Make sure you check every entry on the pages of records you find.
HERE'S WHY.......
I was reviewing the PRATT section of our family today. I noticed that I didn’t have a death record image for a death that occurred in 1888 in Michigan. I had the index information, but not the image.
I know the images are available on Family Search in the Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897 database. I located the record right away.
Here is page 1 showing Mary Sumner nee Pratt who died 21 Apr 1888. Notice she uses “P” as her middle initial. It was and still is common for women to use their maiden name or the first initial of that name for a middle initial, once they marry.
From previous experience I know that there is usually a PAGE 2 for these records on Family Search. So, I went to the second page and there it was. Showing her cause of death and her parents, Josiah Pratt & Rachel aka Rebecca, whom I already knew of. No surprise there.
BUT WAIT! What is the record just below hers? It shows the exact same information for:
- Cause of death – consumption
- Birthplace – Canada
- Occupation – Housewife
- Parent’s names – Josiah & Rachel Pratt
- Residence – Dead
- Date of record – June 7th 1889
Is this some sort of clerical error? A duplication? Or what?
I went back to the first page to see what name was listed under my Mary Sumner.
The next name on the list is Sarah P. HUNT who died 28 Feb 1888 a married woman, age 57 yrs. 11 mos. 4 days, who died in Armada.
Here is that first page.
What did I do next?
I looked in my database at the children born to Josiah Pratt & Rebecca “Rachel” Jackson. Did they have a daughter named Sarah who married a man named Hunt? I have 3 children born to Josiah & Rebecca. A son, John and two daughters, Mary born 1822 and there she is Sarah born about 1832 in Canada.
Who did Sarah marry?
- - - She married Ashley HART
Here is what my Legacy database shows for Sarah Pratt.
In this case I do think a clerical error was made when they recorded her last name on that death record. Since every other item fits, I am concluding that I have found her death record. And, no wonder I wasn’t able to find it before. I would have been looking for HART not HUNT.
Isn’t this awesome? I was looking for one record and found two.
Our lesson for today – PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY OTHER PERSON ON ANY REGISTER WITH MULTIPLE NAMES.
I get pretty excited when things like this happen.
What surprises have you found in records? Let me know in a comment or with a link to your own blog post.
OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
SURPRISE! A birth record where is wasn't supposed to be
FAMILY SEARCH - Going back & getting those "other" pages
PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.
Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl
Copyright © 2015 Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION
