How do I lock down my carefully researched tree from beginners with no clue?
There are those tender new shoots on the hunt to build their tree with their research and /or sources who delete or add willy nilly.
Best Answers
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Valerie
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Short Answer: You CANNOT ...
You are not alone ...
MANY; Many; many, of us, ... have been there ... done that ... still do ...
Many of us have had 'wayward' "Changes" made to our "Ancestral" Lines ...
And, we understand; where, you are coming from ...
But ...
That Said ...
Technically, there is no way, to STOP, other Users/Patrons, from working along, the SAME 'Ancestral" Lines.
Unfortunately, such CANNOT be prevented.
Like it or not ...
Please be aware, that technically, you DO NOT have a "Tree", in the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch' ...
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.
Please let me explain ...
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.
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 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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Now ...
That Said ...
Hence, why MANY Users/Patrons, of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', (STILL) maintain their OWN "Personal" (and, often "Private") "Database(s)", of their "Ancestral" Lines, on the likes of:
(1) 'On-Line' "Websites"
..... (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or,
and/or,
(2) 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes
..... (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
As an aside ...
Please be aware that ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of us are PERFECT ...
[ Plus ... we were ALL NEW once ... ]
None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', like it or not, is a "Collaborative" effort.
[ Although, unfortunately, "Collaboration"; and, "Co-operation", DO NOT, always work, 'hand in hand' ... ]
The "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', just does not suit, ALL Users/Patrons ...
As an aside ...
Sometimes, it is a matter of "Watching" (oops, sorry, 'old school', "Following") our MOST important Ancestors.
Just to keep on top of any 'wayward' changes.
One can "Follow", up to a Maximum of x4000 individuals/persons, at any given time.
'FamilySearch', sends one, a 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION, of ANY "Changes", that are made to those individuals/persons one "Follows".
Better still, I DO NOT 'Wait' for that 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION ...
I check, the "Changes", to those that I "Follow", on a "Daily" Basis; so that, I can keep on top of things.
More often that not, nothing needs to be done; but, at least, I have the opportunity, to be abreast of things; almost as, they happen/transpire/unfold.
Such is not the best; but, certainly better than nothing ...
I know that this certainly does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this might provide you with some additional, insight; and, perspective; plus, other avenues to consider.
Brett
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Every individual person has an icon beside their name. Clicking on the icon brings up a box which allows changes to be made to relationships, such as parents in this case. You can "unlink" people from wrong relationships without deleting the people from the database.
You can follow people who you have changed in order to check whether someone is making further changes to them. You will receive reports from FamilySearch on these people if they have changes made. Click on the star under the person's name to follow them.
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Answers
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Hi, Brett;
I thank you for the time to respond and remind me that I am out on a limb (literally). And the thought that it may happen again. I appreciate the feedback/information and did replace what went missing.
Valerie
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Thank you for your explanation. I was not exactly aware of how the collaborative nature of this site actually worked (or didn't...). An individual went in and designated about eleven of my relatives - cousins, second cousins, an uncle, & a brother - as deceased. I had to check with one of my cousins about her father, because he is the only remaining sibling of his generation, is quite up in years, and could pass at any time. So... I had to upset her, do extensive editing & commenting, & try to figure out how to prevent this from happening again... I see now that I cannot prevent this from happening. Anyone can take a whim to decide someone has died & declare them so. There wasn't even any corroborative evidence of these relatives' deaths - just an aunt died, so these people must be dead too... I guess... I don't know what the thought process was. Or if there was one. It's very frustrating. I'm not really good at this, I don't have much money to subscribe to a number of different sites, so I try to avail myself of the ones that either don't charge much or don't charge at all. Y'all have a sterling reputation among those of us researching our family trees. It's a shame that one person can go on a death-dealing spree & sully such a fine work in progress. I have made the necessary adjustments, although now I have to wait to see if me having a conversation with the person this morning is sufficient to prove them not dead... and I have not been terribly gracious in some of my comments - after the fourth or fifth person my patience began to wear very thin. And it was done by a "fourth cousin once removed"... we've never met, probably will never meet, he doesn't know ANY of the people he so blithely committed to the grave... but now I know - I will use your site primarily for research ONLY, & preserve my work on Ancestry.com, where I can control who makes blunders & who doesn't, myself included. It's too bad, I like your site... but you made it quite clear that no one possesses anything here. So if that's the way it is, that's the way it is. Thank you again for the thorough explanation. Happy collaborating! May your God go with you.
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😀
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Hello @valeriejeanbattrum, @DeborahHill90
I recently had the experience of discovering that the record for my 4th great grandmother had had another husband and a child added to her ID! What!!!!
When I investigated, thoroughly checking the sources myself, I found that she did remarry after her first husband died, had a child and died shortly after!
I would not have known about this extra branch on my tree but for this other contributor.
Because of other contributors to "my" tree, I now have photos, extra children and new found living relatives that I didn't have previously. I have even travelled to other countries to meet these other contributor cousins. What joy!
These are the benefits of contributing to a world wide tree.
YES! I have had some weird and incorrect messes to sort out as well. But I am prepared to do that to gain the treasures that come with working together with my cousins.
I would like the collaborative nature of the Tree to be promoted more so that we are all reminded of this fact.
To prevent incorrect changes - as @Brett . has explained, I use Follow. I also add Life Sketches and Sources. I hope these will help others in determining whether "my" ancestor is also their ancestor. These also help me when I am sorting out a tangle.
If you would like your own tree on FamilySearch there is the option to add a GEDCOM of your data to the Pedigree Resource File. Your tree in the Pedigree Resource File can't be changed by anyone else. For further details about this see https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-upload-my-gedcom-file
But, hey, researching one's family should be a pleasure. If it's not a pleasure on FamilySearch, then I am glad you will preserve your family on Ancestry.
Best wishes for your research. I hope it's rewarding.
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@Mark McLemore has mentioned, recently, that there is an effort underway to help contributors better understand the collaborative nature of the FamilySearch tree.
I, too, have had the happy experience of learning of unknown ancestors added by other contributors. And the sad experience of happy clickers who change correct information. I have learned to use the happy clicker experience to add more sources, including detailed proof statements, to help others learn about our shared ancestors.
I am not of the LDS faith. I am a dedicated and determined genealogist and family historian.
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They should only work on their own tree then! If they have a suggestion, they can send me an email and I will respond why it is or is not correct. They destroy my tree and I don't have the ability to delete the input. Which is wrong. Do you want correct info - or just info regardless of correctness? I have spent 30 years on my study of my family - I can delete my tree - which I am ready to do. I love your site - but not this aspect.
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I keep "my" tree on my computer, using my preferred software, Gramps.
I consider the Family Search tree to be an information resource, that I share with other people who have the same ancestors. I add/correct information on the collaborative tree when I can, as thanks for the information that I get for it. Also because adding information that I know makes it more likely to find information that I am interested in.
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As others had said, I've had the same problem. I found records of my grandmother & grandfather, actual court records. I put them into this site. My brother takes them out, puts in not true records with no evidence. And it happens over & over. Now I'm told that I can "NOT" put anything in this site unless my brother approves of it 1st. How does that happen? I did not know anyone in my family was on this site. Started putting in records that I have. Then all of a sudden, I can no longer do this. Seems no one is in charge of this site. How does 1 person that actual has documents from the courts be able to put those records in of family members, yet another family member can keep taken them out? But a person that has "NO" records and only hear say put in false records, no proof of any records whatsoever? That is what is happening with my records. And I question this before and get no reply from anyone at this site. So basically, anyone can put down anything on this site be true or not true because nobody checks out the facts on this site. If a problem arises there is no one that you can get ahold of to correct the problem. And I would not believe anything on this site now because what I'm going thru. Actual court records verses hear say. And you let 1 person control what can be put down and only what that 1 person wants to be put down. There's another problem with this site too, letting someone else use another's account that has been dead of many years. I think that was finally taken care of after I asked how is this happening? The person's dead? A lot of things happening that shouldn't and no one's in charge of this site. And if I'm wrong prove me wrong, contact me on this matter & I'm not talking about other members of this site, I'm talking an actual person that is in control of this site.
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This collaborative aspect of the "tree" is horrible. One cannot even delete a tree once you add it. I will never put any more information on Family Search. I will continue to search - but I will NOT add any information! I wish I could remove the individuals I have on the site. I also use Roots Magic and I have had to un-enable Family Search from there - lest some nubie somehow manages to screw up my years and years of research. There should be some way to designate each person that one considers "solidly researched" and add some sort of "possible additional information" button to that person - rather than allowing people who just started researching last week from bombarding ancestors with useless information and junk research. That way some actual communication can be done before some unrelated goofball and his 8 unrelated kids are attached to my great-great granduncle who was a monk living in a monastary. How about - "ASK BEFORE ADDING" Button!!
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