Genealogy Chat

Rick, Don't feel too bad. I am also having problems with the handwriting. As a consequence I too am inserting quite a few x's! But, I think it is best not to assume and remember our work will be checked twice. I am transcribing Ashprington. On my first page it starts off with what maybe Ashprington Village. I have just transcribed Ashprington and inserted an X. All the households follow on with no mention of a Street or lane!! Good luck Kathy

Kathy, Many villages, even today, have cottage names, and then the village name as the address. It must be a nightmare for new postmen! Rosemary(Essex)

Well I made it through the first page ! Not telling how long it took me though - it looks more like a pools coupon with all the x's on it :-) Rick.

Well done Rick! I made it very slowly through the first family, thought I had better save what I had done so far, but, before I could click file that wretched feline office assistant appeared. I dragged it to the top of the page and with it all I had done. Everything disappeared into the wide blue yonder. I'm afraid I gave up at that point and made a cup of tea. At the moment its fine here so I feel I must do something to improve the state of the garden so I will not be transcribing unless it rains. Perhaps my second attempt will be more successful. Rosemary(Essex)

Hi All, I have just sent off my first 5 pages to Terry. Fingers crossed that there will not be too many errors on my part. Not sure if I am using the same Excel as the census blank that I downloaded. This may or maynot make a difference?? Time flies by when transcribing. Everyone is now tucked up in bed and it is just me, Thomas and Ashe burning the night oil. Goodnight Don't let the bed bugs bite Kathy

Karen, Many thanks. I had just found the manual and was about to look up what to do. I'll do some more transcribing tomorrow but it is fine again and I must do some more gardening. Rosemary(Essex)

Just did page 2 in about half the time with one eye on all the message boards too. Nice if you can actually read what you're supposed to be transcribing. Anyone ever heard of Wigham in Lancashire or Bolton in Surrey ? Wondered if the enumerator had had a few ? Rick.

Hi Karen, The Bolton in Surrey one was actually written out longhand below a Bolton in Lancashire entry. Don't know where Surrey came from as I'm doing Devon !!! Rick.

ive just started to browse through my disc,but i cant read a single word of the writing!!! wat do i do now..lol i can make out some of the names and areas but some of it is illegible please can one of you advice a very frustrated transcriber:( susie

Hi Karen, I think it's just a big conspiracy to make life harder for me !! Seriously though, the biggest problem is the quality of the fiche copy - you can tell where the original page is "bent" - so the edges are much fainter than the middle. The quality does improve later on. As Susie points out, depending on the enumerator the writing can be hard enough to read anyway but I think that's something you get used to. Add in a few Bolton, Surreys and weird occupations for a bit of additional fun and it can be very confusing. Perhaps I should try transcibing by gaslight :-) Rick.

Susie - stare at it for a long time !! You'll get there in the end. Watch out for the capital letters - they can be a nightmare. The J's look like L's, the S's look like J's, the T's look like F's and you can't tell the P's, D's, B's and R's apart at all ! My first enumerator likes to draw big swirly things at random intervals too - I kept thinking they were y's or g's. I drew the ones I could work out on a bit of paper for reference. The one that looked like Lames Redgate clearly had to be James and Jamuel Faylor....well you get the picture ! Then of course the enumerator changes and you have to get used to someone else's writing all over again. Rick.

hi rick that explains it a bit better now...lol ive got an ann fol?well thats wat it looks like to me anyway..lol i'll just study it a bit harder and see wat i can make it out to be for real. i do wish the enumerators had stayed off the liquer before doing their bit...lol susie

i need help too--------------------when will i get my disc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chris.

Yipee! My CD has just dropped through the letter box after about 3 weeks - so don't lose heart Rosemary. I'll probably be back later asking for help. Jeanette

Hi Rosemary, have you tried emailing about your disc? I'm sure it will be with you soon. I did post on the thread a few days ago (page 4) what I had from my co-ordinator. I'm certain they need as much help as any one can give......

Susie Have sent you mail Didn't mean to neglect you!!! Are you up and running now Ann

Hi Ann, hope youre well

Yes Jo I am, but kn------ed as getting new carpet and hey were supposed to come Friday and then asked at 9-30 this am if they could com this aft so had to rush around an empty the room. Never mind I will sit tonight and do some transcribing Don't get disheartened everyone I'm sure your discs will come!! Ann

Hi Rosemary, I'm not sure if all the discs come from the same source but mine came from archive CD books. I have sponsored a book on the site and have thought they are very good and they also have a good mail list. I hope it does come soon though.

Told you I'd be back! lol Eventually downloaded everthing. Put my CD in and nothing. Did I read somewhere that you had to have a code to see it? If so, where do I get that from as Carol is away? Lots more questions but these will do for now Jeanette