We don't own our ancestors?

[wheeldon]

There have been lots of topics about 'tree poaching' recently.

I was wondering, if someone put 'your tree' out on the web and they had done all the research themselves but weren't related in any way, how would you feel?

If they didn't include living relatives but included all the skeletons in your ancestors closet.

I'm sure it must happen as people do get side-tracked and become interested in other peoples ancestors.

It hasn't happened to me but I think I would feel a bit miffed.

Just a wonder 

[Burrow Digger]

Get in touch with them and ask them - what are all their sources?

How do you know they are not related in any way?
Maybe they were doing it for someone else who is related?

If they found the same info you have by the same way you did, then its perfectly legal.  After all most of that info is available in various public records of one type or another.

BD

[wheeldon]

I agree BD - mine was a theoretical question.

Anyone, can come by most of the info that we have on our trees by doing research.

I'm just asking how you would feel if someone did this?

[kerryb]

I think I would contact them to find out what information they could provide me that I don't have.

I wouldn't have a problem if someone has a tree the same as mine if they had done all the research as I have.  After all with 4 x grandparents, 8 x great grandparents etc etc etc there is bound to be others out there investigating the same lot as me.  I just enjoy having contact with them. 

Kerry

[Sylviaann]

I had a strange experience on GR.  I found someone had entered some of my husbands relatives.  I was quite excited.  He provided me with lots of info about one particular family.  Then I asked how he was related.
"Ah you've spotted it have you" he said.  He is not related but had been intrigued by the family and had studied the tree as he found it on the Parish registers.  He had not connected them to the family I was researching.

Well it helped me anyway and I didn't much mind that he had put it on GR.  He must be a real enthusiast.

Sylviaann

[Nadine Moore]

I would be curious to find out what info they had. I currently have been in contact with someone who says is in my 5th cousin but I can't find the link to him. It is quite a gap so feels as though we are not related.
Dinie

[hettie2000]

Hi Wheeldon 

I'd make contact and hope that we could help one another along.... 

Through a second cousin who contacted me a while back, I've been sidetracked by a particular branch of my tree, who are not on my direct line. They are an interesting bunch and I've learnt so much social history by looking at them in more depth (which in turn has helped me understand the circumstances of my direct rellies). And because they are less straightforward than my own line (birth certs missing the father etc etc), I've (hopefully!) been able to help my cousin out where she might otherwise have been more stuck....

So I guess I'd see it as an opportunity to meet someone with a common interest and learn a bit more about the family!

 

[Burrow Digger]

I'm just asking how you would feel if someone did this?

I'd be estatic. and would be asking if they had any info that I don't have.

I have one Scottish gt grandmother who's entire family tree given to me because others had spent years researching it.  I just had to add in my little branch - which they were very happy to get.

Now if only someone out there was connected to my BURROW family.

BD

[Comosus]

I would certainly contact them and see if they had any other information.  However I have contacted people before who have added the family of the in-laws and I found it quite disappointing - I thought I had found someone descended from a sibling of my G Grandmother but all they had was census information I already had.  It would really depend on how much information they could give me that I didn't already have.

Andrew