Page 130 - Canadian Dominion Directory 1871 - Partie 1-fusionné
P. 130

INTRODUCTION
                               THE REASON  for  adding  a  section  on  Genealogical  Research  to  a  book
                               prirnarily  dealing  with  heraldry  is  because  heraldry  and  genealogy are so
                              completeIy  bound  up  in  eacli  other.  Without  genealogy  and  its  relevant
                              family  histories  true  heraldry  cannor  exist  and  wilhout  some  knowledge
                              of  l~eraldry no  genealogist can  proceed  very  Ear,  as armorial  bearings are
                              bound  fo crop up  in  much  of  the  researcli  that  he will  carry out.
                                GeneaIogy can  be  a  most  fascinating subject  if  it  is  handled  properly,
                              conversely il can be extremely dry and du11 if  one does flot take the neces-
                              sary ' one step further ' and  follow, in  some measure, the persona1 histories
                              of  the people who crop up in the various pedigrees.
                                A  matter  of  vital  importance  that  the  genealogist must  always  bear  in
                              mind  is  accuracy.  Each  step  that  he  undertakes  must  be  proven  and  If
                              possible a second proof  sbould  be found  confirming the firsc. Human error
                              will  aIways creep in  and even  such documents as birth, marriage and death
                              certificates  provided  by  the  appropriate  authorities  are  occasionally  at
                              fault.  For  example,  an  old  man may  die, who has  been living on  his own,
                              with  his relatives many miles away. His death has to be registered  and  the
                              information  given,  possibly  by  his  landlady  or  his  Doctor  or  one  of  his
                              friends is  given  in  al1  good  faith,  but  it  rnay  be  very  wide  of  the  mark.
                              His  age  maye  be  regisiered  as  65 when  in  fact  he  is  over  70.  His  wife's
                              name  rnay  be  put  down  on  the  death  certificate  as  ' Bessie',  which  was
                              the  name  the  old  man referred  îo  her  by,  when  in  fact  her  real  name
                              was  Margaret.  It  js  in  ways  like  this  thar  errors  arise  and  which  makes
                              rnatters more complicated for the genealogist.
                                This dictionary  of  genealogy does not  aspire to  tell  the searcher  how  to
                              proceed  but  rather to  tell  him  where information can  be  obtained  and  the
                              sort of things that Ile can look for.
                                A final word  of  warning to  the would-be Genealogist. Information cornes
                              from  the  most  unljkely  sources,  and  I  have  found  from  experience  that:
                              nlost  bodies  whether  they  be  institutions,  or even  industrial  companies.  if
                              appcaled  to, will always send a courteous and  frequently  IieIpEul reply, and
                              as  an  example  1 have  obtained  information  from  tlie  follo\ving:  The Post
                              Office Museum,  British  Railways,  Lloyds, Institute  of  Merchant  Seamen,
                              and rnany others. far too numerous to list in full.
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