Errors in Historical Records Place Name Updates

Gordon Collett · September 21, 2021

Community Members: I have created a post under Ideas>Sources as a place to report incorrect auto-standardization of place names: https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/102829/errors-in-indexed-record-updated-place-names/p1?new=1

Please feel free to post similar errors as you run across them in case these are not already on the reportedly long list of place names that need to be corrected.

Moderators: Please do not move this post anywhere. This section of the community, along with the other places I have posted this, seem to be the most active sections here and I would like as many people as might have an interest in reporting place name errors to be aware of my post. Moving it makes it impossible for anyone to make any comments here that would keep the post on the first page of comments for a while. If any of you feel it would be appropriate to pin it to the top of the list for awhile, that would be fine with me.

Mark McLemore · September 21, 2021

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/102848/errors-in-historical-records-place-name-updates

Hey @Gordon Collett ,

I pinned it to the top - we'll keep this going for a week or so, then unpin it. Thanks for putting this together.

Best,

Mark

Paul W · September 22, 2021

@Gordon Collett

Are there any specific dates you are aware of that might relate to these place name update exercises? For example, I have just noticed one record with an 18 September 2020 date has been standardized incorrectly (one of the many, many examples where the "United Kingdom" suffix has been added to pre-1801 sources) whereas one dated 19 March 2020 has been handled correctly.

See https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1DF-XBZ?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=MNJQ-SGM and https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NL6G-JMX?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=MNJQ-SGM, respectively.

To clarify, how do we identify sources related to any auto-standardization of place names exercise, rather than those revised by any other means?

pianoplayer13 · October 2, 2021

This considerable listing of errors is just a small part of the real thing and this only for the Netherlands.

My real hope is that FamilySearch gets aware of the problem since other ways of trying to make contact failed because (volunteer ?) recipients probably did not understand the problem and gave the answer that my messages were sent to the proper instance. But since 2015 I never noticed any change or response.

Beek, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Beek, Ubbergen, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLN7-BN4W

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77JL-Q4YW

Bergen, Limburg, Nederland

Correct Location: Bergen, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLM2-X29V

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-QY99-DC

Bergen, Norge

Correct Location: Bergen, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL5B-YFQJ

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-ZSK1-8

Beuningen, Overijssel, Nederland

Correct Location: Beuningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4F-SHGC

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DT93-VP

Borne, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Borne, Overijssel, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6S-4BD9

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-V1WF-G

Broekhuizen, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Broekhuizen, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL5B-7RFK

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-1G9Q-3W

De Horst, Gelderland, Nederland

Correct Location: Horst, Ermelo, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL46-42FY

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77JJ-ZM7P

De Horst, Gelderland, Nederland

Correct Location: Horst, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4C-FMGS

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-7T86-T

Delaware, United States

Correct Location: De Huizen, Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNM-5LNB

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-QZ9X-L4

Delaware, United States

Correct Location: Havixhorst, De Wijk, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLN9-23VW

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-3993-6D

Den Ham, Utrecht, Nederland

Correct Location: Den Ham, Overijssel, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNM-HVZ5

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-7PN3-3

Essen, Groningen, Nederland

Correct Location: Essen, Barneveld, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4F-YL7N

FamilySearch source: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS7C-H56

Fort, Drenthe, Nederland

Correct Location: Fort Bath, Rilland-Bath, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLCF-3JGV

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-7RHV-2

Goor, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Goor, Overijssel, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLF1-BL6D

FamilySearch source: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-7C9Q-B7

Hardenberg, Groningen, Netherlands

Correct Location: Hardenberg Stad, Overijssel, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLN9-JBPC

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-8ZSV-1T

Hedel, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Corrected Location: Hedel, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNW-8HN3

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS8T-546

Hees, Utrecht, Nederland

Correct Location: Hees, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNW-WY8V

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS3S-DR9

Hoek, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location; Hoek, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLCX-8452

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-YL4V-V

Hoorn, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Hoorn, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLML-MC3X

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-Q19L-Y6

Horst, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Horst, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL2C-WSWL

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92S-T8

Huizen, Noord-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: De Huizen, Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZF-W92G

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92S-T8

Hoorn, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Hoorn, Heerde, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL46-7569

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77JJ-X84D

Horst, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Horst, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL2C-WSWL

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92S-T8

Huizen, Noord-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: De Huizen, Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZF-W92G

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92S-T8

Katwijk, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Katwijk, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLR9-VYLJ

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3MZ-4KS

Laren, Gelderland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Laren, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMV-BW9V

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMV-BW9V

Lisse, Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine, Frankrijk

Correct Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZM-JZJD

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6RSL-W5

Loo, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Loo, Eibergen,Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4N-7V32

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS7C-ZPB

Middelburg, Gelderland, Nederland

Correct Location: Middelburg, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZ6-NTHQ

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-5L9L-BL

Middelburg, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Middelburg, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL2Q-FKL8

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-4G37-CG

Millingen, Overijssel, Nederland

Correct Location: Millingen aan den Rijn, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4N-L959

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS73-NBC

Nieuwerkerk, Noord-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLS6-LSJ3

FamilySearch source image: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-759M-L7

Noordwolde, Friesland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Noordwolde, Bedum, Groningen, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNS-P5VX

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-Q338-Y6

Noordwijk, South Holland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Noordwijk, Marum, Groningen, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNQ-NSQ6

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-D498-T8

Oosteinde, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Oosteinde, Ruinerwold, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZJ-S9NG

FamilySearch source: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-SY92-F2

Oosterhout, Gelderland, Nederland

Correct Location: Oosterhout, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLCX-XT1C

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-K93X-5P

pianoplayer13 · October 2, 2021

Listing part II

Putten, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Putten, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNH-RHLF

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6B19-PKJ

Rozendaal, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Roozendaal, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4X-ZNGX

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77ND-S85

Rijnsburg, Zeeland, Nederland

Correct Location: Rijnsburg, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZJ-FCX9

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3M3-5GR

Rijswijk, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Correct Location: Rijswijk, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL9X-SV1F

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3M9-MQ1D

Scherpenzeel, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Scherpenzeel, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4N-L4QY

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS7Z-FSZ

Schiphorst, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland

Correct Location: Schiphorst, De Wijk, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL5G-2GRV

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-PJ9G-FH

Sluis, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Sluis, Zeeland, Nederland

FamilySearcn entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLCD-CRD8

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-R883-8

Spijk, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Spijk, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4N-BQWZ

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS1H-GP1

Spijk, Friesland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Spijk, Bierum, Groningen, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNS-PT5X

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNS-PT5X

Stapel, Rotenburg, Niedersachsen, Deutschland

Correct Location: Stapel, De Wijk, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNQ-Y3HB

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-PJ9P-CW

Sterkenburg, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Sterkenburg, Utrecht, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZ7-NB6F

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-7R3H

Strijen, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Strijen, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLRW-3CCH

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS77-DZZ

Terschelling, Noord-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Terschelling, Friesland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4S-J8NT

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-71S4-FZ

Tienhoven, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Tienhoven, Utrecht, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLR4-LJCC

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-1PZ8-V

Valkenburg, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Valkenburg, Limburg, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4D-3NRR

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-RM9Z-RT

Veen, Noord-Brabant, Nederland

Correct Location: Veen, Nijkerk, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNH-4FYN

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77JV-NRWG

Veenhuizen, Gelderland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Veenhuizen, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMP-XCZM

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-TWND-4

Vianen, Zeeland, Nederland

Correct Location: Vianen, Zuid-Holland, Nederland, (since 2002 located in Utrecht)

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLK1-W37M

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YS1D-5DH

Vledderveen, Groningen, Nederland

Correct Location: Vledderveen, Vledder, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZJ-95LR

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-R2DW-D

Westbroek, Limburg, Nederland

Correct Location: Westbroek, Utrecht, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLZH-5J3X

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-RGH4-J

Westeinde, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Westeinde, Ermelo, Gelderland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4K-DYGF

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77JJ-Z9HJ

Winkel, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Correct Location: Winkel, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMN-MXBS

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-W114-C

Winsum, Friesland, Nederland

Correct Location: Obergum, Winsum, Groningen, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4Z-LXPS

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-64N8-P

Zandvoort, Utrecht, Netherlands

Correct Location: Zandvoort, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLML-96Q7

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-1DQN-5Y

Zegveld, Noord-Holland, Nederland

Correct Location: Zegveld, Utrecht, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLK1-5BXL

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-C53Z-NN

Zuidwolde, Groningen, Nederland

Correct Location: Zuidwolde, Drenthe, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNQ-WK18

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLNQ-WK18

Zwolle, Gelderland, Nederland

Correct Location: Zwolle, Overijssel, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6W-HNQ9

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939D-P5VV-X

Zijpe, Zeeland, Netherlands

Correct Location: Zijpe, Noord-Holland, Nederland

FamilySearch entry: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMG-NDK7

FamilySearch source image: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-4Z9M-34

BillInPoint · October 6, 2021

Vinegar Hill Methodist Cemetery, Vinegar Hill Township, Jo Daviess, Illinois, United States is not recognized. Vinegar Hill Township, Jo Daviess, Illinois, United States is recognized; adding the cemetery is not.

FamilySearch entry: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LD1X-9TQ

Gordon Collett · October 6, 2021

That just means the cemetery hasn't been added yet. The places database if far, far, from complete. To request an addition go to https://www.familysearch.org/research/places/?pagenum=1&pagesize=20 and suggest a new place.

For here, I'm requesting that people post problems they find in the indexed records in which the original correct place was improved to be somewhere completely different.

dontiknowyou · October 13, 2021

Many US census records from 1900 onward for Brooklyn NY are indexed Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States even though that name is time limited to 1776-1898. The correct standard is Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States.

There is a similar problem with many post-1898 records indexed Richmond County, NY. In 1898 the county was superseded by Staten Island, a borough of NYC.

dontiknowyou · October 14, 2021

Indiana record put in New Jersey:

Screen Shot 2021-10-14 at 1.41.03 PM.png

Áine Ní Donnghaile · November 1, 2021

Many locations in the 1901 and 1911 Ireland Census have been re-coded to the wrong county. The original location is in the correct county, but some update has put them all in the wrong county.

For example: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QYKD-1Z2M

N Tychonievich · November 3, 2021

For what it's worth, the way to tell an auto-standardization error in the index of a record:

You'll see both an (Original) place and and Event Place in the indexed info list. @Áine Ni Donnghaile has posted an example above. A moderator can get these to the engineers. Ideas is probably not the best place to report them, since the moderator who makes those reports (me) doesn't wander over to this part of Community very often. The best way to report them is to go to FamilySearch Help and click Search. Give a URL of the record details page. Screenshots are less useful when creating issue reports. Again, @Áine Ni Donnghaile has provided a good example above with an explanation of the problem and the URL of a record details page.

We are seeing progress in getting the ones we've reported corrected. The list of outstanding issues is dwindling.

Áine Ní Donnghaile · November 3, 2021

I'm not sure about that progress, as I've reported the ones I see on the Irish census, and I've received replies that indicate that the person replying does not understand that there is a problem.

N Tychonievich · November 3, 2021

@Áine Ni Donnghaile If you post in the Search section of FamilySearch Help, it should eventually make its way to someone who can move it on. If you want to provide a link to some of those reports, we can take a look and see what happened. Sometimes, if lots of folks made comments about the report, it sorta gets lost in the shuffle. And it is true that folks who have not been working with these issues are less likely to understand how to decide what to move on and what is not fixable currently.

Áine Ní Donnghaile · November 3, 2021

The most recent reply was commiserating that I was frustrated by a misindexed record - not at all what I had reported. I had reported that the census location had been changed from the correct County Clare to County Mayo AND that the citation listed the PROI of Ireland as being in Belfast. Mind-boggling.

Caleb L · November 3, 2021

***Moderator Quick Tip***

If you click the "QUOTE" button below the specific comment you are responding to it will help keep this thread organized.

Screen Shot 2021-11-03 at 3.28.59 PM.png

Áine Ní Donnghaile · November 3, 2021

I don't believe there was any confusion or lack of organization.

Re Searching · November 9, 2021

This is just one example of a problem that is widespread...

Examine the two records below:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQLW-667

Event Place Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Event Place (Original) Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England

Registration District Derby, West

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQGF-DQQ

Event Place Toxteth Park St Michael, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Event Place (Original) St Michael, Lancashire, England

Registration District Preston

The first record is correctly attributed to Toxteth Park, the second is wrongly attributed to Toxteth Park St Michael.

Since the automatic data processing cataclysm, all records that were originally correctly specified as St Michael, Lancashire are now wrongly associated with Toxteth Park St Michael, Lancashire.

The actual place is now known as St Michael's on Wyre, which does exist in the Standarised place names database. Nevertheless the records have been corrupted by the routine that modified all these place names and made them appear to be in another part of the world.

The parish of St Michael's includes many outlying areas and many thousands of records. As a result of the flaky automatic standardisation routine corrupting these records many researchers are being misled and are making significant errors. Many days are being lost putting this right. The ever increasing number of innocent new users is swamping the repair process with even more misguided attachments on a daily basis.

In all the records that I have examined there was sufficent information available in the record to correctly identify the place. The fact that the auto-standarisation routine failed to make the correct selection indicates that it does not take this information into account. I would argue that while it makes these errors it is more of a liability than a help, and therefore it should be revoked until it is proven to work satisfactorily.

As I said, this is just one example, and this is just in England. Multiply by all the parishes named after saints that have homonyms elsewhere in England, and then repeat for place names that have homonyms in other countries, and then you'll get some idea of the magnitude of the problem.

N.Brogden · December 4, 2021

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/102848/errors-in-historical-records-place-name-updates

A number of entries in –

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch

(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5PN-4LW : 19 March 2020),

have the following -:

“Event Place: Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury, Lancashire, England

Event Place (Original): Saint Mary, Lancaster, Lancashire, England”

These are different churches 50 miles apart. “Event Place (Original): Saint Mary, Lancaster, Lancashire, England”, is the correct church for the entries that I’ve checked and is St Mary, Castle Hill, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1XB.

“Event Place: Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury, Lancashire, England” is 50 miles to the south in, Market Place, Bury, BL9 0YB, and was in the county of Lancashire till the 1970s but boundaries have been redrawn and is now under Greater Manchester.

Wiesenmichel · December 11, 2021

Grüß Gott,

die Diskussion sowie die langen Aufzählungen falsch zugeordneter Orte behandelt nur die Symptome eines grundlegenden Entwurfsproblems der FamilySearch-Datenbank. Konkrete Vorschläge zur Erweiterung der Orts-Datensätze sowie des Programmes zur Suche nach dem richtigen Ort (mit richtiger Zuordnung der Verwaltungshierarchie an das jeweilige Ereignisdatum) habe ich in

https://community.familysearch.org/de/discussion/111152/standardisierte-orte

"https://community.familysearch.org/de/discussion/111152/standardisierte-orte#latest"

gemacht. Es gibt beliebig viele gleichnamige Orte auf der Welt, bei denen die Angabe des Namens allein nicht ausreichend ist.

Viele Grüße vom Wiesenmichel

Errors in Historical Records Place Name Updates

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