Joseph Eli Van Etten Beckstead K271-QKZ and John Tripp Van Etten Beckstead KWCB-TGD

Gloria T. Harrison

These two boys were born to Elisha Van Etten and his wife. (Joseph lived less than a month.) When John was quite young his father Elisha deserted him and his mother. A little while later, John's mother remarried as the fifth plural wife to Henry Beckstead. John lived to adulthood

In FamilySearch we do not know how to show what happened in a way that is plain and not confusing about this such as what surnames to use, how to show whether they were step, adopted, just sealed, etc. We also do not know if the deceased child was sealed to the correct father, etc. We don't know what happened at the temple sealing, what sealings should still be done, or what the rules are.

We would like to get the correct data into FamilySearch and the correct temple work done so that the questions can be laid to rest concerning these two boys.

Gloria Harrison

Gloria T. Harrison

Thank you so much for helping me with this. It took a little bit of maneuvering, but I think it shows correctly now. I also appreciated the additional email you sent clarifying the sealing of a child to his mother.

Gloria Harrison

MarshaMonson

Gloria, Thank you for this great question. This type of family dynamics, though common, can as you explained be difficult to show plainly in FamilySearch. If we understand your question, you would like to get the correct data into FamilySearch that shows the relationship of stepfather Henry Beckstead LZ37-FS1 to the two sons of Mary Hannah Williams LDK3-R2V.

Here is how you might address getting the data into FamilySearch to show correct relationships. We noticed that John already has a relationship with Henry Beckstead designated as Step. Do you know if he was ever adopted? This could affect your choice when selecting how to show John’s Parent-Child Relationship to Henry Beckstead in FamilySearch.

Regarding Joseph, he has not had his relationship with Henry Beckstead designated. Here are the steps involved in selecting a relationship:

• Bring Joseph’s person page up on the screen, scroll down to the Family Members section.
• Click on the edit pencil-looking button next to Joseph’s name on the Parents and Siblings side.
• Go up to Father and Click Add Relationship Type.
• It is here you can select Adoptive, Biological, Foster, Guardianship, or Step. You can also go to his mother, Mary Hannah, and add the Relationship of Biological if you choose. Also, you might add the facts you stated above in the Reason This Information is Correct section. This is how you can also correct John's relationship if you choose to.

Here is the article that further explains the above information:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-specify-biological-step-adopted-and-foster-relationships-in-family-tree

We hope this helps you with selecting and recording relationships. Sister Monson