Dodgy Ancestry transcriptions

[helvissa]

I was so pleased when I found out that the PCC wills were available as part of my Ancestry subscription, but the transcriptions are chaotic. They're so bizarre sometimes that I search on TNA's Discovery catalogue first before then trying to find the will on Ancestry.

This I found just now... It's supposed to be Grays Inn, and anyone who has learnt to read PCC wills should spot it straight away. But because Ancestry hired a troop of baboons to index the wills, Gray's Inn has become... well....



 

[mosiefish]

 

I am surprised they got Vaizey correct.

[helvissa]

Maybe it's not a mistranscription at all - one of their indexers/transcribers has gone postal and is secretly inserting rude words throughout their catalogue! 

[Erato]

"hired a troop of baboons"

That seems a bit harsh.  Considering the number of samples of difficult handwriting that are posted here on RC to be deciphered, it is unsurprising that the transcribers sometimes go astray.

[Alexander.]

Helvissa, did you look at the original? While you know what it says, it is far from obvious to someone unfamiliar with the area. Would you call the person who transcribed this a baboon to their face?

[andycand]

This I found just now... It's supposed to be Grays Inn, and anyone who has learnt to read PCC wills should spot it straight away. But because Ancestry hired a troop of baboons to index the wills, Gray's Inn has become... well....

There are a number of Rootschatters who transcribe for Ancestry, do you consider them baboons?

Andy

[Mike in Cumbria]

Yikes, how rude!

[mike175]

If someone can get it wrong with such a clear piece of handwriting, I bet they come up with some beauties on the difficult ones 

It just shows what a benefit it is to have the scans online.

[KGarrad]

If transcribing is so easy, why not have a try yourself?

Most organisations that are involved in transcriptions are always looking for help!