A terrible mistake [closed]

Question

It appears that I have made a terrible mistake.  The person identified in Reagan-809 may not be a Reagan at all.  This maiden name directly conflicts with what is listed on the Death Certificate of Mary Elizabeth (Allen) Bowers.  I am very tempted to ask that Reagan-809 be deleted from the database until we can figure out who Mary Elizabeth's mother was.  There are several instances in the Census where she is enumerated under differing first names, yet the family members are consistent with the known members of the family history.  I am open to suggestions.

Comments

Death certificates are good for why, when and where a person died.  They are not so good for the information concerning birth, parents, etc.  

Death certificates have information taken from a survivor seemingly without question.  It's very common for death certificates to be inaccurate.  That being said, I would be very careful in dealing with such a common name like Allen, there's liable to be several instances of families named Alllen with like-named children.

For instance, this death certificate says her parents where born in Bermingham, Alabama (misspelled) in the 1820s.  Birmingham did not exist until after the civil war (although there were a few homesteads in what would become Birmingham)

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Very good point Vincent, this also goes to say that the information provided by the informant on the death certificate was less than reliable.  Thank You Vincent!

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These parents' names mistakes are also common on marriage records.  Likely from a groom applying for the license and when asked the names of his bride's parents he gets rather creative and no proof is asked about the information.

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That is what makes this so much fun Vincent :-)

Answer 1

My first piece of advice, Rory, is not to worry too much about making a "terrible mistake" - because it isn't!

Currently, you do not have sources close to Matilda's birth to determine her correct last name at birth/LNAB. Until you find birth-related sources, you should leave her current LNAB as is and add the name from her daughter's death certificate to the Other Last Name field(s).

At WikiTree, we like to avoid unnecessary LNAB changes because each change creates a redirect; over time, the accumulated redirects increase costs and cause server strain (we want to avoid those as much as possible!). If you change a LNAB now, only to find it is also incorrect, then you will need to change it again (again, increased costs, server strain, general inefficiency).

So, until you can PROVE the LNAB (preferably with birth-related sources), you should not make change it.

Comments

Excellent points Lindy.  No, we don't have a birth certificate and there is probably not one.  In 1830 kids were just born and raised.  I am currently collaborating with two other Genealogists who are researching the family.  Hopefully between the three of us and all of my friends here on WikiTree we will figure it out conclusively. (with a source) :-)

Rory

Answer 2

Names like William Allen are very common.  The William Allen who married Matilda Reagan in Arkansas was presumably a different one, not yours, so the simple answer is to make another profile for him.  Then recouple Matilda and leave Mary Elizabeth without a mother until things get clarified.

Comments

Her death certificate says her mom is Caroline Norwood.  Since Rory is the profile manager, the easiest solution is to just change the last name at birth to Norwood so we don't end up with extra unconnected profiles.

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Thank you for chiming in on this Joe!  If and when I make a change to the profile for the last name at birth I want to do it only once.  No more stinking mistakes :-)  I think I will leave it as is for right now.  I am collaborating with two other Genealogists on this family and I may get a professional Genealogist on it.  But I will come up with a definitive answer with a concrete source before I change anything.  Thanks for the help today Joe!

Rory