This week I encountered a case that reminded me once again - documents cannot be blindly trusted! They need to be verified, and we must ask what lies behind the discrepancies.
First, an important announcement – I'm accepting applications for a beginner's course in English on Latvian genealogy only until midnight on Sunday (March 2nd)!
Yes, I know that you, my regular blog readers, are no longer beginners. You've already worked your way through countless church books, soul revisions, and archive documents. However, this course is aimed at beginners – English-speaking Latvian descendants around the world. Those who may have only heard a few stories about their ancestors from Latvia and have always wanted to learn more. But where and how to start, where to look for documents – these questions have held them back until now.
This is a good opportunity for your relatives, friends, or acquaintances with Latvian roots to gain the necessary knowledge and practical advice to begin researching their ancestry. Since the course will be conducted in English and will be adapted to the specific needs of the diaspora, such an opportunity is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
Do you know someone who would benefit from this course? Please, tell them about this opportunity! They can register here: https://programs.agneseluse.com/free-course (until midnight on March 2nd).
My Research Challenges This Week
While course registration is ongoing, I continue my research work, and recently encountered an interesting situation that illustrates why genealogical research cannot blindly trust records found in databases.
I was researching the origins of a certain Jeannot W. and found his marriage record. Fortunately, the full record was available, which clearly indicated – born on September 24, 1866, parents Ernest and Lote W. Everything seemed clear, but when searching for his birth record in the indexed lists on Ciltskoki.lv, no Jeannot, son of Ernest, could be found in the respective parish.
From experience, I know that in such cases the original records need to be checked, as errors can creep into indexed lists – a name or surname might be incorrectly transcribed.
And indeed, in the respective parish on September 24, 1866, I found a record of the birth of Jannis V. The birth date, surname, and mother's name matched, but there were two differences:
Name change – Later in life, Jannis had become Jeannot. This is actually not unusual. In the late 19th century, Latvians, especially those in cities, often tried to elevate their social status by "Germanizing" – transforming their names and surnames to sound more German. Some even completely assimilated into the German community, married German women or men, and the next generation already spoke only German. This was also the case here - Janis was born in the countryside, but later became a bricklayer in Riga. Moreover, his surname, as is often the case in Kurzeme, was already German-sounding, so by becoming Jeannot, he could completely conceal his Latvian peasant origins.
Discrepancy in father's name – The marriage record mentions father Ernest, but the birth record lists Jānis. There are two possible explanations:
Jeannot's biological father Jānis had died early, the mother remarried Ernest, and the stepfather was listed as the father in the marriage record
Simply a clerical error in the marriage record
I tend to believe the first version is true, but to confirm it, additional research is needed – searching for Lote's first husband's death record and, possibly, the record of her second marriage to Ernest.
What Does This Mean for Genealogical Researchers?
This example reminds us why it's so important in genealogical research to:
Critically evaluate sources – don't rely on just one document
Understand historical context – for example, in this case, knowing about 19th-century social processes – the efforts to "Germanize," which explains changes in both names and surnames
Consider various alternatives – when facts don't align, different possible explanations must be considered
Carefully examine all available documents – especially original records
Detective stories are the most exciting, if only they can be solved. And behind every discrepancy may hide an interesting story about our ancestors' lives.
Have you had similar experiences with contradictory records? What explanations did you find? Share your experiences in the comments!