I've noted before that online trees need to be treated with a great deal of caution, as not everyone out there is a meticulous researcher and errors can be made. It is worthwhile, however, to note that errors can also be made in original records themselves, and even more in transcribed records.
When official records are transcribed, generally there are several checks and safety protocols in place to minimise errors. This does not mean that errors do not occur, and it is always wise to be alert for any anomalies. Below is a screenshot of one such error I recently located.
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This transcribed record for the baptism of Hannah May leapt out at me when I first located it. Why?? Check the birth and baptism dates again.
Fairly high on my list of impossible things would be being baptised six weeks before you were born. Something has been transcribed incorrectly in this record. Possibly the dates are transposed and Hannah was born in July and baptised in August. Possibly one of the months was transcribed incorrectly. With no original image to check, I will need to dig further to find out.
So remember, never take any record you find as absolutely correct. Human error is always a possibility, and finding corroborating evidence for any fact is a wise move.
