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FreeCEN does not attempt to correct most of these errors; it is up to the ultimate researcher to form their own opinion about what a census image shows.
Thus, for example, even known spelling errors of person names or addresses should be typed AS IS.
Spelling errors in 'relationship' or 'occupation' may be corrected only if there is no doubt about the intended meaning.
Birthplace spellings may be corrected if there is no doubt, but the Birth County code must always be typed as written by the Enumerator - even if known to be wrong!
Occasional lapses by the Enumerator may result in "age" being written in what appears to be the wrong "gender" column.
The Gender may be corrected without using a query flag or Note where there is no doubt (e.g. "Elizabeth, wife" must be female!
Beware of ambiguous namings and instances where the 'relationship' does not confirm the gender of the person. In such instances you may decide which is the more probable gender and enter accordingly with a comment in the notes field "As enumerated". Thus "Robert, boarder, female age 23" may be an error for "Roberta", or may in fact refer to a male.
Missing Pages from the film sequence: or Blank Pages
FreeCEN has no provision to record the fact that pages are missing or left blank: continue the transcript from the next available page even if the "missing" pages may be found later in the filming.
Missing Schedule Numbers (e.g. lost before Enumeration):
All Schedule Numbers must be accounted for in FreeCEN, one "record" for each missing number. This proves that the error is the Enumerator's and not made by FreeCEN.
Any Schedules which occur out of the correct numeric sequence must be transcribed in the order in which they appear on the census pages.
Deleted and Additional Information:
When working from monochrome images it is sometimes difficult to determine whether a deletion or additional information was made by the Enumerator, by his supervisor, or by some statistical tally clerk.
FreeCEN aims to transcribe only the Enumerator's record; however, "useful" information (e.g. "child of first marriage") can be entered in the Transcriber's Notes field.
"Excess Information" (as for the 1841 census where some Enumerators recorded relationships within a household) should be entered in the Notes field.
See also Field Descriptions [4c]