How to reflect a couple never married or lived together, but had a child
I am working with someone who, through DNA, recently found the name of her biological father. There was never any relationship between the biological father and mother, other than a "one night stand" (her words, not mine). Her biological father did have a wife and family. What is the best way for her to enter the information in the tree without it appearing that her mother and biological father were married? She doesn't like seeing "add spouse," is there a way to change the wording? I know there are relationship events, but none cover this issue; they didn't have a common-law relationship nor did they live together. The other family is aware of her and has welcomed her. She wants to be sensitive to their feelings but would like to have her biological father and that line in her FS Tree. I know that she can add a comment and explain things on the "collaborate' page, but if she prints out a Family Group Record, it shows Husband and Wife. I don't find anywhere that the labels can be changed. Any ideas or suggestions?
Answers
-
I have a somewhat similar situation in a line that I am working. I have entered the children and their mother and connected them to the father(s) of the children. I have not been able to find any indication of marriage(s) to these men. Without that marriage information, FS lists it as "No Marriage Information". You can define the biological relationship for the child by clicking on the "pencil" beside the child's name and edit the drop down appropriately. In my case, the mother ultimately married an individual who was not the father of any of the children. Their marriage information is included appropriately. In your case, the marriage and family structure would also appear appropriately. (Just the way I have worked the documentation; I'm sure there are other solutions as well.)
0 -
I add all the information. I have an adopted relative and I gave that person 3 sets of parents. One set is adopted adoptive mom and dad, and the adopted relationship is shown. Second set of parents is birth dad and birth dad's wife. Relationships there are biological and step. Then I have the third set of parents as birth mom and birth mom's husband. Relationships there are, again, biological and step. All six trees are richly researched, including second wife of birth mom's husband. I am currently collaborating with the husband of a half sister of this adopted relative. Not sure you can get more complicated than that! We had a 1 hour 30 minute phone call last week to compare notes. And yes, I am doing his tree too. For me the word "family" is a massive big umbrella.
I feel that is the way you should document family.
1 -
@Gail S Watson I like your approach! I also believe in documenting the family relationships as you have outlined. That reflects the complete picture--biological and adopted--for all families involved. That's the most important thing. Thanks for clarifying.
0 -
It has its drawbacks (such as the perpetual "Add Spouse" buttons), but I think this is the arrangement that best reflects the facts in such a situation:
The above corresponds to the following entries for the mother:
If the stepfather-stepchild relationship is added, like this:
Then the child's Family Members section will look like this:
...which can get somewhat confusing, but makes it pretty clear that bio dad never had any relationship to mom.
2 -
@Julia Szent-Györgyi How diligent of you to do the screen shots! I started taking a screen shot but I wanted to black out all identities, even of the deceased and it was taking too long so I gave up.
There is a lesson here for why you should always build the trees out, even for people who do not appear to be blood. My research indicated bio mom’s husband was a second cousin to bio mom. Adopted relative didn’t believe it and we had a conference call with bio mom, who is now in a nursing home. She said everything I discovered was true and they knew they were related when they got married. Thus, on birth mom’s side my adopted relative doesn’t have half siblings. They are more like 3/4 siblings-ish. And children of birth mom’s husband and second wife are also relatives.
Are your eyes glazing over yet?
One of adopted relative’s sons is really into this and is eating it all up, but adopted relative is happy too.
1 -
I hope it goes without saying that I created those dummy profiles on the sandbox (beta) site, not in the "real thing"...
It's an interesting math question: if mom and dad are second cousins, then what fraction of siblings are their kids to mom's other kid?
1 -
Julia; Thank you for the screenshots. Do Ward Consultants have access to the "sandbox" site? It would be a great tool for training new consultants.
0 -
Thank you everyone for you suggestions and thoughts. You have all been very helpful, and I really appreciate it.
1 -
Everyone has access to the sandbox: https://beta.familysearch.org/
They both use the same login credentials, so it's best to use a different browser for beta versus production. (Your browser will get all confused if you try to use both sites at once.)
2 -
This is excellent information and these questions are coming up more and more. Thank you all for being so diligent and careful to get ALL of the relationships entered correctly. I am a Family Tree missionary and I know this can get kind of complicated. Mainly, we just want to get it all correct so that people can actually see and know who their ancestors are and were.
1 -
Diane
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
[ And, I happen to be a Member of the Church ... ]
Just in passing ...
Further to; and, in support of, what 'Julie' has already proffered ...
Just to clarify ...
We work, everyday, in the "Production" (ie. "Live") Environment ...
Now ...
That Said ...
We can ALL, "Test" (or, "play around"), whenever we like, in the "Beta" (ie. "Test") Environment ...
https://beta.familysearch.org/
The "Beta" (ie. "Test") Environment, is "Filled", with SOME "Data", from the "Live" Environment ...
But ...
That Said ,,,
We can DO, whatever we like, with it; as, we are in a "Test" mode - we cannot damage the "Data".
[ The "Data", in the 'Test" Environment, is "Purged"; and, "Refilled", with updated "Data", every so often ... ]
We can even "Create" various scenarios; as, 'Julie', has done - with those "Screenshots' ...
Plus ...
The "Beta" (ie. "Test") Environment, contains both, "Updates" to existing; and, "New", features/functions/facilities, that are SOON to be "Released", in the "Production" (ie. "Live") Environment.
The "Beta" (ie. "Test") Environment, is a good place to 'see', what is 'coming up'; and, to have a 'play around', with such.
The "Beta" (ie. "Test") Environment, is also often called, the "Sandbox", that is a place to 'play around' ...
Furthermore ...
Here is a "Knowledge Article", in 'FamilySearch':
How do I use the beta version of FamilySearch?
Good Luck.
I hope, that this also helps/assists.
Brett
0
