How do I stop vandalism of my ancestors?
Answers
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@Jim56267 the Report Abuse function (bottom right of the profile Details tab) is, I think, the only route available here; although the bar for abuse is very high, it sounds like an abuse report against this person has worked in the past.
@Sam Sulser are you able to provide any insight here please?
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Any additional details you can share will help us understand what happened and how best to assist. Specifically, it would be helpful to know what occurred in your line for Thomas that you believe constitutes vandalism. For example:
- What actions were taken (renaming, merges, repeated reversions, deletion of sourced information)
- How many times this occurred and over what period
- Why you believe K1 is responsible in this particular instance
If you previously used the “Report Abuse” function on the person page, please let us know. Also, have you attempted to contact K1 directly through FamilySearch messaging? Any of this context will help us determine what is going on and what next steps are appropriate.
As a reminder, FamilySearch operates differently from other genealogy platforms. Instead of each user maintaining a private, isolated tree, everyone contributes to a single, shared global Family Tree. All users can add or edit information, ideally supported by solid sources and clear reason statements. This collaborative model can be powerful, but it also means misunderstandings or incorrect edits sometimes occur.
If you are looking for a space where only you and trusted collaborators can make changes, you might consider creating a User Tree. A User Tree is a dynamic, user‑owned tree with full privacy controls. Unlike the main global tree, only you and the people you invite can view or edit the information in your User Tree.
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The profile for Thomas Bailey Christian is LHW6-QF2
@Jim56267 We often see similar letters or numbers confused when manually copying the PID. If you click on the PID, on the person's page, it will be automatically copied so that you can paste it here.
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@Jim56267 Your original discussion was removed due to Code of Conduct issues.
You have a valid concern, and it should be addressed through the “Report Abuse” option on the person page as mentioned above, so it can be reviewed appropriately.
At the same time, the Community Code of Conduct asks all of us to communicate with kindness and consideration. Even when a concern is legitimate, wording that includes accusations or harsh phrasing still falls outside those guidelines.
We want FamilySearch to remain a place where everyone feels welcome to raise issues, ask questions, and work together to correct problems in the tree. Keeping our comments respectful helps ensure that all participants can engage comfortably and constructively.
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@sc woz above, you stated:
"If you are looking for a space where only you and trusted collaborators
can make changes, you might consider creating a User Tree. A User Tree
is a dynamic, user‑owned tree with full privacy controls. Unlike the
main global tree, only you and the people you invite can view or edit
the information in your User Tree."As of 11 June, User Trees are not available to everyone, per these posts:
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So when S******** or K********* calls me or my cousins or published family historians liars - that's OK -why isn't that removed????? I have submitted complaints and I was told it is their "opinion"!
One of my cousins got S******* banned. I don't know how she did it.
I'm trying to help my family with this by not getting them involved because this is destroying our health. This is horrible to experience!!!!!
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My 90 year old uncle, lifelong Mormon, sent a text to me saying he thinks these vandalizers are correct because FamilySearch does not remove where they call us liars!! That was devastating to me. And also harmful to our health!
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I am saving these conversations as screenshots and will share them on the Internet.
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Thank you for raising your concerns. I want to acknowledge how upsetting it is when comments imply that you, your cousins, or published family historians are “lying.” Personal attacks are not acceptable in this Community, and no one should feel targeted or disrespected here.
To clarify how moderation works:
- Direct accusations such as “You are a liar” or “Your family falsifies records” violate our Community Guidelines and are subject to removal.
- Statements framed as personal opinion about research accuracy (for example, “I believe their conclusions are incorrect”) fall into a different category and may not meet the threshold for removal unless they cross into harassment or repeated disruptive behavior.
If you see comments that clearly violate the guidelines, please continue to report them. Moderators review every report, but actions depend on the specific wording, the user’s history, and whether the behavior shows a pattern. In some cases, users are restricted or removed only after multiple documented incidents.
I’m sorry this situation has caused stress for you and your family. Our goal is to maintain a respectful environment where everyone can collaborate without feeling attacked. If you encounter further issues, please document them through the “Report Abuse” function so they can be reviewed appropriately.
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I’m really sorry to hear how frustrating and discouraging this situation has been for you. Feeling like your work or intentions are being misunderstood—or that inaccurate information is being added—can be especially difficult in something as personal and meaningful as family history.
FamilySearch is built as a collaborative tree, which means anyone can contribute. While that can be a strength, it can also sometimes lead to disagreements or changes that feel incorrect or even disrespectful. Please know that your concerns are valid, and there are ways to address them constructively.
A few things that may help:
- Use the “Latest Changes” feature on the person page to see who made edits and what was changed.
- Restore correct information when appropriate and include clear, respectful reason statements and sources to support your conclusions.
- When possible, consider reaching out to the other contributor through FamilySearch messaging to collaborate and clarify—many issues can be resolved through respectful communication.
If you feel that the behavior goes beyond normal collaboration—for example, if it involves harassment, repeated inappropriate edits, or intentional misuse—you can report it directly to FamilySearch for review. You can find instruction on how to do this at the following link.
👉 https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-report-abuseFamilySearch takes concerns like these seriously and can investigate when needed.
The FamilySearch Community can do nothing about the issue except encourage you to please report abuse through the appropriate FamilySearch channel.
Thank you for the care and effort you’re putting into preserving accurate family history. Your contributions truly matter, and with the right tools and support, these challenges can often be resolved.
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The sort of language, directed at another user, that resulted in the original poster's message to be removed continues to exist as Notes and Discussions posted to the profile referenced in the original message. Similar or identical notes and discussions directed at the other user have also been posted to related profiles, such as the currently listed father and grandfather of Thomas Bailey Christian.
While the user to whom the language was and is directed may have been somewhat zealous in monitoring changes to the referenced profile and related ones, she essentially seems to have been trying to prevent relationships from being created, without reliable sourcing, between Thomas Bailey Christian and Elinipsico, son of the historical Native American leader, Cornstalk -- as well as the creation of profiles of purported relatives, also without what would seem to be reliable sourcing.
In the collaborative spirit of FamilySearch, the original poster and to other users were invited -- via posted Notes and chat message -- to engage with Discussions on the relevant profiles regarding sourcing and the relationships in question. No such engagement was forthcoming, and one such Note was even deleted, with another Note then appearing that asserted the right to use "oral tradition" for profile information and relationships. (While family knowledge not found in records can certainly be appropriate as sources, it would not seem to be sufficiently reliable as the basis for establishing a relationship to a historical figure from the 1700s.)
Occasional disagreements on FamilySearch are to be expected, but the ad hominem language that remains posted on these profiles, as well as the refusal to engage in collaboration are problematic. It would be nice if Community Code of Conduct were also applied to the editing of FamilySearch profiles. Since last year, I have personally held off from further editing of these profiles because it does not feel like a safe space.
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Thank you for your post. The guidance provided above regarding the use of the Report Abuse feature on an individual’s person page is correct. This is the designated and appropriate method for reporting any conduct that may be threatening, intimidating, or otherwise abusive, including misuse of information on FamilySearch Tree profiles.
If you believe that concerning or inappropriate material appears in notes, discussions, or other profile‑associated content, please submit a report through the Report Abuse function so it can be formally reviewed.
Following an exchange of information, if the interaction progresses into behavior that could reasonably be interpreted as threatening or intimidating, such incidents must be documented and reported. This enables FamilySearch to track patterns of behavior and take appropriate action.
FamilySearch is committed to ensuring that all participants feel safe, respected, and free from any form of retaliation. Reports are taken seriously, and the Code of Conduct will be enforced as necessary to maintain a secure and constructive environment for all community members.
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here is just one example of what she has written:
Response to "erasing oral history" note of August 3, 2025
August 3, 2025
Erasing valid, verifiable and fully documented Indigenous history in order to add completely undocumented fictional names from the fraudulent "Shawnee Heritage" series should not be your hobby. Those who mistakenly have the hobby of creating fictional Indigenous relationships are known in Indian Country as "pretendians." The officials at the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds can explain that to you - https://tribalallianceagainstfrauds.org/
- (name removed) has never written about our family and we have documented that and it has been uploaded as a memory. So that is a lie about us.
- Then she accuses us of FRAUD!
- Oral tradition absolutely and positively should be respected.
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(Discussion deleted due to Community Code of Conduct )
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FamilySearch is not the appropriate place to air personal grievances or engage in back‑and‑forth accusations. As outlined above, the correct procedure for reporting concerns is to use the "Report Abuse" feature on the relevant person page. That is the designated channel for submitting written complaints, including any supporting facts or documentation needed for review.
This forum is not intended for disputes or prolonged exchanges about personal conflicts. FamilySearch Community groups exist to help users collaborate, share effective research practices, and support one another in using FamilySearch more successfully. Maintaining that purpose requires keeping discussions constructive and focused on genealogy, not interpersonal disputes.
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@sc woz, thank you for your response. I have indeed reported abuse in these profiles to FamilySearch, who responded, "Appropriate action will be taken." However, no apparent action did seem to take place for much of the issues reported. I'm sorry to say that I don't have a lot of confidence in making further abuse reports.
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