KIRSTY Gray explained the pitfalls one comes across when searching surnames at the March meeting of Andover Genealogical Society.

Her great grandfather was Richard Silliphant and this surname has been transcribed in many forms. The enumerator would spell it as he heard it and then of course you had to make allowances for regional accents.

In some records the S has been transcribed as an L.

She said that one must bear in mind that the earlier records were hand written and then typed so there was plenty of room for error.

She gave some very useful tips including that in the 1911 census suffragettes refused to fill in the census so the enumerator would have to enter them on the form and the M in front of the surname denoted MISS not the person's forename. She told the meeting to expect the unexpected and sometimes the downright ridiculous but to be imaginative and persevere.

The society hold their meetings on the second Thursday of each month at the Weyhill Fairground Hall. They meet at 7.15 for 7.30pm start.

At their next meeting on the 13 April they shall be having a talk on ‘Hidden Mormon Ancestors’. All are welcome to attend.