second opinion requested on a batch

russellporter1

So on this batch the first name.... its got cursive am or ann handwritten diagonally. I don't know what that means and could use a second opinion on it. Plus, the indexer that I'm reviewing for thought it meant like and, as in Greely as a second person instead of a first name. I don't know which is right.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/batch/2eb2a682-46ae-46ef-88fc-cdc8b1ac78fa

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@russellporter1 - In the Project Instructions there is an example of How to Index a Personal Estate Register - If you follow the project instructions, you would index 2 names Ferguson and Greely as 2 separate entries because they are surnames --their occupations listed as Teamsters -- not necessarily a company or the Teamsters Union which is made up of many individual people who might be named Ferguson or Greely---- in reviewing, the indexer was correct and the reviewer should mark the entries made as correct and move on --- when researchers see the document, they will determine how to use all the information in their work😎

genthusiast

Line E Ferguson and Greely (Teamster company name - likely means the company was a partnership between two persons one surnamed Ferguson and one surnamed Greely - and had horses and wagons to carry freight commercially). Line F next is a stable by Joseph N Ayer - likely where the horses were kept when not at work.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

Line E does say Ferguson and Greely - when you enlarge the script , you can see how the "d" is angled to fit everything on the same line --kind of like using an ampersand & in place of the word

Melissa S Himes

So, do those two names even get indexed since it is a company?

• Index all names except those listed in the "Owner" or "Remarks" columns, or names of companies or trusts. Often, names of owners appear on the right side of the image; these names should not be indexed.

russellporter1

I don't know Melissa. Hah, this is why I have to keep asking for second opinions. Something always comes up.

Melissa S Himes

I wouldn't have indexed them since they are most likely a company. I agree with @genthusiast the teamsters designation lends to a freight carrier and the use of "and" with no given names, a business. It also does no harm to index the names though. As @maryellenstevensbarnes1 mentions, the researchers can make their own determination of how to use the information.

All we can do is try our best and use our best judgement.