Indexing using single letters only Australian Census
1. Why are the Indexers on Family search using single letters only for people in the Australian Probate Index?
2.Also why aren't the Australian Census pages loading: whats the point of having them on the website. I'm not really complaining as I'm very grateful that the information is free.
Best Answers
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Indexers type what is on the record. This could be a card index of those records containing only the initials, or perhaps there was never a full name on the record. It may not have even been indexed by FamilySearch volunteers since there isn't an edit option available.
Here is a link to the FamilySearch research wiki for the collection in that image.
The Image Visibility section says:
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images.
The reason why everything is not available on the website is because it is not all "free". It looks like quite a few probate collections and the census records belong to Ancestry. A few are held by Find My Past and My Heritage and some by the government.
Here is a link to the South Wales, Australia Online Genealogy Records. When you see a ($) it means that a subscription site holds the rights to the collection. FamilySearch is allowed to share some of the index. The research wiki is very helpful in finding out where collections are kept and to learn more about each collection.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/New_South_Wales,_Australia_Online_Genealogy_Records
Hope that helps to answer your questions. If you are a member of the Church, then you would have access to the subscription sites. But I have heard that sometimes even that access is limited.
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@humminsoftly You are most welcome. FWIW, I didn't see anything wrong with your post. It was not offensive or harmful to others. Pointing out that there are errors caused by indexing or by users not being able to see images is pretty common on these community pages. But, I am just another lowly user who doesn't believe in using a heavy hand in censoring posts.
I am sure that there are some Australia census collections that will load, but, there are others that do not.
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Answers
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If you look at the original records on the State Archives and Records site, you will see that only initials were included. No indexer would deliberately abbreviate a name down to an initial. The indexing process is very robust with lots of checks to ensure accuracy.
I have edited out your last sentence as that is not a suitable thing to say on a public forum.
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@Norm Jones Who defines what is suitable, you? What I wrote wasn't offensive. I think you are being a bit to sensitive. Thank you for replying anyway. My other question you omitted to answer as it seems you were to quick to reprimand me, question was, why the pages aren't loading for the Australian Census ?
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@Melissa S Himes Thank you for your reply and all the information you included very much appreciated :)
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I don't define what is suitable. That is covered in the Terms of Use linked at the bottom of every page.
When I access the 1828 Australia census, the pages do load, as shown below.
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FYI
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
[ And, I happen to be an "Aussie", from "Downunder" ...]
Just in passing ...
In relation to your SECOND 'Question' ...
There is a KNOWN problem/issue, with regards to Census', of the State, of New South Wales, Australia.
[ ie. That, has been reported; and, is being investigated ... ]
Here is a recent post on the matter ...
FamilySearch Help
'Category' = Search
HOME > FAMILYSEARCH HELP > SEARCH
Problem with Search failing to show record preview in right pane.
Just my thoughts.
Just so that you are aware.
Brett
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@Brett,
Hi, Thank you for your reply and link information. Sadly the problem seems to be on going beginning in March.
Many Australian Census records were destroyed by the Gov of the day years ago. Personally I don't rely on census records but just noticed the problem when doing a regular search.
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😀
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Yes I can see the 1828 census you looked at loaded but that isn't the year I came upon in my regular search for a person which brought up the 1891 Australian Census, which I didn't mention previously.
Norm Jones can you please explain to me what was offensive to you in my first post that you felt compelled to edit. I'm confused as to what you found offensive to go to that extreme. Would you please explain?
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Private message sent
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