Is there any way to locate a contributor that leaves meager contact information?
As part of a yDNA project started in 2014, we have been searching for additional information on Baxter Bowling L6L2-VQC(1844-1903), of Scranton, KY. Last year, in that persons Family Search site, a picture of Baxter Bolling was posted under "Memories". Truly, a eureka moment! We had been seeking such an item for many years. Unfortunately, the contributor posted their identifier only as "XXX" plus "John XXX Tennessee.JPG", but without means to contact that contributor except through your "Messages" post. Three messages have been sent
without response. Other research methods have failed to cast light on the person behind the identifier. Can you folks help in any way with this important issue?
Ron Cochran
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Ron
Have you tried saving the photo of Baxter Bolling through a screen shot, then doing a search for the image on google or one of the other apps that will locate duplicate images? Perhaps you can locate the same photo elsewhere and see who it belongs to or where it came from.
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Hello @Ron Cochran_1 I appreciate how frustrating this must be for you but other than the message feature, there is nothing else that can be done due to privacy being protected. It is a matter of waiting and hoping they login and see the message and hopefully reply. Have you looked on other sites such as Ancestry to see if that person might be on there also? Ancestry and Our Heritage both show other trees where that person might exist. It could be they don't use FamilySearch often.
In case you want to check you have done everything we can offer, the article below details the steps you need.
I wish you the best of luck in getting into contact with this person.
Lindsay
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Ron
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, with what appears to be your first post.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Further to what has already been proffered ...
Just in passing ...
Please be, aware; and, advised ...
Unfortunately ...
[ As you have experienced ... ]
We more often than not, DO NOT always get a response.
There are often, NO responses to 'Messages' (and, even, "E-mails", if available) we send.
There are any number of reasons why other Users/Patrons DO NOT respond:
Some being; but, certainly NOT limited to ...
▬ User/Patron, has Died themselves
▬ User/Patron, DOES NOT know about 'Messages', in "User Messaging", in 'FamilySearch' (or, even, "E-mails")
▬ User/Patron, is an infrequent User/Patron, of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'
▬ User/Patron, may have STOPPED using, "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'
▬ User/Patron, may SIMPLY choose NOT to respond
In such cases, nothing much can be done.
But ...
That Said ...
IF, you have not already; THEN, give it some time ... As, they may still respond, just not in a timely manner ...
Good Luck.
I know, that this certainly does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this may provide you with, some additional, insight.
Brett
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Thanks Brett! Although you did not answer my question you addresses it quite nicely.
Ron C
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Ron
In other words ..
Short Answer (to your ORIGINAL 'Question'): EXCEPT, through "User Messaging", in 'FamilySearch' ... 'No.'
[ And, especially, if there is NO contact "E-mail" Address ... ]
Brett
ps: Been there ... done that ... still do ... (it happens, a lot)
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Thank you Preston. I have looked all places that we would call usual. All geno searches really never end. Tomorrow I will think of another likely search place and will spend more weeks sleuthing. No searcher ever really gives up. I certainly do not. Thanks for your cogent comments.
Ron Cochran
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You are very welcome @Ron Cochran_1 😊
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Mod Note: One post has been edited to remove possibly personally-identifying information.
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Why would anyone remove a possible identifier that was impossible to identify in the first place.
Ron Cochran
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Because they are a living person. Living person information in Family Tree - including user contact information - is up to that user to make visible or private - in the user account settings. If no other contact information is available - the Familysearch messaging option is the only option for contact.
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Ron
FYI
'Piper', is a "Manager", in the "Administration", in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
Often, our posts are "Edited", to "Remove", any PERSONAL information, that we have included, that MAY "Identify" us (or, "Living" individuals/persons); so as, to PROTECT our (and, their) "Privacy".
I would suggested, that your ORIGINAL post. must have contained some "Detail", of a PERSONAL nature; and; as such, your ORIGINAL post was "Edited", to PROTECT your "Privacy".
Please DO NOT bee too concerned.
Brett
ps: The "Detail" is often like, "Username"; "Password"; "Date of Birth"; etc ...
..... ie. Things, of a "Private" nature, that should NOT, be published, in a "Public" Forum ...
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Neither you, or I or anyone else can say with any accuracy that the names you refer to are actual names of people or merely collections of letters. Your point of view is most interesting. None of my posts gave away any secrets. And, I have never tried to hide my identity.
Ron Cochran
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No one is saying you were hiding your identity - what we are saying is that you included the user name of the person that posted the image that you want to contact. That user name may identify them and allow them to be contacted - which obviously their account does not wish - because they didn't include any further contact information. So to protect their possible identification that identifying information was removed. In any event - messaging the user is the best that can be done - sorry. But you are right - anyone can go view: Baxter Bowling L6L2-VQC(1844-1903) and find the picture to which you refer.
You can operate on the assumption that the person is a descendant and try researching all descendants of Baxter to locate the living person. But if they are not a descendant your descendancy search may not turn up any leads. It would be interesting to know why the JPG is named as it is. Just from looking a little it might be that the person is a descendant of Baxter's father Ezekial L767-MJ9 (there is quite a list).
You have probably also already sent a 'view my relationship' request. If the user enables this account setting it allows you to see a direct relationship path (excluding except perhaps other living persons). That might also help you locate/contact them.
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The names or identifiers or whatever you may wish to call them, can be easily seen when one looks at the original Family Search site where I found them.
Ron Cochran
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Ron
To be honest, I cannot even recall, the EXACT "Details", of WHAT was in, your ORIGINAL post.
So ...
That Said ...
'genthusiast' and I, are ONLY "Speculating", what MAY, have been "Edited"/"Removed"/"Redacted" ...
You may be correct, that such was ALREADY in the "Public Domain"; but, more often not, it is NOT.
The "Manager", may have just, erred on the side of caution ...
Better to be safe, than sorry ...
In 'FamilySearch', PRIVACY, of the "Living", is paramount.
And, the SAME, also applies, in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum - PRIVACY, of the "Living", is paramount.
Again ...
Please DO NOT be too concerned.
[ As, whatever was "Edited"/"Removed"/"Redacted", DOES NOT, really detract, from you ORIGINAL post ... ]
Brett
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Brett,
You are, of course, correct. I was most aware of the standard involved. This sojourner tried to determine the best way to encourage other geno folks to help me track down the elusive people involved. My approach was borderline correct, and my mind has not been changed by the action that occurred. Editing for an obscure reason is censorship and, in this case, counterproductive to any research project.
Ron Cochran
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Lindsay,
Thanks to you for the contribution of: "How do I send, etc.". Will read and comment.
Your help is appreciated,
Ron C
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WilcoxME,
I have never tried to search for a photo. Thanks for a premium idea. Seems like a search term should go with the request. The Family Search photo was saved and copied to several cousins and interested friends. One member of the Bolling(Bowling) family came back from Indiana and married Alberta Wells, a possible relation to your mother. That Wells Family had a store on Pound Gap Rd around Beaver Creek.
Ron Cochran
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To go to @Ron Cochran_1 ’s ancillary point regarding moderator’s edits, it can be disconcerting when your post is edited by a MOD without notice or any apparent review or appeal process that I know. Not knowing the exact item or data one is only left with speculation to judge the appropriateness of the edit.
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Chas,
There is a tendency for anyone that edits to believe that their edit is appropriate. Especially if their official task is MOD editing while they are in a MOD mood.
Ron Cochran
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Dennis,
The 3 pages of information you refer to says many times over that there is only a single way to reach secretive folks. Use messaging! I believe that has been established. I am not new to the geno game. One of the hallmarks I learned from many of my predecessors was the spirit of cooperative interaction. Is not the entire genealogy structure built upon that concept? Why would someone contribute and remain a blithe spirit? Would an advertiser write marketing copy then refuse to provide the name of the party that person represented? Should I suppose that there are people made of ectoplasm floating around our earth that are trying to tempt needy relative chasers by making tempting contributions? Looks like it!
Ron Cochran
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Every FamilySearch User is different and unique person. Some of them for security reasons do not display email address or name etc.
and there are even a few people who seem to "work in a bubble" and dont really seem to be interested in collaborating but seem to be working in a silo.
What I sense though in a large number of cases - is simply that they either are not getting the message - or that their life is such that genealogy is no longer "on their plate" at the moment.
To each his own.
You compare other submitters as an "advertiser" that would definitely be the cases in my case.
BUT Truth is there are certainly some portion of FS user who by no means are trying to advertise their identity, information, interest simply because they happen to submit some record at one single point in their life and use of FS.
Other people seem to have a paranoia of placing any contact info on line.
Other people may have simply stopped using FamilySearch. just because they have other things in their life taking higher priority.
On the other hand I think there are quite a few people who would love to make contact but for whatever reason just didnt think about the impact of setting their contact info to private and that not allowing them to make contact with people they would have loved to share info with. Some people just don't think about it.
Also my past experience tells me that just because you cant make contact with someone - doesnt always or even often mean they are truly "secretive". Each case is unique.
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