We’re offering a new challenge as part of Database News! As we work on Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1798-1900, we occasionally run into some words or names that are very hard to decipher. Our volunteers and proofreaders do their very best to turn these scribbles into viable names, but occasionally we all get stumped. Sometimes if you stare at the name for a long enough time, you can figure out what name it’s supposed to be, so we’re enlisting your help.
Each week we will post some transcription challenges, with the problem names circled. Each problem name will be numbered. You can comment on the page with your idea of what the problem name should be, referencing the number of the problem name.
The Transcription Challenge page is accessible from Database News Home—you can find it on the right in the navigation bar (see the screenshot above).
Names: #1 (child and father’s last name), #2 (mother’s maiden name)
Here’s an example image with 2 names labelled #1 and #2 (the first name appears twice, hence the 3 circles). I can click on the image to enlarge the page. I’ve looked at it for a while and I’ve come to think the circled names are McCarty and White. I would comment the following, “#1: McCarty, #2: White.”
Thanks for any help, and happy puzzling!