Source:Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records to the End of Year 1849

Caution

Several records printed in this source are marked "C.R. 1", meaning they are taken from the records of the First Church of Beverly. Unfortunately, the compilers apparently used the published transcript of these records (Source:Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Records of the First Church in Beverly, Massachusetts, 1667-1772) transcribed by William P. Upham, instead of going to the original records.

According to the Source page for the church records, "baptismal records annotated by Augustus A. Galloupe, in 1905". These annotations to the original record content reflect his personal identification of several people. Such insertions are marked with brackets to show which information did not come from the original record. The bracketed information thus has a secondary basis, while the part from the original record is the only primary part.

This source apparently has copied these additions but removed the brackets identifying them as additions, thus inappropriately promoting secondary material to look primary.

Example:

p. 122 of Beverly Church Records: February 8. 1701/2 baptized Joseph & Hannah Son & daughter of Joseph Dodge Jun'r by his wife [Priscilla (Eaton)].

The transcribed church record has clearly indicated that the name of the wife has been inserted by him and did not come from the original record. And, as often happens with secondary information, it is wrong. Joseph's marriage to Priscilla Eaton is recorded in the Beverly VRs on Vol. 2, p. 94 in 1705, over 3 years later, so Priscilla could not have been Joseph's wife at the time of the baptism, nor mother of these children. Joseph Dodge had 4 wives and the annotation clearly assigned these baptisms to the wrong wife. But looking at this source, it is clear that the annotation, added long after the fact, was wrong, not the original records.

Investigating the same baptisms as reported in the Beverly VRs, on Vol. 1, p. 108, and p. 110, respectively:

Hannah, s. Joseph, jr. and Priscilla (Eaton), bp. Feb. 8, 1701-2. C.R. 1.
Joseph, s. Joseph, jr. and Priscilla (Eaton), bp. Feb. 8, 1701-2. C.R. 1.

We see that the annotation has been copied, and the brackets removed, making it appear that it was all part of the original record. Thus the error in the annotation has been compounded by making it look like it was an error in the records.

It is suggested that all records marked "C.R. 1" be checked against the published church records, so that it may clearly be identified which information comes from the church record, and which information comes from Mr. Galloupe's genealogy research. To date, several other errors have been discovered in the various annotations, besides the one shown here.

Usage Tips

• Vol. I Births
• Vol. II Marriage and Deaths

Part of the Massachusetts Town Vital Records project.

FHL film numbers

• 599733
• 874026 Item 1
• 962871 Item 2

See also

• Source:Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records, 1653-1890 - FHC Microfilm
• Source:Galloupe, Augustus A. Early Records of the Town of Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
• Source:Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Records of the First Church in Beverly, Massachusetts, 1667-1772