Indiana Marriage Certificate, Lawrence County, 1818-1836
I found a marriage certificate of January 5, 1834, which is quite probably for my g-g-grandparents, BUT the bride's name is "off". I'm looking for Caroline T. Lee and have only found a Caroline Lee. Is it possible that these records are transcribed and there was an error made during transcription? This is the link to the page: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPXX-9NGB?i=277&cc=1410397&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVKJH-74W
Thanks for any help!
Best Answer
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Ah, yes, Catharine versus Caroline: one of those pairs of names that are quite distinct and yet so easy to get confused. (My personal perpetual trip-up is László versus Lajos. The only sound they actually have exactly in common is the initial L, and yet.)
Given that the marriage licenses are on a form that's pre-printed with "186_", but are filled in with events thirty years before that, I'd say that yes, they are definitely later copies/transcriptions. Writing Catharine instead of Caroline (or vice versa) is a copyist error that's known to occur. ("Quick, what's a common feminine name starting with C?") So if all of the other details match what's known about your ancestors, I think that chances are pretty good that this record is actually for them.
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Answers
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I think it's more likely that the "T" was added by a later genealogist who mistakenly believed that everyone must have a middle name. (Most people didn't, and even the ones who did seldom if ever used them.)
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Thank you, very kind of you to answer.... But I made a very stupid mistake in my original question, making it impossible to find the answer I need. I should have written "I have only found CATHERINE Lee".
Now that my question makes more sense, any ideas, please?
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Thank you!!!! Now that you mention it, I also see that the handwritten year always covered a pre-printed number. I think I could use your eyes more frequently!
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