Posts in February 8, 2020

His wife said he died in 1893 of lung fever and his doctor said he died in 1893 of pleuro-pneumonia. They provided the same date and place of death. The only difference was the cause and their causes really weren’t different. One was an informal cause given by a spouse and the other was the formal cause given by the doctor. Both appeared on records in the widow’s application for a widow’s pension and the individual viewing the widow’s application was likely more concerned that the causes were consistent instead of them agreeing one-hundred percent. No two sources agree entirely. There will be differences. The genealogist should only be concerned when the information provided is inconsistent–then there’s a problem. And…if possible more sources should be obtained. Evaluation should […]