Ancestry hints. Some are useful.

[Gone]

Last night's visit to ancestry (first in about a year) is a good example.
One hint which can't be proved as far as I know but the hint had been added to 10 trees.
I've a current post about that. Moses Green etc.
But then another hint relating to a great uncle who I have not only met, but have lots of stuff on, including photos.
Someone in the USA had him on their tree, wrong birth year, wrong death year (by 30 years) and I've no idea who the photo was of, it wasn't him. But, others will copy it 😕

[Caw1]

I too have found information from hints that once checked have been correct...
It’s a bit like measuring or cutting... check twice cut once although in Ancestry’s case check every other available information before deciding to use it...
I’m always staggered how much incorrect information people add to their trees without looking at dates, ages, times etc when there’s no way it’s correct...
Methodical research is the key!

Caroline

[Gone]

I too have found information from hints that once checked have been correct...
It’s a bit like measuring or cutting... check twice cut once although in Ancestry’s case check every other available information before deciding to use it...
I’m always staggered how much incorrect information people add to their trees without looking at dates, ages, times etc when there’s no way it’s correct...
Methodical research is the key!

Caroline

Some definately need checking, and some are very helpful.
But like one I found yesterday that someone added to their tree as the mother of my scottish 6x gt grandfather, I'm not related to Lady Sinclair of Sinclair Castle..... Some people can't help themselves 🏰 😏

[Caw1]

😂😂😂😂 pity though!

[Gone]

😂😂😂😂 pity though!

Oh, I know.
Common as muck me. 😂

[dowdstree]

I agree with others regarding Ancestry hints and family trees. Some are useful and some a load of rubbish

However I had two great finds recently from Ancestry hints.

My great uncle George Small from Dundee disappeared after the 1901 Scottish Census. I searched all records all over the world including WW1 but never found any concrete evidence that related to him so he was one of my brick walls. Then a hint came up on Ancestry for Fold3. They were offering a week's free trial so I decided to take it. Lo and behold there he was with the correct date of birth, Dundee address for his mother and her name. The sad thing is that he was killed in action in 1918 and has no known grave.

Whilst I had my free week on Fold3 I also searched for William Brown - brother in law to George - who according to family stories had perished in WW1. Not an easy name to research and again he was a brick wall. Now I have found him too with all the correct family details. Sadly he too was killed in action with no known grave. The lady who is my avator was George's mother and mother in law to William.

So amongst the many ridiculous hints you can on occasion find a real gem.

Dorrie

[PaulineJ]

What gets me wound up about the hints is that you can't tell 'em that I never, ever want to see the hint again.

Eg it keeps offering me an 1851 census hint for an infant born and died 1890.
Nope, it's never going to be her, review it, state it's not her, and they'll file it away with ignored hints, ready to offer it again.

You can't reject their hints, only "ignore" them

[Gone]

What gets me wound up about the hints is that you can't tell 'em that I never, ever want to see the hint again.

Eg it keeps offering me an 1851 census hint for an infant born and died 1890.
Nope, it's never going to be her, review it, state it's not her, and they'll file it away with ignored hints, ready to offer it again.

You can't reject their hints, only "ignore" them

It would be nice to add a note to the hint saying "it can't possibly be right because........" so others don't add it.
That's what keeps it circulating, others adding it

[coombs]

I spent a long time the other day researching the convent that Helen Edgington lived at in 1910 in North Hackney. Once called Stonard House, Stamford Hill, and was a ladies school in 1881. She must have spent some time there during her domestic service training.

One of the few Ancestry hints that has opened up a story on my great gran.