Person talk:Lydia Thompson (13)

inconsistencies [23 May 2014]

If the two sources of inconsistent death dates are the Packard Genealogy and the gravestone, the gravestone wins, more contemporary to the event. There are so many ways in the production of a book that an error can get introduced, it cannot be given the same weight as contemporary evidence. Unless it describes reasons for refuting the gravestone based on other contemporary evidence, the presumption would be that it is a typo, editing error, or his notes (pre-computer!) got mixed up. How many times an incorrect datum has been copied is immaterial to the correctness, of course.

It there was a death record by the town clerk, then the varying dates would either be the town version, or both as alternates. I tend to find gravestones one of the least reliable contemporary sources so personally would favor the town record. Cummington records don't seem to be online and aren't cited, but could be found in a library, or on film.

This particular difference, 10 versus 15, doesn't appear to be a mis-reading of the gravestone. --Jrich 14:32, 23 May 2014 (UTC)

Thanks for that information. Very helpful perspective. Another complicating factor here are the apparent two different grave markers on FindAGrave. One is March and the other (a different marker altogether) looks like December. Going to write the page manager and ask if they can shed light on what it all means...--Frank 14:38, 23 May 2014 (UTC)