Some Notes about the Hetty-Jane Owen Project

The Hetty Jane Owen timeline in the last entry is basically the final act of this particular play. I leave it there with the hope that there are readers who have found the story interesting and the research useful. As far as the raw data is concerned, much of it has been double-checked and corroborated and linked to original sources. In other cases, particularly when I have sidetracked into less directly connected branches of the families, I have relied more on others' endeavours as detailed on sites such as ancestry.com.

Whilst proceeding with this kind of very broad genealogical project, it is impossible not to become aware that very little of the data that emerges can be assumed to be 100% accurate, and that the very Internet that has facilitated such research is also a fabulously high-speed generator and replicator of errors. Where readers have a particular interest in certain names or family branches, I would certainly advise them to conduct their own research and checks, and not rely simply on faith on what they find here. Having said that, it is worth keeping in mind that even the primary sources have to be treated with care, particularly when they have been subject to transcription.

The early parish records, of weddings, funerals, births, baptisms, as well as the first official censuses that comprise so much of the raw material in such studies also have to be subject to a quizzical critical eye. Illiteracy was widespread, and the recording systems themselves hardly systemised, so whilst official events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals might be diligently recorded, actual dates of birth, ages at death and much more tended to rely on the word of the respondents themselves, who for reasons of all kinds would either have lost track of the facts, or preferred to alter those facts to suit their own purposes.

In trying to understand and interpret the records available, I have of course given full reign to all kinds of probably ill-informed speculation, and idiosyncratic opinions and prejudices as I proceeded. Others will no doubt have different views, which is all well and good.

It has been a great pleasure of course to hear from distant relatives during the course of this project, and to receive so much fascinating and valuable additional detail, and indeed to simply make the acquaintance of distant cousins in this way. I thank them all for their own research, and for making it so freely available.