Quick Tip – Crossed Out Does Not Mean Incorrect

Just because a record or part of a record is crossed out, does not mean it is incorrect. Often, records were struck through when they were no longer valid or needed.

For example, a court record about a debt was struck through after the debt was paid, sometimes with a note in the margin about the payment. In population registers, a line was struck through if the person died or moved away. So don’t ignore evidence you can find in these records just because the words have been crossed out.

Stricken record with many corrections. Court records of Valkenburg, Nationaal Archief (public domain)