Incorrect entries in Family Tree

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Family Tree Incorrect.

rickKellow2

FamilySearch invented a tree for me, some entries are correct, others are definitely somebody elses idea as to whom I should have in my tree eg; Francis John Kellow ??

Gordon Collett

@rickKellow2 No one at FamilySearch has anything to do with creating anything that is in Family Tree. It is a single, unified database, a wiki-style tree that all users work on together.

The general process when one first opens an account is to enter information about yourself, then any living ancestors. When you start adding deceased ancestors, you are shown possible matches that already exist in Family Tree that other users have entered. If you happen to accidentally accept one of these possible matches based on name, without thoroughly reviewing who the person is, you can add a whole bunch of wrong people to a line.

What you need to do is start with yourself and check your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and so on, confirming and documenting with sources each connection. When you find someone that does not seem to belong, examine that record, including a thorough evaluation of the Change Log, and try to figure out how that person got there. Did you take someone else's uncle and add him as yours? Did someone think your grandfather was his grandfather and add branches of his family?

Just take things one person at a time, one relationship at a time, confirming each with appropriate sources, and you will get everything straightened out eventually.