Baptism or Gravestone .

Hello Phillipp

You would need to look at the timing and actual source person for each item of information, also the nature of the physical record.

There's much to be said about the quality of evidence, also the distinction(s) to be drawn between direct evidence and indirect evidence.

Suggest you look at the Board for Certified Genealogists https://bcgcertification.org/about/ and especially articles by Prof. Tom Jones. Also National Genealogical Society https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ -- both in the US

Boston University runs an Online Genealogy Certificate (about a 6 - 8 week programme) -- a mind-blowing learning opportunity, which I can highly recommend.

Kind regards

Adv. Dave Mitchell
Cape Town, South Africa

I would look at the book the that they enter plot number and date details thats how I found out about my Uncle also the granite was stolen off the grave as every thing is entered in a book

I found many contradictions with research on history and geni. the problem is that often a respectable person simply takes information over from other sources without checking for correctness.

DJ Mitchell --thx . Mitchell ? my grandfather's sisters husband but they most gone from SA .

What does one do ? Information from a Death Notice or the Gravestone ?

In most instances the Death Notice contains more reliable information. Sometimes the family took liberty with the deceased's information.on the gravestone.

I would probably try to find the death certificate or death notice. Gravestones are added, often, long after death. So maybe that is why the dates differ. Or family simply take a stab at date.
Also seen baptism or birth dates differ by a year on the gravestone.

Does detail really matter so much? The person is dead, so you can't change that fact, and if he died three days before the date on the tombstone, does it really hurt?

Albrecht -- yes it matters .

similar named in dividuals often die same period .
e.g. found 2 FJ van Rensburg born1872 died 1960 --two different men .
On Geni they each had the others d.o.b and death , wrong parents but correct wife and children .
It matters very much .

I am one of 3 JP Weyers : born 1956 - alive , 1957 died 2001 , 1958 - alive

So easy to go wrong .

I would say that the documentation at death would take preference above a gravestone.
The information on death the notice is legal as far as I know, while the gravestone is mostly a private matter.
If the gravestone data is the best you have, you could use it till better data comes available.

Adriaan - that's exactly what I would think .

OK then it matters. sorry.

Drummond Corrie --as his descendant it is your duty to correct the mistake ----

Albrecht --the little things , the nail , the shoe , the horse . the battle ----

@ Thanks for this discussion. I realised a few months ago that the information on my Grandfather Botha's gravestone are wrong. To many people contributing to that information.
I think that the information on the death notice would be more correct than gravestones. That is an official document which I have found up to now being a great help.