Why should I create a FamilySearch tree when I have an Ancestry Tree?

MichaelGoodjohn

I first came across FamilySearch as an extra source of information which I hadn't found via Ancestry searches. Now I am being encouraged to create a FamilySearch tree.

Isn't this duplication?

LGPreston

Good evening @MichaelGoodjohn. Thanks for posting in our Community!

There is a lot of duplication, but one of the benefits of having a tree on FamilySearch, is that it enables you to benefit from other peoples research where yours may overlap at some point. It also points out possible duplicates as it is one big world tree, which further may help you link your family tree to others on there.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/what-is-the-purpose-of-familysearch-and-family-tree

I tend to use both as there are benefits to each site. It's definitely worth inputting your info to create your branch of the tree 😊

Gordon Collett

1) FamilySearch Family Tree has one copy of each person only. You can concentrate your research on finding new things about each person rather than duplicating research that other people have done dozens of times. (My g-g-grandfather has at least 200 trees on Ancestry. I quite counting after the first twenty pages of search results. On FamilySearch, I can help make sure only the most accurate information is contained in his profile. There's no telling how much junk is scattered throughout those Ancestry trees and how many of them don't have a single source.)

2) All relatives work together to share not only information but artifacts. (About every day I get notified of a new memory posted to one of my relative. Yes, many of the pictures may be buried somewhere in those hundreds of Ancestry trees, but I'm never going to find them there.)

3) Ancestry could go out of business and turn off their servers without warning. FamilySearch, being sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who views this as a sacred responsibility, not a business, never will.

4) Being a wiki-style, open-edit tree, you don't need to re-enter existing information into Family Tree. In fact, the vast majority of your family is probably already in it. You just need to review it all, make sure it is accurate add missing relatives, and add missing sources.

5) Again, being a wiki-style, open-edit tree, you can get to work trying to finally stamp out for good all that wrong information on Ancestry trees that gets copied over and over again to new trees but which you cannot correct because you can't touch those trees or contact their hundreds of owners.

MichaelGoodjohn

Thank you to both LGPreston and Gordon Collett.

Both answers have encouraged me to use a FamilySearch tree and to continue to use my existing Ancestry tree.

Michael Goodjohn

LGPreston

@MichaelGoodjohn you are very welcome! I’m so glad you are willing to try it out. It’s a wonderful resource for so many reasons. Don’t hesitate to come back if you have any further questions 😊