I might or might not agree to your definitions, but so what, Ms. Karen?
Have you told us anything about the value of the evidence by the use of
those words? Under your definition, which category is a headstone, please?
How about my Drake family Bible; is it primary or secondary, considering
that it has entries written across now 154 years by at least 6 distinct
writers?
It seems apparent to me that no matter what label you attach, I yet must
consider all the facts surrounding every single entry found there, and for
you to say it is "primary" or "secondary" assists me not one iota.
Enough then; if those words help you and my Dear Friend Margaret, then by
all means use those terms. As for me, I feel you have told me nothing about
the quality of the evidence to which you have pasted those labels. Paul
----- Original Message -----
I agree with Margaret. Primary = hard evidence--a record (and I'm not so
sure
I consider all bible records primary!) Secondary = soft evidence--what
somewhat else claimed. I have a lot of both in my files. :) Often we have to
start
with secondary/soft evidence--those family histories that have been handed
down, usually orally, which you can count on to have errors. Then we need
the primary records to support or refute them.
Yet Paul is of course right when he says we use what we have--my fallback
"proof" (I don't call it that!) is simple logic of place, time, name
patterns,
etc. I've got many links I'm sure are "right" but they're by no means
supported
with evidence of any sort beyond logical deduction. Sometimes it's all we
have. This works fine with an unusual name like Calthorpe--two in one
county?
Bound to be related! Roughly the same age? Brothers or cousins. But it
doesn't
work for Smith, Jones, Mason, Walker....six in one county? Don't count on
ANY
relationships!
The important thing here is to always include in your notes (especially if
you're going to publish it anywhere including the web) a descritption of the
quality of your evidence. My gedcoms often include the phrase, "not a shred
of
evidence--a guess." :)
Karen Dale
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