Genealogy Chat

I have been working way back today to late 1700s in my direct line. I have the baptism records for a rellie and her father's name is David. I had a look at the hints on Ancestry and there were four public trees all containing my rellie BUT all of them have her father's name as John, with no sources. Looking into what these trees have in common they really do seem like they have all been copied from each other.

I know it's daft but I get really annoyed. I just can't be bothered to contact them with a copy of the source as they don't seem particularly bothered if their research is accurate or not.

Am I being mean? What would you do?

Sue

I'd let them know. I think you want to really!
Jan

I wouldnt bother telling them, if they are interested they will see your entry.
I have had that on my family tree...but whats the point in doing it if its not correct?

jax

Well, you couldn't get more opposite pieces of advice could you!!
I'd do it if only so I could feel smug (joke!)
Jan

Hi I contact the owners of trees and request they point me in the right direction to find the source that verifies their information. Depending on the response I give the source information I have. Sometimes I get no response and sometimes when I have corrected their information stating source they don't change the error which carries on being copied.

I too get annoyed by the obvious errors that are copied by others on trees especially when I have the documented proof they are wrong, personally researched by me after long hours in a record office.

But I do have to remind myself that not everyone wants to be as accurate as me or wants to spend the time and money doing so. For many this is a hobby, interesting but not something to spend a great deal of time or money on....Not something I understand myself but :-)

As for contacting them well I probably would with something vague like.....'I see you have Ann Smith baptised to father John and I was wondering if you would be willing to let me know where you found that info as it will give me a further lead in my research.'.....Usually the reply will answer your question as to whether they are really interested in researching.

I remember when I first started researching I knew nothing, or better, so took everthing I was given by contacts as 'gospel'. If I looked at the tree I had then, 7 years ago, with the tree I have now...Well only the bare bones compare.....Maybe your possible contacts are at the same stage and would really appreciate a little expert guidance from you :-)

I must also add.... If a tree isn't shown as having sources it doesn't mean to say that the tree owner hasn't researched the lines thoroughly. It may mean that the tree they have on Ancestry is only a 'snapshot' of the one they have privately.

Chris

Thanks for your replies.

My tree is private (as are my cousins') because we have photographs on there. We only allow each other and family to view because of the photographs.

We each research independently and then check to see if we have all reached the same conclusion. Of course, each of us also work on the lines that don't intersect.

I might contact one of them later and use the phrase that Chris suggested.

I do appreciate the comment about sources but I find Ancestry the easiest place to reference all the sources. I'd be surprised if none of these people chose to keep their sources with their tree.

Thanks again for your comments

Sue

Hello Sue,
Good luck with your contact.
I have been searching for over 10 years for the parents of my GG grandfather. Coincidences re occupation and having 'siblings' baptised in his stated village of birth lead me to possible parents, but I've found nothing definite to link them.
This has not stopped several people claiming to know that his father was Thomas.
I tried the approach of saying something like..." Well done, it's great to see that you've found Henry's parents. Please could you share with me, where you found the information?"

Still waiting to hear, ..several years on.


Gwyn

Oh Gwyn, 10 years! how frustrating for you. I'm lucky having two cousins, one of whom is a brilliant, methodical researcher, it's a shame she doesn't share my blasted Knights and Lightfoots...lol

We can all make mistakes (I know that to my cost by not double/triple checking something) but just to accept what someone else has stated as a fact I cannot do that.

Good luck Gwyn I hope you find him.

Sue

Thanks Sue.

I have spent hours in Record Offices looking for Henry's parents, but just put him to one side for a while sometimes and turn my thoughts to my Welsh crowd.
My DAVIES marrying DAVIES helps me forget my Henry for a bit !

Gwyn

Oooh Gwyn.........do you think it's something about the name Henry?!.......my gg grandfather also called Henry had no parents and was never born either.....I swear he was beamed down to Earth from another planet LOL.

Mary

Lol Mary....Could be.

What I have noticed on these boards is how often people are looking for a baptism around the same time ie. c.1812.
I know that the baptism register format changed about then, but did so many get missed off when they made the change-over of books ?

Sorry Sue... We've strayed from your original question on this thread....


Gwyn

Sue - if it were me, I'ld definitely contact them, and ask them why they think it's John when I think it's David - I'ld also offer to send my document if they send me their real email addy.

In one instance, where I thought it was James and they had Jacob, I sent the census image and got in return an RC baptism image where the father was Jacobus, which they'd mistranslated as Jacob. In another case, I had the b.cert of a sibling which corrected his version of the mother - he'd picked wrong Eliz on a GRO index page, but he did send the father's b.cert which I didn't have. I suppose the moral is be nice, and sometimes nice things happen.

Re your comment: "but I find Ancestry the easiest place to reference all the sources"
It really is a question of what sources you're listing, and what Ancestry sub you have - there's plenty of sources that aren't really convenient. E.g., stuff from DurhamRecordsOnline, LDS Durham Bishop's Transcripts, ScotlandsPeople's BMD certs, Library & Archives Canada's census and passenger images (with the wrong sub), etc..

I find Ancestry the best for me as grandparents gt grandparents all came from london, marriage certs and baptisms have been great. Although one of my grandmothers always told the family she came from Ireland funny thing is cannot find any of her family for the last 200 years moving from north london.
I personnally do not need anything else apart from 1911 which I have just subscribed to, only for helping others now.
I got in touch with a distant cousin (our grandfathers were brothers) and found her grandfather was poss not the son of xxxx because he was baptised yyyy being the eldest child born out of wedlock...but if that was me that would be the 1st thing I looked for if I couldnt find his birth registration

On another side of my family someone has just assumed they married in 1836 as 1st child born in 1837 but if they looked at the 1841 census the so called wife and child had different names and they eventually married in 1863 which was quite easy to find in London probably didnt realise both were already married and are widow/widowers on marriage cert

I have been in a similar position, advised a person that I thought my ancestor's line continued because of ...., and asked if maybe my discovery could have been incorrect and, if so, if another source could be suggested to me.

I found that someone had the wrong marriage on their tree. I contacted them and also sent a copy of certificate for the correct marriage.They did not acknowledge it or change the tree.

If I have made mistakes I am always pleased to be corrected otherwise your tree is not true.

Thank you for the most recent replies. I will contact one of the people who has the error and see what the response is.

Also I'll speak with one of my cousins who has this line (I am one generation further back than her at present) and ask her to check my research but, for once, I am 100% certain...lol

Sue