I do something similar, but I use the given name field for the "possible wife of Coats." In our system, I NEVER leave a surname or given name field blank - I use the partner or spouse of the other as a reference point, so it is much easier to navigate (I think) the index of names and figure out when something is missing. For example, in your scenario below, I probably would put the names in like this (the surname being the one in all CAPS, prior to the comma):
COATS, Jane (Possible Wife of Peter SMITH) -- REGULAR ENTRY COATS, Nancy SMITH, Jane COATS (Possible Wife of Peter) -- AKA ENTRY SMITH, John SMITH, Peter I have rejected the system of leaving field names completely blank. I want to be able to discern a little tidbit of information, even from the name index itself. Just more food for thought to help you decide, I hope. Thanks. Jerry - MerriamFamilyTree.org On 9/11/2011 12:00 PM, mbstx wrote: > After many frustrations trying to remember where I saw that possible > connection, I started using the aka field for this purpose. For > example, if I have a given name, but only a "possible" surname such > as you describe, I enter the given name (eg Nancy) as usual, then > assign an aka of "possible wife of Coats" in the surname field > (without the "). > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kirsten Bowman > Sent: Sep 11, 2011 1:08 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [LegacyUG] More On Alternate Names > > In my mini one-name study (2,000 or so individuals) I have many > families who intermarry regularly over several generations. I also > have a number of wives with an unproven surname “said to be . . .†> which I usually stick away in Research Notes where the rumored > surname is not readily apparent. Then months later I come across the > record for a John Smith who married a Nancy Coats and recall that > another man somewhere in that branch was rumored to have married a > Coats but can’t remember who it was because she’s entered with no > surname. > I’m thinking of possibly listing those unproven surnames as > Alternate Names, either with or without privacy brackets, so they’ll > show up in the Name List. That way I could see that John’s 2nd > cousin Peter Smith is rumored to have married a Jane Coats, which > would lead to searching for a connection between the two Coats women > and possibly confirming the missing surname. > Before I go off the deep end, can anyone see flaws in this plan? I > know some are sticklers for using the aka field only for true > aliases, but that’s not a consideration for me. Any other potential > snags? > Kirsten > > > 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 > Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) > and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). > To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > > > 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 > Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and > on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). > To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp 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 Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
