Changes to my tree

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: FamilySearch Family Tree Changes and Corrections.

DianeLangeneckert

Entire branches of my tree have been changed. Why and how can I change them back? The changes make

no sense. One branch is what I used for my Patriot at the DAR. Trust me, they know what they're doing

and to have a stranger make changes! Makes my blood boil.

Gordon Collett

@DianeLangeneckert It it very rare for "Entire branches" of a tree to be changed. That is just too much work.
Far more common is to have one person's parents changed and have that person shifted from one branch of our common tree to another. Most of the time, but not always, this is through a merge. All that is needed is to start with yourself and trace back while checking each ancestor's change log looking for merges and changes in parent-child relationships.

After you find that one person who was changed, the first thing to do is to analyze why the change was made. Was it an understandable slip up? Was it a needed correction of a longstanding error in the tree? I can guarantee you that DAR applications can have mistakes. You may need to contact the person who made the change to discuss why it was made. That person could well be a new cousin or a very competent researcher who has information you never knew.

If you find that the corrections to your family line are accurate, then leave them alone and be glad your tree is now more accurate. That is more important than having a patriot you are not related to in your lines.

If you find that this other user confused your "John Smith" with his "John Smith," then correct both of the John Smiths using all the sources you can add to both of them and make sure both of their profiles are so complete that they will never be confused again.

Ashlee C.

@DianeLangeneckert Mod note: Your post was edited to remove a name that is not part of your username.
Please see the Community Code of Conduct if you have questions.

Gail Swihart Watson

DianeLangeneckert FamilySearch's tree is an open edit world tree. Strangers are completely within their rights to make changes to any lineage they believe needs correcting or updating. This means you can make the necessary corrections to put your line back to what is correct. As a total stranger, I make many updates and a few corrections to lineages that have nothing to do with my ancestors. I am a volunteer lineage researcher for the DAR and for every prospective member and member whose applications and supplementals I work on, I update the world tree as necessary to include all new information I find. FamilySearch should be a collaborative environment so why don't you look carefully at the notes and edits where your correct line then deviates to an incorrect line. That is the point where perhaps, someone mixed up multiple persons of the same name.