Is my notation on an early church record acceptable?

Question

While researching Mary Ann/Ann Hassell I found what could be a record for her. It conflicts with her obituary and places her at only 15 when she married. I suspect it may be a possible baptism rather then a birth and have noted it. Also there is a Clara Hassell with the same records that suggests (through birth and death data) that she and Mary Ann could be sisters who married Rowland brother's. Ive noted my findings. Will this stack up?

Answer 1

Regarding the references - to help others find the references, I suggest you add a link to the repository. E.g., http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/index.aspx
to help others find the same results you cite.

Looking at the references you cite and the name you have in the profile, it appears you've already concluded that Samuel Rowland's wife, Annie Hassell (per the marriage and obit info), is Mary Ann Hassell, d of Thomas and Mary Ann Hassell (from the birth info.) From just the citations you have, it seems you've begged the question. I.e.,"Assuming Ann Hassell Rowland IS Mary Ann Hassell, how do I prove it?" I don't think you're quite there yet.

Something indicating a link to the name "Mary" would, in my opinion, change the probability of the birth info a lot. Do you, perhaps, have another reference that indicates Annie (Hassell) Rowland was also known as Mary, or Mary A., or Ann M Rowland?

 In your citation, you state "...since this is an early church record.." I think I saw something on the NSW site that said something about "early records" but I can't find it again. Can you provide something that indicates that? The birth info as a church record, as you explain, helps the search.

In response to your question, I'd suggest, for the present, you keep her name as Ann (Annie, Anne, your preference) Hassell Rowland. Then your citation makes more sense as "info for further research." E.g., looking for records linking Samuel Rowland and his wife, to his brother. An obit for his brother, or Clara Rowland that mentions surviving sister Ann? Deed transfers? Will or probate records?

EDIT: Looks sort of expensive, but rather than guess at what/where the index information comes from, you might might to order the records themselves. Otherwise, your citations are references to an index, not the actual record.

Comments

While I haven't ruled out Ann Hassell belonging to this family, ive now ruled out the record from her profile. I decided to look into the parents and found an important article here: 1876 'Sad and fatal Accident at Muswellbrook.', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 31 May, p. 3. , viewed 26 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107187400. This Mary Ann matches the name and data of the record. In 1876, Ann Hassell was already married to Samuel Rowland therefore this record can't be hers as it more like belongs to this Marry Ann Hassell who is still unmarried

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It seems Ann is apart of this family. One article in the accident didn't name the children between Thomas and Mary Ann Hassell but mentioned they had numerous children. I investigated Ann Hassell again and found these 2 sources.

HASSALL ANN

Registration number

2076/1843 V18432076 27A

Father's Given name(s)

THOMAS

Mother's Given name(s)

MARY A

District

Also this source from family search which appears to be transcribed from the record above.

"Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTHT-K8D : 11 February 2018), Ann Hassell, ; citing New South Wales, Australia; FHL microfilm 1,363,870.

 

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Although it also can be this record,

HASSEL ANNE

Registration number

2825/1842 V18422825 61

Father's Given name(s)

THOS

Mother's Given name(s)

MARY

District

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That information looks a lot more consistent, John. Good job.

I would urge you to keep the info regarding Mary Ann Hassell (who appears to be Ann's sister) in your collection, if not in Ann's profile. I.e., document your work in the form (something like) "Ann (Hassell) Rowland should not be confused with Mary Ann Hassell, for the following reasons ..."

Also, be aware of your citations. They are citations to indices, not records. They are someone's interpretation of something, and may be third-hand (or worse) by the time you record it. E.g., the person transcribing the info may have been filling out a form that had only a space for BIRTH where they recorded the date of the event, whether it was a birth or not. I don't know if you've made use of LDS Family History Centers, but examining the FHL films themselves is the best way to determine where the info came from. E.g., another family search entry for Ann Hassell labeled the same information (11 Nov 1842) as "christening," at Whitingham Parish, Singleton, NSW, and references: Item 6 Film 1363870. I'm not familiar with that particular NSW church's practices, but, though possible, it occurs to me that it's unlikely a child would be christened the same day(?) they were born. Maybe a day or two after? The referenced microfilm MAY be images of the actual church records.

Again, nice job with your hunting, John!

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Just cracked this profile wide open. The article I linked to above is her family. I found a brand new far more descriptive obituary (uploaded to the profile images)

The article above mentions the death of a Mary Ann Hassell by accidental death.
Her death index:
HASSALL MARY A
Registration number
9377/1876
Father's Given Name(s)
SAMUEL
Mother's Given Name(s)
PATIENCE
District
PATRICKS PLAIN

According to Ann's obituary her Grandfather was Samuel Swain which means Ann's mother's maiden name is swain.
Hassell-Swain Marriage.
Registration number
620/1841 V1841620 123
Groom's Family Name
HASSALL
Groom's Given Name(s)
THOMAS
Bride's Family Name(s)
SWAIN
Bride's Given Name(s)
MARY A
District
PN

And her long lived Grandmother? If Ann's mother is the Mary Ann that died in 1876, according to her mothers death record it has to be Patience.
SWAIN PATIENCE
Registration number
3035/1895
Father's Given Name(s)
JOSEPH
Mother's Given Name(s)
UNKNOWN
District
TAMWORTH.

Thanks to that obituary, I can go further on.

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Which also means the 1842 record belongs to her as the obituary mentions shes the eldest of her line and her parents married the year before in 1841.