But it really doesnt matter now ......