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22 About Genealogical Standards of Evidence
it is an original source with the date and place of marriage
considered primary information. But the genealogical
sleuth asks, are all the other details necessarily true? Can
I determine the truth about their ages or their parents by
gathering information from other sources?
In the face of evaluating information from multiple
sources (which may not all agree on NDP or BMD) and
correlating all the evidence, we reach a conclusion about
identity or relationship by writing out a proof summary, or
proof argument. Especially when some of our information is
contradictory, such a summary is necessary to clarify our
reasoning about complex evidence. We may find that a major
part of our family research involves many processes like this.
Case: You may be lucky and find that Robert Kent's father
registered his birth with the province of New Brunswick,
exactly where you expected it to be. In fact, the birth
certificate may name both his parents. This directly
answered your questions: when and where was Robert born,
and who was his father (or parents)? What if there is no
birth registration - an original source with primary
information and direct evidence?

You have collected the census household, which does
not state relationships, and a newspaper birth notice that
merely states that Mrs James Kent gave birth to a son at the
appropriate time. You also have Robert's death certificate
on which his age tallies with the former two sources. This

is called building a case - supporting your hypothesis -
that Robert belongs in the James Kent family. You will
want to investigate the availability of other sources and
additional information: a will naming a son Robert, Robert's
marriage record, additional census returns, cemetery plot