How do I index information about a previous marriage?
I'm indexing Belge Marriage Publications. In one record, the bride's name is given with her maiden name and then is says that she is the widow of and gives her late husband's name. Do I put her maiden name and her late husband's name in the surname field? The project instructions say not to assume the last name of one person based on another person listed in the record. Or do I create a second marriage entry for that record--one for the current marriage and one for the previous marriage?
Answers
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In the context you described I agree with your inclination not to add her late husband’s surname to the bride’s maiden name in the bride’s surname field for the reason you gave. We don’t know that she ever took his name. The Researchers are allowed to draw that conclusion, supported perhaps by additional information we don’t have, but an Indexer shouldn’t.
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