06 December 2012

Unwritten Place Names

Are you using place names to describe where an ancestor was born, died, or was buried, that are not listed in any gazetteer? Make certain that you also include a more reference (eg. GPS coordinates) to assist others in finding the location.

On a recent trip to visit my parents, I had to take my brother lunch where he was discing--"on the McNally place, you know past his forty, which is past McGaughey's and turn south." Of course those names would be on local plat books and other records, but often those descriptions are only in people's gray matter.

Don't make that mistake. Clearly identify locations.

2 comments:

  1. This is something I need to implement in my research - thanks for the advice :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such a good point. There are a lot of areas where I grew up that are just known by their "nicknames" to the locals. "Stevens Station, "Springside", etc. You won't find them on any map, as they are just certain sections of the town I lived in. Anyone not from that area would have no clue where they are.

    ReplyDelete