Baptism, marriage or death

liz langford · January 11, 2022

HI, Can you please tell me what the numbers beside a persons name are used for.

I am trying to help friend with her research.

Regards

Elizabeth Langford in Australia.

Brett . · January 11, 2022

@liz langford

'G'Day' Liz

FYI

Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

Just in passing ...

Question: Are you referring to the 'FamilySearch Person Identifier' (PID), that appears as "xxxx-xxx"?

IF, you are; THEN, that is the UNIQUE identifier for EVERY individual/person, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'

Here is a "Knowledge Article", in 'FamilySearch':

What are ID numbers used for in Family Tree?

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/what-are-id-numbers-used-for-in-family-tree

IF, the aforementioned, is NOT what you are referring to; THEN, please advise.

I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.

Brett

from "Downunder" (Australia)

.

PiperTWilson · January 11, 2022

Mod Note: One post deleted to remove personally-identifying information.

liz langford · January 11, 2022

Hello, yes but my friend says her person has different numbers, why would ths be.

Ann.

Brett . · January 11, 2022

@liz langford

'G'Day' Ann

Can you please explain, what you mean by ''... her person has different numbers ...".

As an aside ...

The 'FamilySearch Person Identifier' (PID) of "Living" Users/Patrons, is UNIQUE to them.

ie.

IF, an individual/person is "Living", EACH User/Patron, MUST "Create" a COPY or ("Living") DUPLICATE version, of that "Living" individual/person, which WILL reside, in the "Private Spaces", of the particular User/Patron, who created them, that will ONLY be, 'seen'; and, accessed, by them.

I will explain in depth, in my following post.

Brett

Brett . · January 11, 2022

@liz langford

Ann

Just in case ...

Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...

------------------

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 ...

[ And, please bear with me; as, I am VERY 'Verbose' ... that is my 'style' ... ]

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'.

You can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', with another "Deceased" individual/person, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', regardless of who the User/Patron was, that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron, who initially created them - they are "Public".

In fact, you can ONLY see "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".

No other User/Patron can see ANY "Living" individuals/persons, that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces" of the User/Patron, who created them.

We CANNOT even see the ACTUAL Record, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc) if they are "Living"; and, they have their own 'FamilySearch' Account.

Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:

▬ You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.

▬ You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them with any other "Living" individual/person residing in the "Private Spaces" of another User//Patron.

There is CURRENTLY no mechanism, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons in their own "Private Spaces" with/between other/another User(s)/Patron(s).

There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws, within the many various Countries and Unions, throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.

"Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', is used in many Countries and Unions, throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws, throughout the World.

Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.

Another factor is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed', into the Programme, that is "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.

'Yes', these "Living" individuals/person, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.

I know, that there are "Duplicates", of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.

Here are some "Knowledge Articles" in 'FamilySearch' in regard to "Private Spaces" and "Living" individuals/persons: