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Topic: Family history is thoroughly corrupted (Read 2264 times)
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 11933

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I agree Joe
I found one yesterday where there were 5 trees all exactly the same of one of my families that tally with the verified information and with what I have found but the 6th tree had a death in Germany!!!! The man actually died in Lincs where he was born and lived through 4 census returns. He died in Lincs, I have the death certificate!
Where the death in Germany came from I can only guess. I wasn't very good when I started this but now every single bit of information that goes into by tree I give the source, and date found and that gets passed on to anyone I happen to pass the info on to.. I never believe anything given to me until it is verified, as difficult as that can be sometimes and I desperately desperately wish that others would do the same. 
Kerry
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk
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charlotteCH
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 3165

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Checking references and verifying sources is basic. I avoid any data passed on which does not tell me the source in such a way that enables me to follow thru and satisfy myself that it's correct, and has been correctly passed on to me.
Trees online are a hazard- and certainly no way to proceed with reliable research.
charlotte
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HARGREAVES, HANSON, BAILEY, BURTON, HEWITT, JAGGER, LOCKWOOD, UTTLEY, RUDD, TAYLOR, HOLDEN, SHAW Halifax / Sowerby/ Southowram 18C+
GILL, Accrington, Blackburn, West Derby, Lancs, migrated USA 1891 to RI: GILL in SC: HOTCHKISS in RI: PELOQUIN in RI
HUMPHRIES, HILLIER, ALLEN, LYDBURY Nunney/Frome 18-19C
HUMPHRIES, JOYCE, HEWITT, ROBINSON, McMULLEN, SUFFEL, CARNEY, MARRON, COMPTON, FREEMAN Ont. Canada 1830+
PILSEN, Sask.
82nd Regt of Foot 1808-1825 1st WRY Militia 1780-1800
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csh
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 42
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Firstly, I do not have my tree on the net.
While browsing Axxxxxxy family trees I come across quite frequently my gt grandfather is named in trees.
I have the shortest genealogy line in history, can name them on one hand., so why does his name crop up.
I check the trees if it is a public tree and cannot see any connection with him and the rest of the tree.
Please understand I might be wrong and is missing the missing link.
Because my line is short obviously I have spread out sidewards to include my gt gt grandfathers brothers and sisters to make my tree interesting for me.
Secondly, if while browsing these trees and you see an obvious mistake do you contact the owner of that tree to correct them. I dont but I do get irritated by it.
I try to back up and have a paper trail for verification when I can, if not, even my research has a question mark on it.
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mike175
RootsChat Veteran
    
Posts: 756
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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When I first started online research, I innocently downloaded information from several online trees. Some of them proved to be valuable links to previously unknown branches, others may well be accurate but I've yet to verify them . . . and then there are some I wish I'd never seen! 
All over the Internet information of all sorts is cut and pasted and errors are replicated to the point where 90% of it is unreliable to say the least. Even some of the news media seem to be guilty of plagiarising dubious "blogs", etc. instead of proper journalistic research but, as serious researchers we're all becoming more aware of the pitfalls and learning to check sources more thoroughly.
So . . . back to verifying sources. It's tedious work, but very satisfying when things fall into place. I just wish I'd been a little more rigorous with my earlier work.
Mike.
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Baskervill - Devon, Foss - Hants, Gentry - Essex, Metherell - Devon, Partridge - Essex/London, Press - Norfolk/London, Stone - Surrey/Sussex, Stuttle - Essex, Wheate - Middlesex/Essex/Coventry/Rutland/Oxfordshire/Staffs, Gibson - Essex
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 11933

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I have a couple of well researched lines in my tree that when I started and knew no better I just copied and pasted to my tree. However since then through my own research I have found mistakes in that research and also had contact with a some people who have pointed me in the right direction and I am always grateful for their help.
However when I have contacted other researchers because I have found different and verified information why do they have to get so defensive, I don't know how many times I've heard the phrase I've been doing my family tree for XXXX years. So because they've been doing it for years longer than me, that makes them correct and me wrong. It doesn't matter how many years have been spent on a tree, if its wrong, its WRONG!
Yes csh I get irritated too!
Kerry
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk
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Nick29
RootsChat Aristocrat
     
Posts: 2813

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"I elected not to place my tree on the net even though I subscribe to that programme preferring rather to see what trees are there that contain families that interest me."
That seems rather selfish to me. If everyone adopted that attitude, what would be the point of sites like Ancestry or GR ?
This topic is discussed in one form or another on quite a regular basis. The bottom line is that no data can be guaranteed to be 100% accurate, even when documentation is produced. The father's name on many thousands of certificates simply isn't the correct one, because infidelity and deception was as rife then as it is now, if not more so.
All you can do is to sift through all the evidence at hand, and select the data that best fits, and even then there's no guarantees that it's 100% correct.
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Best Wishes, Nick. Research interests: Field - Luton & Islington Hole - Somerset, Suffolk & Surrey Farnish, Parker, Cattermole, Last, Wasp, Church - Suffolk Lewin/Lowin/Lowen - Hertfordhire Martin - Eltham & Greenwich, Kent (London) Stead - Greenwich, London (Kent) & Maidstone Wood - Hertfordshire Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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charlotteCH
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 3165

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Another thing that is on the nose is when people get hold of photos of living family members and publish then in their "research" without even asking if it's OK to use them... Happened to me recently... 
charlotte
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HARGREAVES, HANSON, BAILEY, BURTON, HEWITT, JAGGER, LOCKWOOD, UTTLEY, RUDD, TAYLOR, HOLDEN, SHAW Halifax / Sowerby/ Southowram 18C+
GILL, Accrington, Blackburn, West Derby, Lancs, migrated USA 1891 to RI: GILL in SC: HOTCHKISS in RI: PELOQUIN in RI
HUMPHRIES, HILLIER, ALLEN, LYDBURY Nunney/Frome 18-19C
HUMPHRIES, JOYCE, HEWITT, ROBINSON, McMULLEN, SUFFEL, CARNEY, MARRON, COMPTON, FREEMAN Ont. Canada 1830+
PILSEN, Sask.
82nd Regt of Foot 1808-1825 1st WRY Militia 1780-1800
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greensleeves
RootsChat Senior
   
Posts: 332

Greensleeves
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I would not claim to be an expert in family trees, but what I have found helpful with on-line links is the sharing of information which then can be used as a guide, rather than taken on face value. I find that people who are serious researchers are quite happy to email their paperwork to back up their research, and I am delighted to receive it. However, to just copy and past from on-line trees surely takes all the fun out of the hunt? Well, it would for me, anyway.
I am fortunate that one of my trees, which goes back to about 1540, was researched by my uncle before all the wonderful on-line facilities were available. This means that he actually had to visit records offices, parishes etc to glean all the information. In comparison to his contribution, which took him about 30 years to accumulate, mine is quite meagre - I am filling in the gaps, so to speak, and adding some twigs and leaves, always conscious of how hard it must have been for him to get as far as he did.
I can't understand this quest for collecting ancestors like stamps: what interests me are the people, their stories and the way they lived. What elation when you find the 'lost' child with an aunt; what pity when you find the young widow with four small children.... To me, that's what family history is all about.
Regards Greensleeves
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Suffolk: Pearl(e) & variations - Brettenham, Hitcham,Rattlesden; Waddilove - Rattlesden and possibly Norfolk. Garnham - Belstead, Ipswich & area. Durham/Yorkshire: Sedgwick - West Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Merrington. Shadforth - Hartlepool/Stockton
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charlotteCH
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 3165

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Greensleeves, Yes about the pleasure on feels when learning details of the daily lives of those who are our ancestors and the pity on can feel for them in their griefs and the tough circs many of thme faced. They come alive to one- it has nothing to do with trying to collect huge numbers of names.
charlotte
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HARGREAVES, HANSON, BAILEY, BURTON, HEWITT, JAGGER, LOCKWOOD, UTTLEY, RUDD, TAYLOR, HOLDEN, SHAW Halifax / Sowerby/ Southowram 18C+
GILL, Accrington, Blackburn, West Derby, Lancs, migrated USA 1891 to RI: GILL in SC: HOTCHKISS in RI: PELOQUIN in RI
HUMPHRIES, HILLIER, ALLEN, LYDBURY Nunney/Frome 18-19C
HUMPHRIES, JOYCE, HEWITT, ROBINSON, McMULLEN, SUFFEL, CARNEY, MARRON, COMPTON, FREEMAN Ont. Canada 1830+
PILSEN, Sask.
82nd Regt of Foot 1808-1825 1st WRY Militia 1780-1800
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hamiltonhunt
RootsChat Member
  
Posts: 106
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Online trees can be useful for suggesting "possible" connections as long as they are used that way, as possibilities to be proven. I use them as a pointer and then look for verification documents to confirm whether or not if it is valid. So I "analyse" and "cooberate" the information and I don't make my tree public.
If I encounter someone who has strong connections, I contact them to determine if we do connect ask if they are interested in communicating. I still take anything they have with a grain of salt and do my own verification and expect they will do the same with mine.
I have contacted people and told then when I thought they had something wrong and told them what I had found. They then took a look at it with new eyes and if they agreed, corrected it. Sometimes they don't agree but so be it, I have done my best.
I have been able to focus my research more effectively and have learned a lot. Ancestry has allowed me easier access to information than I would never have dreamed of but it is only one tool. And like any tool, it is the person operating it that controls how well it functions. The same goes for the internet in general...
My tree is large because all sides of my family have large families, but i have sources to back it up. Luckley I obtained a lot of source information through the Druoin Collection. I found I had to go both /wide and deep wide since the names were so common and to try to sort out the interconnection of families.
J
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ARMSTRONG: Ireland, Ontario, Minnesota, Montana, British Columbia BUCKLEY: Ireland, Co Cork, Ontario DONOVAN: Ireland, England DOOLEY: Ireland DOWNEY: Ireland HAMILTON: Co Armagh, Co Tyrone, Penang, Straits Settlements, Somerset, Monmouthshire, Ontario, British Columbia MACKEY: Ireland, Ontario, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon McINTYRE: Penang, Straits Settlements, Middlesex SAWYER: Norfolk, Somerset, Gloucester, Canada
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Nick29
RootsChat Aristocrat
     
Posts: 2813

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Make a complaint to Ancestry - doing this is outside their terms and conditions of use.
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Best Wishes, Nick. Research interests: Field - Luton & Islington Hole - Somerset, Suffolk & Surrey Farnish, Parker, Cattermole, Last, Wasp, Church - Suffolk Lewin/Lowin/Lowen - Hertfordhire Martin - Eltham & Greenwich, Kent (London) Stead - Greenwich, London (Kent) & Maidstone Wood - Hertfordshire Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Pages: [1] 2 3 4
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