If you've ever looked at records that were created several decades ago, particularly before the turn of the century, you know that they aren't always easy to understand. Handwriting styles were different and people weren't always particular about spelling and punctuation. You'll find that some words had different meanings, and when you go back a couple of centuries, even dates were different. If you are planning to look at older records, skim through the topics listed below so that you will know in advance what to watch out for.

Dangerous dates

Handwriting

Word meanings

Location names and boundaries -- what to watch for

Outdated medical terminology

Name and word spellings

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