Sunday, December 01, 2019

Ancestry.com Caswell County Birth Database Corrupt

Ancestry.com Caswell County Birth Database Corrupt

The Ancestry.com North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000 database has a serious coding problem that Ancestry.com refuses to address. I brought this to their attention several years ago and continue to inform them of the need to correct the corrupt database, all without success. Thus, until this is resolved, be wary of any search of this database that shows Catawba County as the county of birth. The person may really have been born in Caswell County. Look at the actual record and check the township. If you see the following abbreviations, the birth county is Caswell: P (Pelham); DR (Dan River); M (Milton); LH (Locust Hill); Y (Yanceyville); L (Leasburg); SC (Stoney Creek); A (Anderson); and HT (Hightowers).

The Caswell County coverage in the North Carolina Birth Index is divided into three sections:

1913-1956
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO20_66001

1957-1995
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO20_66002

Various
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO20_68001

The Catawba County coverage in the North Carolina Birth Index is divided into four sections:

1913-1940
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO21_66001

1941-1959
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO21_66002

1960-1979
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO21_68003

Various [Delayed Birth Records]
Roll Number: NCVR_B_CO21_68001
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The problem for those researching Caswell County (CO 20) apparently is in the 1913-1956 period. When you go to Roll Number NCVR_B_CO20_66001 (see above under Caswell County) you are taken to the Catawba County births index.

The problem for those researching Catawba County (CO 21) apparently is in the 1960-1979 period. When you go to Roll Number NCVR_B_CO21_68003 (see above under Catawba County) you are taken to the Caswell County births index.

Some records obviously have been incorrectly indexed either by Ancestry.com or by the North Carolina State Archives.

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