The upside-down-looking “n” and the uncrossed “t” in Carpenter is misread as Carpeuler Nesmith morphs into McSmith, and Leatherwood is butchered into oblivion as Neuterwood. It’s a common problem on genealogy sites where Harriett Voss exists in a twisted heap as Howneth Vap, joining other “missing” ancestors who are hiding in plain sight due to transcription errors that mangle their names beyond recognition. Of seventeenth century handwriting, Donald Lines Jacobus (the dean of American genealogy) wrote: “I have known first-class genealogists, even professional ones, who could not read that script with ease.” 2 It reminded me of a transcription error made by a skilled genealogist (who achieved fellowships in two prestigious organizations) that unintentionally pointed to an entirely different family. No transcription or abstract is perfect.” 1 Indeed.
“If one cannot trust Nugent, whom can one trust?” she asked. In Volume II, Julia found the surnames Somerscales and Migettoe as Somerseal and Migelloe.
The late genealogist Julia Case told of errors she encountered reading a key reference in Virginia genealogy, Nell Marion Nugent’s Cavaliers and Pioneers.
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