There is a mistake on my family tree and I want to delete the person showing as a parent but can't
Somehow there is a different person showing as a grandparent and that has meant a whole lot of others have been linked (without my knowledge or agreement). I want to delete the person and then put accurate info, but it won't let me do it. I can edit info but it's fundamentally a totally different person with all the census records and all. How do I delete it? I hope someone can help me!
If I can't, then can I delete my whole tree?
Delwyn Hyslop
Answers
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Delwyn
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
You are not alone ...
Many of us, understand your concern ...
MANY; Many; many, of us, ... have been there ... done that ... still do ...
Many of us have had 'wayward' "Changes" made to our "Ancestral" Lines ...
Now ...
That Said ...
For starters ...
Please be aware, that technically, you DO NOT have a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' ...
Please let me explain ...
[ And, please bear with me; as, I am VERY 'Verbose' ... that is my 'style' ... ]
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.
Your "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 "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
Please let me explain ...
We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" 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 "Family Tree" 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" 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 "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" 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 "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
I hope that this gives you some, insight; and, perspective.
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In other words ... "Collaboration" ...
Of course ... often ... easier said, than done ...
[ Sometimes, no matter how hard one tries, "Collaboration", does not work ... such is life ... ]
Plus ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of US are PREFECT ...
None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.
More to follow ...
Brett
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Delwyn
Next ...
Lets take a 'look' ...
▬ Go to the record of either, your Mother; or, your Father, depending whether the Grandparent that you are referring to is, "Maternal"; or, 'Paternal".
▬ On the 'Right-Hand-Side', of the "Person/Details" page/screen, go to the "Latest Changes" Section.
▬ Go to the 'Bottom' of that Section; and, select "Show ALL".
▬ That displays the "ChangeLog" for that individual/person.
▬ Go 'Down' towards the 'Bottom' of that "ChangeLog".
▬ Look for the ORIGINAL Parents.
▬ Then, go 'Up' the "ChangeLog", try and 'find'; and, 'see', what happened to the ORIGINAL Parents.
▬ They could have been either, "Detached"; or, "Merged"/"Combined".
Once you have an understanding as to what has happened ...
Now ...
Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch':
How do I see what changes were made about a person in Family Tree?
And ...
A person in Family Tree has the wrong spouse
https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/a-person-in-family-tree-has-the-wrong-spouse
How do I restore a deleted relationship in Family Tree?
How do I correct parent-child relationships in Family Tree?
How do I undo a merge in Family Tree?
https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-undo-a-merge-in-family-tree
How do I restore a deleted record for a person in Family Tree?
Go through those "Knowledge Articles".
See if you can work through things, with those "Knowledge Articles".
See how you go.
Let us know.
I hope this; and, those "Knowledge Articles", help, somewhat.
Brett
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That's a lot of stuff to wade through. The short answer is: you don't delete the person, you unlink them. If it's a child attached to an incorrect parent, unlink the child and parent. If it's incorrect spouses, find the incorrect marriage and unlink the two. Another way of saying it is, delete the incorrect relationship, not the person.
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Of the advice provided above, probably the article at https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-correct-parent-child-relationships-in-family-tree will best suit your needs in this case.
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