If you could shout at someone from the past....

[philipsearching]

I know there have been threads along the lines of: which ancestor would you like to meet?  and
which historical period would you like to visit or live in?, but this is a little different.

My question is: if you could go back in time, who would you went to shout at, and why?

To start the ball rolling - I would go back and shout at every studio photographer who took photographs of soldiers and didn't include the headgear.  They make identifying regiments or corps a nightmare!

(note to moderators - if this thread should be in "Totally off-topic" please accept my apologies and move it).

[clairec666]

I found a potential ancestor whose baptism is recorded in 1761 - his father is named but not his mother. All the other baptisms in the parish at the time name both parents, but for my potential ancestor they've written "John and... " and left a gap.

I wonder if somebody was going to check the name of the mother and fill it in later....

So if I could shout at someone in the past, or rather have a quiet word in their ear, I'd say "remember that gap you were going to fill in later...."

[andrewalston]

Yes, those clergymen (and registrars) who wrote down only the absolute minimum in the registers.

Baptism is supposed to be a major event in a person's life, and you can't be bothered writing more than six words about them? Shame on you!

[coombs]

I'd shout at all the priests who, in various but many parishes, did not put mothers name down on baptisms prior to 1813.

I'd shout at whoever left a huge splodge of ink on the entry that is very likely my ancestor's much needed marriage. I can read the grooms surname and bride's first name but nothing more, and it is the right date and parish for my ancestor's wedding.

[Guy Etchells]

I would not shout at anyone, I would try to politely explain why people in the future might need more details than they supplied etc.
Cheers
Guy

[Maiden Stone]

I seldom shout.
I would grumble at the priest who forgot to write up the baptism of Agnes, my 4xGGM in 1765. The Catholic chapel was at the Hall. Lady Jane, the lady of the manor gave birth to a daughter on the same day. Her information takes up half a page in the baptism register. Did it use up all the ink supply? Did the quill break? Did the priest toast the happy event too indulgently, fall asleep and forget all about my ancestor?    In contrast I would like to thank the Anglican curate for recording the birth of my Agnes in his baptism register, as he did for her siblings, her future husband and all other Catholics in the parish, for decades. 

[philipsearching]

I would not shout at anyone, I would try to politely explain why people in the future might need more details than they supplied etc.
Cheers
Guy

Guy - you are the voice of reason.  I, on the other hand, am a grumpy old git! 

[clairec666]

Agree about not shouting at anyone. Perhaps a tap on the shoulder and a polite word in their ear? I would like to meet a few Smith families in my tree and suggest to them that they give their children some middle names.

[coombs]

Maybe not shout, but politely ask them. I think parish registers were not made really to aid in genealogical research, but probably for inheritance disputes, or keeping a list of names. for instance an elderly lady in 1800 wanted to prove to authorities or whoever that her husband died in 1766 in a Norwich parish, and she says the name, and the records are sought and the burial record is found. James Smith buried 27th August.