"Old" Counties

[tommy166]

Hi all

A few days ago, while I was going through a tree diagram with my Dad, he remarked that some of the events were recorded as taking place in Bournemouth, Hants when they occurred after we were annexed by Dorset in 1974.

I've tried to be consistent and use the old counties (though I've noticed some inconsistencies - no-one's perfect!!), so Lambeth is always in Surrey for example. I thought this would make it obvious that these were not 2 different places in different counties.

But it has got me wondering - how do all you people do it? Do you record places in the original county or the "current" county or reflect the situation when the event occurred?

Tom

Slightly unsure now :confused:

[Jan1954]

Hi Tom,

I'm usually true to the source for counties - rather like surname spellings.

I have people from Bartlow Hamlet (Essex) who are also recorded as being from Bartlow (Cambridgeshire, 2 miles up the road). However I know where they came from, which is the main point. If I'm looking for someone who could be from either county, I look in both counties. Same for posts to fora.

Surnames: I have Milsted as my main name so look under Milstead, Millstead, Milstedd, etc as well. But, if recording something from way back, where it is spelt differently, I spell it the way that I've found it. However, if I find 2 entries (for brothers, for instance, where they are living at different addresses) and one is spelt differently to the other, I enter it in my records as being MY spelling. Otherwise I think I would chew the carpet...

So, as you can see, I think it's what works for you that is the way to go, but bear in mind that other people researching the same people may reecord it differently.

Jan

[Geoffers]

But it has got me wondering - how do all you people do it? Do you record places in the original county or the "current" county or reflect the situation when the event occurred?

I record what is shown as that reflects the state of affairs at the time. I have a separate gazetteer file in which I note when parishes changed county, as has happened several tiems in the course of history.

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

I record what is shown as that reflects the state of affairs at the time. I have a separate gazetteer file in which I note when parishes changed county, as has happened several tiems in the course of history.

I do the same with my family history, but not with my present address. :D
According to the *powers that be* I am officially living in South Yorkshire, but the town I live in was *nicked* or stolen from the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Any family and friends who write to me in South Yorkshire, will be shot at dawn, but I will accept just Yorkshire of course. I had a package on Friday addressed to me in West Riding of Yorkshire ...... I've kept it for posterity! ;)

[Jan1954]

I record what is shown as that reflects the state of affairs at the time.


When I was at school, Bromley was in Kent and Croydon was in Surrey. Now they're both in "The London Borough of..."

Someone asked me at work the other day if Watford was in the London Borough of Hertfordshire. Tuh! They were subsequently issued with ALL the filing to do...

[Mutley]

I always record it, as it is, in the time frame that applies. As you say, previously looking for Lambeth in Surrey, but now looking for it in London.

However, as far as the people born in these places their thoughts seem to vary. My Berkshire people that are now in Oxfordshire regard themselves are Berkshire people and Kent as Kentish not Londoners.
But the Lambeth, Surrey lot are Londoners through and through.:confused:

[tommy166]

Thanks for the input everyone. I like Geoffers' idea of keeping a separate gazetteer file to track those changes - I'd not thought of that and it would save anyone thinking that two distinct places were being recorded.

Tom

[Geoffers]

keeping a separate gazetteer file to track those changes

I should have mentioned, this can be done in several ways -

Card index (I still use them)

Maintaining a spreadsheet and inserting notes

Family history programmes usually have a facility to enter information when adding sources - or - in the programme I use, I have created an event which I have given the title 'NB' and use to highlight anything which doesn't fit in elsewhere.

[Pam Downes]

I should have mentioned, this can be done in several ways -

Card index (I still use them)

Maintaining a spreadsheet and inserting notes

Family history programmes usually have a facility to enter information when adding sources - or - in the programme I use, I have created an event which I have given the title 'NB' and use to highlight anything which doesn't fit in elsewhere.
Brilliant idea Geoffers. Think I might nick that one myself. :D
Pam

[Geoffers]

Brilliant idea Geoffers. Think I might nick that one myself.

In family history programmes you should be able to include such custom events in trees that you print; I find it helpful to include this custom event for information such as 'illegitimate' or in the case of co-habiting couples, 'not married' as it highlights information not otherwise easily incorporated.