Interpretation of the multiple birth and death records for Nellie Penfield has not been easy. First, there are two birth records, with different years of birth, 1881 and 1882 (but same month and day). Second, there are multiple death records, with dates 1881, 1882, and 1883. All these have the same parents. Some of these records have images available, and those that do have two different images, both handwritten but one more legible and presumably copied from the other.

The birth date used here is 1882 because that date is found in the birth record with an image. The birth record dated 1881 is presumed to be incorrect.

Among the death records with images, two have death date 1882, consistent with this birth date and the stated age at death, 2 months. These two images have consistent data.

The record with death date 1881 is assumed to be incorrect.

The records with death date 1883 have the age at death equal to 6 years, and are presumed to apply to Nellie’s older sister, who was called Vina in her birth record. Vina’s birth date is consistent with this interpretation. No other death record for Vina has been found (or, for that matter, reference to any event after 1883).

Paul Penfield, Jr., editor. Created 21 May 2015.