I think your question/comments are revolving around the choice as to use the historical correct name or the modern day name when it comes to the location of an event. The purist out there will always want to use the historic name that was in use at the time of the event but there are always the modernist who will use the current day name simply because the old name/location no longer exists. So in essence, there is no absolute correct answer. Pick the one that you are comfortable with and try to be consistent throughout your entire family file. I personally have chosen to stay with the historic name of the location. What this means is that you will have Master Location entries for Akron, Wayne County, Michigan, Akron, Sanilac County, Michigan, and Akron, Tuscola County, Michigan. They are all correct when applied to a specific time for an event. I believe that it is under the Data Entry tab for customizing (customising for our incorrect British friends) that you can have Legacy verify the county name when you enter it. If you try to enter Akron, Sanilac County, Michigan for an event in 1820, Legacy will warn you with something akin to "Sanilac County did not exist until 1822" (or something similar depending upon the location and the year).
Sure it will cause problems trying to google such a historic location name and Bing! gets easily confused. Virginia and West Virginia are two prime example where entire counties were split off Virginia following the Civil War to create the new state of West Virginia. I have several families that were all born in Marion County, VIRGINIA but died in Marion County, WEST VIRGINIA without having left the same house. Sometimes this historic/modern choice can be extended to names. I've often run across different files in which Johann was also listed as John. Or Jakob listed as Jacob, etc, etc, etc. I think the objective is to be historically accurate and by doing such modern day search engines and encyclopedic databases may want to quibble with you. Just hold your ground knowning that you are correct based on the date of the event. Brian in CA > -----Original Message----- > From: Tim Rosenlof [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 8:10 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Tool to Uniformly Format Places? > > I meant to add.... > > Akron, Michigan in 1800 = Wayne County > Akron, Michigan in 1822 = Sanilac County > Akron, Michigan in 1850 = Tuscola County > > Geneva, Oregon in 1843 = Champoeg County > Geneva, Oregon in 1850 = Lyne County > Geneva, Oregon in 1900 = Crook County > Geneva, Oregon in 1975 = Jefferson County > > > If Great Grandpa lived in Geneva Champoeg County Oregon in 1843, then > one was to use the master location list, then looks at Geneva Oregon, > it > will show Jefferson as the County. What County did good ol Great > Grandpa > live in ? Just remember geocoding in the master location list geocodes > using Bing! to current locations, and the ones it cannot gecode, then > you have the opportunity to use Legacy GeoCode Location tool, again > using current locations > > I use AniMap, I am sure there are other locations on the web to help > with historical locations. > > Tim Rosenlof > > On 6/25/2010 7:53 AM, Tim Rosenlof wrote: > > Hi Wendy, > > > > What if Great Grandfather did not live in that 'County' you just > > combined or ? Historical Counties change. Cities changed Counties > > Historically. > > > > Tim > > > > On 6/25/2010 12:23 AM, Wendy Howard wrote: > > > >> Hi Kevin, > >> > >> "is there some way to take care of the places other than one-at-a- > time?" > >> > >> Import your GEDCOM file into a new Legacy file, then look at the > >> Location Master List. Fix an item there, and it will be fixed in > every > >> piece of data where it appears. > >> > >> You get to this list via View> Master Lists> Location..., or > click on > >> the Locations icon just below the menu if you have that displayed. > >> > >> Duplicate locations can be combined there, making it very quick and > easy > >> to tidy up almost-correct locations into one correct one. > >> > >> Don't forget to sort your locations from right to left to get a > >> different viewpoint with all locations within one country listed > >> together. You may see things there that you didn't see when you > were > >> viewing with them sorted left-to-right. It's only a viewing tool > >> withing the Location Master List, it does not change how your > locations > >> appear elsewhere. > >> > >> Hope this helps. :-) > >> > >> Kind Regards, > >> Wendy Howard > >> Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
