How to Read and Interpret the Potts Database Search Results

Last Revised: February 21, 2008

Individual's Vitals Fields Explanations

Given names with a number after them indicate re-use within a family, usually because the earlier-born same-named child died. If the individual's surname was not POTTS then it is included [in brackets].
Only the father's given names are shown since the surname POTTS is assumed. If the father's surname was not POTTS then it is included [in brackets].
The mother is listed as Maiden Name,Given Names. An asterisk "*" in the Father and Mother fields indicates that the entry is based solely on census information.
The individual's birth date is listed as YYYY MMM DD. If the date is approximate a ca. (circa) precedes the approximate year. A "b" or "c"after the date indicates a baptism or christening.
"+" indicates birth/marriage/death was after that year, "-" indicates birth/marriage/death was before that year.
All locations are listed as Country (U.S.A. assumed unless otherwise listed),Region or State,Locality. For a list of location abbreviations used in the report click here.
Spouses (up to three) are listed as Maiden Name,Given Names. Spouse birth/death data, if known, may be found in the Spouse3 fields if they are otherwise unused.
The individuals death date is listed as YYYY MMM DD. A : "w" following the date indicates date individual's will was proved/probated, "b" indicates date of burial.
The field labeled "Issue" contains the number of children produced from the relationship. The relationship can be assumed to be a marriage unless otherwise indicated. Adoptions are indicated in the Comments field.
The field labeled "Census Info." contains some (but not necessarily all) census reports in which the individual was listed. Listed without a year it indicates a known residence. Additional census information is entered in otherwise unused fields.
The field labeled "Comment" may contain any pertinent information regarding the individual, his/her parents, source of information, etc. Comments sometimes also appear in otherwise unused fields.
The fields labeled "Ref No." and "Other No." are typically the individual's numerical designation and page number where found in the source (if a publication), or for other sources, a tree or CD number, or secondary source information.
World Family Tree (WFT) references are by volume no. followed by tree no. and can appear in any otherwise unused field.
The remainder of the information corresponds to the database field names in a similar fashion.

To view an actual database record, click here. To view a sample database record, click here. The sample record has all fields filled in with fictional information.

Source, Other, and Number Fields Notations

The field labeled "Source" contains the source(s) of the information for the database entry. Notations and abbreviations are explained below. Additional source information is often also found in otherwise unused fields.

A correspondent's name - e.g., Smith, Brown, Adams, etc.
BAW - Looking Back - The Alexander/Wells Families by Bonnie Alexander Wells
BBW - The Thomas Potts Family of South Carolina by Becky (Bennett) Wallace
BI-VRI - LDS British Isles Vital Records Index (Births or Marriages)
CD-### - Genealogical information on CD-ROM no. ###
CDP - The Family of Charles Dawes Potts by Allen Lee Potts
Cem. - Cemetery information
Census or Cen. - Census data
DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution lineage records
DSW - The Potts Family of Westmoreland, Indiana, and Nearby Counties by Douglas S. Wilson
GWP - A History of the Potts Family, compiled by Geoffrey William Potts, transcript by Barry Douglas Potts
IRAD - Illinois Regional Archives Depository documents
ISGS - Illinois State Genealogical Society documents
JIP - The Potts Family Descendants of Oswald Potts, compiled by J. Ivan Potts
JP - Jonathan Potts, 1714-1785, his ancestors and descendants by Joseph J. Reichel
KPM - David Potts - A Soldier of the American Revolution, compiled by Katherine Potts MacDonald
LDS, LDS FHL, LDS FHC - Latter Day Saints Family History Library/Center
Marr.data, Marr.dat, Mar.dta - Marriage Data from published or other sources
MEM - Memorial to Thomas Potts Jr. who settled in Pennsylvania by Mrs. Thomas Potts James [Isabella (Batchelder) James]
NA-VRI - LDS North American Vital Records Index (Births or Marriages)
PBP - The Potts Branch of the Price family tree by John Charles Price
PFG - Potts family genealogical data, LDS Family History Library
PFH - Potts Family History by Clara Ethel Potts
PFM - Potts Family miscellaneous genealogical data by Thos. Maxwell Potts (1907)
PRS - Some of the Ancestors and Other Relatives of Elizabeth Ann Potts and Kenneth Chapman Potts, by Rinehart S. Potts
Qkr - Encyclopedia Of American Quaker Genealogy by William Wade Hinshaw
Self - Information from the individual himself/herself
SSDI - Social Security Administration Death Index
TPF - The Potts Family compiled by Thos. Maxwell Potts (1901)
TPS - Thomas Potts (Shield) - And Related Families, compiled by Gloria (Potts) Stracke (1980)
TPSS - Supplement to Thomas Potts [Shield] - And Related Families, comp. by Gloria (Potts) Stracke (1991)
WFT - World Family Tree CD-ROMs, Broderbund Software (now Ancestry.com)

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