SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY TREE
I created at Fan Family Tree about 12 months(?) ago, and I was very happy with the result, so much so,I had it printed and framed, and it sits on a ledge in my home office. Today I have just received an email from Family Search requesting whether I would like to see my Fan Family Tree so It hought I would have another look at it on-line.
I was somewhat shocked to see that my 2 of my great grandparents had been replaced by 2 different (incorrect) people, and that 3 generations beyond them had just been deleted. I have deleted the incorrect great grandmother, but it won't let me delete the great grandmother indicating I contact Family Search.
I have no idea what happened to the correct information on this Family Tree? Where has my correct Family Tree gone!
Regards
Les
Best Answer
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@Les de Be ( & @Judy Gibson_5 )
Les ( & Judy )
[ Specifically, 'Judy': Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum. ]
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Further to; and, in support of, what has already been proffered ...
You are not alone ...
MANY; Many; many, of us, ... have been there ...
Many of us have had 'wayward' "Changes" made to our "Ancestral" Lines ...
Now ...
That Said ...
Please be aware, that technically, one DOES NOT, have a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' ...
Please let me explain ...
Technically, there is no way, to STOP, another User/Patron, working along the SAME 'Ancestral" Lines.
Unfortunately, such CANNOT be prevented.
As, basically, we are all related.
One's "Ancestral" Lines, are most likely ALSO another User's/Patron's "Ancestral" Lines, in fact, probably, that of quite a few other Users/Patrons.
Now ...
That Said ...
Basically, we DO NOT have, a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', than is common misconception.
And, OTHER Users/Patrons, DO NOT need/require, our (ie. one's) "Permission", to "Change" the information/details of "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.
Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
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Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons, DO NOT, understand, the basic 'nature' and 'premise', of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
We do not have our OWN "Tree", in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees', in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
And, most importantly ...
We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any "Registered" User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person, in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
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As such ...
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is not for all ...
I know, that this certainly does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this may provide you with, some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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Answers
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As you can read below, all of us are working on a combined tree of the human family. It is disturbing when you know you have correct knowledge and others change it. Please see the article below on latest changes. You will be able to see how your relative was changed and possibly restore it. The only problem will be if it again continues to change with incorrect information. The best solution is to send a message to the contributor making the change. They believe that they have the correct information too. You would be able to help each other. They may have knowledge of information that you don't have and vice versa. Hopefully all will be restored for you.
The overall purpose of Family Tree is to help you discover your family and, in turn, discover a bit about yourself.
- Family Tree is different from other similar genealogy sites in that it is a single, public tree linked together in families, rather than a site that only allows users to create and manage their own private trees. This distinction means that everyone works together on the same data, allowing for the potential to connect every member of the human family.
- Family Tree compares records and sources in order to help you resolve mistakes or duplication in records. It also provides messaging and collaboration tools, as well as free expert phone support, to help you resolve errors.
- Family Tree draws from FamilySearch's enormous database to provide record hints. This makes it easier to link you and your ancestors to earlier generations.
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Okay, but I'm still scratching my head on how somebody else can change MY Family Tree. I created it from myself (living person) so how can some else just change it - can they see me details, even though I am living - thought that was a privacy issue?
I know you indicate the person who changed it may think they have correct information, but when I am actually looking at ALL the relevant BDM Certificates I have on my great grand parents I don't know how somebody else can it, and also delete the generations beyond them - just wiped off without even asking.
So does that mean when I do change it, somebody else can come along and change it again? I've put 20 years of research and spent a lot of money on BDM Certificates to get my Family Tree correct, and I don't want to have to change every time somebody goes into MY Family Tree and want to change it.
Isn't there a "locking option" to stop people doing this? If they don't like the way I have my Family Tree let them do their own, NOT change mine.
Sorry if I sound cranky, but more disappointed about somebody changing my tree without consultation.
I'll see if I can contact this other person, and find out the reasoning behind it. I promise to be nice LOL!
Regards
Les
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You aren't being cranky. I know you are frustrated and upset. It is difficult for someone else to come in and change things you have worked on for years to get correct. Understand that there are many others who are related to your ancestors that you don't know. They could be related by someone's wife, cousin many times removed, etc.
Living people are in your private space meaning no one else can change them. Our privacy policy protects living people. There is no way to "lock" your account from others. That is not the purpose of FamilySearch. We need everyone to work together to find all connections.
Many who like you, don't like their tree changed, use a third party partner with FamilySearch. You would be able to create your tree on one of these platforms and only you would be able to make changes. FamilySearch can serve as a resource for record hints, etc. You can use the article Search Solutions Gallery below for help.
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Yes, "frustrated" is the word. I know there are other Trees available on the Web, and I have one on Ancestry which I have just made public because I see so many mistakes on other Trees that people just copy/paste without research. Such stupid mistakes as putting photos of ancestors who died in 1822 before cameras were even invented, or having marriages in Australia before Australia was even discovered.
Now somebody on this site just changes my own Family Tree "willy nilly" with the wrong people, and I now I have to chase them up to get permission to change my Tree........I just don't get it? If that person has died, no longer on this site, or just doesen't care, my Family Tree on this site just sits out there for others to copy the incorrect details - yep, "frustrated" IS the word.
Sorry for the rant DebDT, and thank you for your resposnses.
Regards
Les
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I can't believe Family Search is allowing changes to my own tree that I have been working on since 2006. This is the worst example of "other people's trees" corrupting years of research. Guess I'm going to be deleting my tree from Family Search. Too bad you messed up a good thing.
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It is not possible to delete profiles of deceased persons from the tree unless you can prove they never existed.
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The internal parts of my trees rarely get changed, but when they do, I know that means someone needs help with their own tree. So, more often than not, I step in and help them get their family sorted. Now and then, however, I discover the other person has actually corrected a mistake. I make mistakes too.
It is all part of the process of creating a great tree.
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@Judy Gibson_5, given that FamilySearch's Family Tree is a collaborative, single tree for everyone, I don't understand what part of it you believe is "your own", or why you're surprised that an open-edit endeavor is, well, open-edit.
Can you tell us what it was that led you to believe that this site works just like the private-tree sites? Maybe if we all get together and "bug" FamilySearch about the demonstrably-inadequate job it has been doing in explaining the single, open Tree, they can revise the explanations so that people aren't surprised by the obvious in the future. But to do that effectively, we need to know where you looked and what you read.
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@Julia Szent-Györgyi –– If your question is not rhetorical, then the answer likely is these contributors are coming here with expectations formed on Ancestry.com.
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Hi Brett
Thank you for your informative reply which probably answers my original question........not that I like the answer, but I do understand it.
I joined this site about 20(?) years ago, and although I knew the concept of the "One Tree", I still thought you could create your own personal Tree, and that Tree was yours, and other researchers could obtain information from it if so they so desired. I was unaware that other researchers could change your information, but I certainly do now.
My home computer Family Tree program is the old LDS PAF program - so simple to use. It is no longer supported now, but it still can be accessed. I recently exported that Tree to Ancestry as "my Tree", thinking I had done the same when I put it here on Family Search.
I'll still use this site for research, but won't be adding any updates to the "Shared Family Tree", as it's really pointless when other people can also change what you have recorded. e.g. I just checked it then and somebody has changed my father's spelling of his surname. In the Fan Chart where one can add country codes, I had individual colours for Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, whereas somebody has changed some of those colours to the general colour of the UK. Yep, I'll just not worry about it anymore, and let other people do what they want to do with it.
Once again thanks for your reply, and to those others who have also replied just recently. To some, I understand some your frustrations about the "Shared Family Tree", and to the others I understand your explanation of the "Share Family Tree".
Regards
Les
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Les
Just in passing ...
[ And, just so, that you are aware, I happen to be a Member of the Church ... ]
The FREE Church, 'standalone', personal Genealogical programme, of "Personal Ancestral File" (PAF) ...
May be ... 'dead and buried' ... (Pun intended) ...
But ...
That Said ...
You can certainly "Upgrade" to another, 'standalone', personal Genealogical programme ...
Which, also has, a FREE "Basic" Version, that is more than acceptable to most Users/Patrons ...
The peogramme, is one of, a number, of "Third Party" Applications (ie. Programmes), that are "Certified", to work, with the "Family Tree" Part, of "FamilySearch'.
And, for those used to PAF; then, the 'learning curve', is NOT that steep.
As an aside ...
The Maker, of this particular Programme, GAVE, the basic "Coding", of their Programme, to the Church, to "Develop" PAF, all those years ago ...
Basically, one could consider, this particular Programme, to be, an "Upmarket" (Modern Day) version of PAF.
Now ...
That Said ...
The particular Programme, to which I allude, is called ... "Ancestral Quest" ...
And, is used, by MANY Users/Patrons, of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch' ...
Plus, the beauty, is that "Ancestral Quest" can "Read" (and, "Convert") "Old" PAF Files ...
So, that "Old" PAF Files, can be seamlessly used, in "Ancestral Quest".
The are two (x2) versions of "Ancestral Quest"
ie.
▬ the "Basic" FREE Version; and,
▬ the "Premium" ($) Version, with ADDITIONAL 'Bells & Whistles", for a NOT so princely price ...
Plus, there are BOTH, a "Windows" version; and, Apple/Mac/iSO version ...
Of course, there are OTHER "Family Tree Management" Programmes/Websites available ...
And, many of those, are listed, in the "Solutions Gallery", of 'FamilySearch' ...
Solutions Gallery
https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/
"Family Tree Management" Programmes/Websites
https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/list?category=family_tree_management
I simply suggest, "Ancestral Quest"; BECUASE, you mentioned "PAF" ...
Some Users/Patrons, use MORE, than just one, of the "Family Tree Management" Programmes/Websites ...
The choice is yours ...
Good Luck.
Just my thoughts.
I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.
Brett
ps: I like "Ancestral Quest"; but, hey, that is just me ... oh, I also like, some of the others ... I am not biased ...
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Thanks for your informative reply regarding my PAF program and your Ancestral Quest program.
I was very disappointed when LDS decided to scrap PAF, as I thought it was just so easy to use, and I could scoot around the site without any issues whatsoever (I love the "Relationship Calculator") . During the time of PAF's demise, LDS suggested a number of other programs including Legacy (both basic free and upgraded subscription). I opted for the basic free Legacy (naturally), but don't really use it. I still use the PAF program, and every now and again I export the data over to Legacy as backup.
I've since exported all the data to Ancestry, and made my Tree public, as I've seen so many mistakes on some of the other Trees, it makes my head spin. A lot of people just don't research, but just copy information from other Trees "willy nilly" and stick it on their own Tree, and the mistakes just keep on snowballing. Yes, I have made errors too, but only minor date or transcription errors, not factual errors. I'll amend my errors when found, but some people won't amend their errors. If I can't support my information, I won't guess it and put in on my Tree as some others do. I'm not perfect, but at least I think I try my hardest to be correct.
Starting to waft on a little now, so will finish. I'll have a look at the Ancestral Quest program, no harm in doing that. Never know, I might even export my PAF data over to it.........................maybe?
Regards
Les
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PAF was first released in 1984 and finally discontinued in 2013. 29 years is a very long time for a software package to be available, and while I understand that change can be hard, it is inevitable in the IT sector. I doubt that PAF will run properly on a computer or operating system from the last 10 years.
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Yes, you are correct, a change to get rid of PAF was a bit hard - "if it ain't broke why fix it?" So far the old PAF has served me well, and I will use it while I can. I am fearing the worse, that one day it may not work? Therefore my Tree has been duplicated on Legacy and Ancestry, not forgetting my 8 volumes of hard copy paper records.
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Julia recently replied as to why I thought it was "my Tree", and not a "Shared Tree"?
He's one reason, when you receive an email from Family Search (today) and the subject is this "Les, see who has been contributing to YOUR TREE" (I used capitals to emphasis the point LOL!)
Regards
Les
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Les
'Yes', such use, of the term, "Your Tree", by 'FamilySearch', has been questioned, by many over the Years ...
[ Especially, in regard, to the MANY "Campaigns", by 'FamilySearch', to ENGENDER Participation ... ]
[ Which, in your EXAMPLE, it was the case ... ]
And, yet ...
NOTHING has "Changed" ...
Hence, the CONFUSION ...
Brett
ps: Most of us agree ...
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Brett
Yes, it does confuse the issue - Your Tree/Shared Tree. Thanks for your understanding.
Regards
Les
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So which of us will make the suggestion (in "Suggest an Idea") that FamilySearch urgently needs to revise its campaign emails?
I'm unsubscribed from nearly everything FamilySearch, so I don't see the "XY, see who has been contributing to your tree" nonsense that they apparently periodically send out, but these messages clearly hurt a lot more than they might ever help. They do nothing to explain FamilySearch's approach; instead, they reinforce the widespread mental inertia that applies Ancestry's model to all genealogy websites.
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Julia
It's 'Brett'.
Just in passing ...
Seriously ...
Come on ...
You and I, both KNOW, that THE "Suggestion", HAS been made COUNTLESS times ... over these MANY Years ...
[ In various forms; but, ALL, with the SAME intent ... ]
Yet ...
NOTHING, has CHANGED ...
And, I honestly DOUBT, whether such, EVER will ...
The various "Campaigns", by 'FamilySearch', are SIMPLY, to ENGENDER "Participation" ...
Nothing more, nothing less ...
As an aside ...
What REALLY needs to happen, is that PRIOR to, the RELEASE, of ANY "Campaign", 'FamilySearch', SHOULD have a LARGE "Worldwide" FOCUS GROUP, for "Testing"; and, "Feedback", rather than what appears to be a "Very" SMALL, and, apparently, "Very" LIMITED, "Focus Group".
Such, LARGER "Worldwide" FOCUS GROUP, would hopefully, LESSEN, much of the, "Concern", "Upset"; and, "Angst", caused, by MANY, of the "Campaigns"; but, of course, NEVER eliminate ALL.
[ eg. "Thank a Contributor" ... being, a prime EXAMPLE ... ]
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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Judging by all these comments regarding my original message, it appears that the "My Tree/Shared Tree" problem has been ongoing, and previous efforts to change it have not succeeded.
That being the case, I'm not taking this any further. I know the site's reason for having a Shared Tree, and will accept the site's rules. I'm not going to "spit the dummy", and say I'll never use this site again, as I will for general research. However, I just won't be bothered to update "The Tree" again because it's pointless when other people just come along and change it again, albeit with good intentions, but the wrong information.
In saying all that, I did manage to save and print the site's Fan Chart with all the correct information and country colour coding before it was changed. It's a great way to display a Family Tree, and I have it framed in my office.
Regards
Les
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