Searching Ancestry Public Trees

[bugbear]

I know it is usual to denigrate the inaccuracy and fallibility of these, but I find them quite useful (as long as you're careful...).

Recently, I've noticed that Public Tree are no longer included in an "All Categories" search, you have to explicitly request a search of ONLY public trees.

I lost a couple of hours yesterday digging out poorly indexed records that were already "packaged up" as part of someone's public tree.

Was this a deliberate change? Am I the only one seeing this change?

  BugBear

[Gadget]

Hi

I've not noticed any changes but don't look at them too often.

I usually get them up this way:

Home page - click on Search - select Public Member Trees

Gadget

[Gadget]

Also, if you select Search -> All records , Trees and Public Member Trees  are listed in the right hand column.

Gadget

Added - if I do a Search All records, I often get offered info from Public trees

[bugbear]

It's a check box! (see attached).

I must have  (recently) accidently toggled it off.

 BugBear

[lizdb]

I would say it is Good if they are not coming up on searches alongside actual surviving records!!!

By all means people can look at them, but a clear distinction between them and actual original records can surely only be welcomed.

[Gadget]

Just ignore them or don't select them, unless you really want to look!

[bugbear]

Just ignore them or don't select them, unless you really want to look!

I find them very helpful. Like all information in research, it needs careful evaluation.

I use them as indexes.

To quote FreeReg;

"The FreeREG database is just a finding tool. It should not be considered to be *proof* that such event was recorded."

And thus it is with public family trees.

  BugBear

[Gadget]

I said  'in case you want to look'

Most are pretty dire and totally unsourced. I've looked at quite a few from DNA matches.

[bugbear]

I said  'in case you want to look'

Most are pretty dire and totally unsourced. I've looked at quite a few from DNA matches.

Indeed - given that I'm using them as pointers to records, I ignore uncited trees completely.

As with all research, it's matter of sifting the useful from the useless.

 BugBear