FreeBMD problem

[Frank W]

I'm checking a Census entry for correct spelling of a surname, so look up the family births in FreeBMD. One individual's birth is not listed, but it turns out that it has been mistranscribed from the GRO index, and appears as LONEROAN instead of LONERGAN.

OK, I'll send in a correction. I check both of the two GRO index scans and the uppercase G is normal and legible in appearance. i.e. a simple misread by the FreeBMD transcriber.

The FreeBMD correction page contains all the entry details, and all that is needed is to type-in the correct surname spelling, and the information source which justifies the correction. In this case it is the two GRO index scans which show the correct spelling.

So the details are submitted, and rejected, and I amend the Source details and still the correction is rejected, four times so far.
The only info that can be quoted as Source is the "scan of GRO index" with or without the image identification codes, so how am I supposed to word it?

Any clues?

The offending entry is the FreeBMD Birth Index for Ernest Leopold LONEROAN (should be LONERGAN) Mar 1886 Sheppey 2A 957

GRO Birth Index 1886 March,page 342,
FreeBMD image scans: 1886b1-342.tif & 1886B1-L-0342.jpg
(the jpg is a better quality image)

Frank W

PS Yes I know I could attach a Postem note to the Index entry on FreeBMD, but why should a perfectly simple correction be so difficult to achieve? |soapbox|

[MarkJ]

It is indeed incorrectly transcribed - quite clearly a G.

I am not sure why your correction was rejected, unless you entered something incorrectly when reporting the error.

When I report mistakes, I only enter the minimum information - in this case, if using the FreeBMD error reporting system, you would just enter the correct surname and the image source (i.e the jpeg reference on their page which is ANC-05/1886B1-L-0342.jpg).

It should not be rejected - it is a clear entry which has been incorrectly typed.

Mark

[JAP1]

Hi Frank W,

I too have come up against this.

I have assumed that the people at FreeBMD must have had no choice but to limit the "explanation" (i.e. not even to permit people to submit longer explanations) because, despite all the warnings, people no doubt kept on writing at length with irrelevant reasons which simply wasted the valuable time of the FreeBMD volunteers.

So now (even when, as in your case, a little more explanation seems appropriate) all I put in the "explanation" box is
GRO Index

And I've never had a problem - all my many corrections have been accepted (although on two occasions they've left the original entry and added my corrected entry).

I suspect if you just put
GRO Index
or
Scan of GRO Index
they'll have the wit to look at both scans and will easily work out for themselves that your correction is spot on.

All the very best,

JAP
PS: And yes indeed, as Mark says, it has been incorrectly transcribed.
PPS: I assume that what you mean by 'rejected' is that the system won't permit you to lodge/submit your correction unless you just enter 'scan of GRO Index' or just 'GRO Index' - which is what I've experienced.

[Peter Goodey]

Why not just say "scan of GRO index"? My understanding (admittedly limited) is that that should get through.

You shouldn't use a postem for an error.

[Pam Downes]

I used to try and enter a reason why the FreeBMD entry was wrong, but after numerous rejections, I now restrict myself to 'Accessed GRO Index via 'specs' link on FreeBMD/Ancestry/Findmypast' as appropriate. Sometimes all three if the first two are not extremely clear. :) Not had a rejection since. :D
What you do have to remember to do is to tick the box halfway down the page which says 'Please confirm that the correction you are about to submit complies with these points, and that you have viewed a copy of the index to confirm the validity of the change you are requesting.'
Some time later (once in a matter of hours!) I get an 'acceptance of error' email which says FreeBMD agree with my correction, and after they've done another upload I then get an 'application of correction'.
In both emails it says
"The erroneous entry may or may not still exist within the database as specified below. If the incorrect entry still exists,please do NOT submit any futher corrections requests for this entry as it will be removed during the resolution phase of the project."
You should find that if the erroneous entry still exists that it is shown below the correct entry.
Pam

[Frank W]

================================================== ================================================
Pam

The Entry Correction page I have for the LONERGAN/LONEROAN birth entry is at URL:

www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/corrections.pl?r=75238598&d=bmd_1252627502

I cannot see any "Tick Box" on it nor the instruction message you quoted i.e

"the box halfway down the page which says 'Please confirm that the correction you are about to submit complies with these points, and that you have viewed a copy of the index to confirm the validity of the change you are requesting."'

Instead I have the "Submit" box and text as below

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By clicking the submit button, you are confirming
that you have read the instructions above, and that
this correction complies with those instructions.

Submitting corrections which do not comply with
the instructions simply wastes your time and ours!

Your email, the Source field and at least one other field of the entry must be completed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm coming to the conclusion that the Entry Correction page is incomplete, i.e. missing a Tick box,
or has perhaps lost an internal link. The Entry Correction page is reached by a link from the
Index entry. How did you get to it? and what is the URL of the page? Could the software have
changed since you last used it?

The Entry Correction page has a gap in its text so all is not perfect (see extract below)

************************************************** *******************************
You must read the points below BEFORE submitting a correction

* FreeBMD transcribes EXACTLY what is in the . Your correction ....etc etc
************************************************** *******************************
Could be only the word "Index" which is missing, but who can be sure?

================================================== =================================================
Peter & JAP1

I have tried several variations of text in the Source box, including the basic "scan of GRO Index"
and combinations of image IDS, all unsuccessful. As a last attempt I tried the full Image IDs
as per MarkJ's suggestion, but still no joy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LDS-211-000-0951132/1886b1-342.tif
ANC-05/1886B1-L-0342.jpg
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

================================================== =================================================
Perhaps I'll try an Index entry from Marriages, and see if the Entry Correction page has a different
format

Regards.............Frank W

[Mona]

Go to the paragraph that begins with
• Please confirm that......

at the very end of the sentence there is a little tiny box (after the last word ....requesting.)
click on this box.

If you still have trouble... I will submit the correction for you :)

[Pam Downes]

Trust me Frank, that little box that you have to tick is there in the URL you quoted. :)
Fifth actual paragraph.
I must admit that it isn't obvious and gets lost amongst all the words.
Pam

[Mutley]

Trust me Frank, that little box that you have to tick is there in the URL you quoted. :)
Fifth actual paragraph.
I must admit that it isn't obvious and gets lost amongst all the words.
Pam

That will be this one then?

"Please confirm that the correction you are about to submit complies with these points, and that you have viewed a copy of the index to confirm the validity of the change you are requesting. " [tick box]

[Pam Downes]

That will be this one then?

"Please confirm that the correction you are about to submit complies with these points, and that you have viewed a copy of the index to confirm the validity of the change you are requesting. " [tick box]
That's the one (which incidentally both Mona and I have already quoted), and you just click the box after the words. :)
Pam

[Frank W]

Ladies & Gentlemen |bowdown|

The elusive Tick Box has now been spotted, thanks to your combined efforts, and the Correction has now been accepted for later check & validation.

Many thanks.............Frank W

(Slinks away muttering "Should've gone to Sp--S-v-rs")

Good job I'm not a sheep shearer, else my cats might have become Barkless Basenjis by now!

[Mutley]

That's the one (which incidentally both Mona and I have already quoted), and you just click the box after the words. :)
Pam

I was trying to be clever and actually post the little tick box on the forum. Tried as hard as I could but it did not want to play.
[drat smiley] (ain't got one of them either)

[JAP1]

The very first time I tried to submit a correction (a long time ago) I didn't notice the tick box and I got as frustrated as you Frank W. When I finally noticed it, I gave full marks to the FreeBMD people for hiding it away so that submitters really had to read the instructions carefully! :D Sorry that I hadn't twigged that this was your first submission. :o

JAP

[SBSFamilyhistory]

I always say, orgininal image on freebmd that always get accepted.