How to best list multiple sources in single database

Question

I'm looking for the best (most efficient, neatest etc.) way to list sources/references in a profile when it points essentially to the same information, in the same database but in multiple locations.

 

Example: When searching for birth records for Sarah A. DeHart, I found her birth listed twice in the records. See citations below:

*"Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTH4-H6Y : accessed 2 August 2015), John C. Dehart in entry for Sarah A. Dehart, 05 Jan 1879; citing Smiths River, Patrick, Virginia, reference p 217 L 37; FHL microfilm 2,056,985.

*"Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5DH-J7Q : accessed 2 August 2015), John C. De Hart in entry for Sarah A. De Hart, 05 Jan 1879; citing Patrick, Virginia, reference item 1 p 231; FHL microfilm 33,352.

As you can see...same basic information, however because the last name is "handled" in two different ways I want to document both in order to show the variation in how it might be found in official records if that makes sense.

Answer 1

Hi Sandra,

When you want to mention a difference between two records of the same event, you can include both records and footnote each one at the point where you state it.  For example:

When John was born, his last name was spelled Dehart<ref name="birth1" /> or De Hart.<ref name="birth2" />

Then, under the sources heading you would have:

<ref name="birth1"> ... citation for first birth record ...</ref>
<ref name="birth2"> ... citation for second birth record ...</ref>
<references />

After all that, though, I wouldn't do it this way in this situation.  That is a very slight difference and I have found many spelling discrepancies between different "official" records.  Census takers and record clerks were not rocket scientists, not a lot of people were literate many years ago, plus probably the biggest problem is transcription errors when the indices were created.  I wouldn't think something like this particular example is worth mentioning.  Just go with the one that your best judgment says is right and ignore the other one.

Answer 2

Ideally, you could find an image of the original record, so you wouldn't have to rely on the interpretations made by a transcriber. But if the image isn't available, the index entry is the next best thing.

Glad to see that both spellings of the name are on the profile!

Answer 3

If the person profiled was born long enough ago or in a location that it's understandable that we would find different spellings of their name, I'll provide both spellings without an explanation, but with a citation for each in the narrative section:

Sarah A. Dehart¹/De Hart² was born January 5, 1879...

If they have been born more recently, then it's worth more of an explanation - there was a family name change, etc. (In my family, the name switched from Partridge to Patridge in New York state about 1770, then was switched back around 1870 by a great-grandson who was a school teacher. So, thanks to WikiTree, I have discovered that I have Patridge cousins.)

Adding the alternate spelling to the data section is really important to help with searches. If I don't have solid evidence, but strongly suspect that an alternate spelling was used, I'll use the uncertain button.