Why are incorrect changes being made to my family tree?
I have some documentation to show that my 2X great grandmother is Saphrona Nicely born in Ligonier PA in 1833 and living there in 1850. There are other trees that show her as Sophiah Mardis born in 1835, living in Pine Twp., Indiana Co. PA in 1850. I can’t find any documentation to support that Mardis to Stiffey connection, but people keep changing it in my tree. Also, her husband William Stiffey of Saltsburg, PA is often confused with his cousin Sgt. William A. Stiffey of Blairsville, PA. I’ve had to fix that also. I would like to make sure the correct information is on record.
Answers
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Have you been able to make contact with those who have made these changes and ask them if they have any documentation?
can you share with us the PID for the person/family in question?
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@Ron Deitrick
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Short Answer: "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform.
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Hence, why ANY 'Registered' User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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You are not alone ...
We have just about ALL experienced this; and, in many cases, still do - ongoing.
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We ALL want to "... make sure the correct information is on record ...".
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"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is NOT the place to maintain a PRISTINE (ie. your ONLY) 'Copy' of the database of one's "Ancestral" lines (or, "Pedigree") that CANNOT be "CHanged" by Other Users/Patrons.
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We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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We ONLY have "Branches" [ie. "Ancestral" lines (or, "Pedigrees")], that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is NOT Other 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or, "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg. the "Old" PAF; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
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We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like Other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
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We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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IF, you want a to maintain your own PRISTINE 'Copy' of the database of your "Ancestral" lines (or, "Pedigree") that CANNOT be "Changed" by Other Users/Patrons; THEN, can I suggest that you try one (or, more) of the MANY "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Some of the "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' are 'On-Line' "Websites".
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Whereas, some of the "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' are 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
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Plus, some of the "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' have, BOTH, a FREE version; and, a "Subscription" ("Pad") version - the latter simply having more 'Bells and Whistles'.
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You can use just one; or, you can use more than one of the "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
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The choice is yours ...
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The many "Third Party" Applications that a "Certified" to work with "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' can be found in the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch'.
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Here is a direct link to the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch':
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https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/
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Furthermore ...
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"Collaboration" is the key.
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You can "Collaborate" (ie. "Message') those that make wayward/adverse "Changes" to those in your "Ancestral" lines (or, "Pedigrees").
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That messaging, can be through direct e-mail with a particular User/Patron (if there e-mail address is available); OR, it can be through "User Messaging" in 'FamilySearch'
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Sometimes you get a response.
Sometimes you DO NOT get a response.
Sometimes you have success.
Sometimes you DO NOT have success.
You just need to keep persevering - 'keep on, keeping on'.
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You can ALSO do what many of us do ...
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That is to "Watch" (ie, nowadays, "Follow") the important individuals/persons in our "Ancestral" lines.
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You can "Watch" (ie, nowadays, "Follow") up to 4000 individuals/persons.
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And, you can see the "Changes" that are made to those that you "Watch" (ie, nowadays, "Follow").
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You can check your "Watch" List (ie' nowadays, those you are"Following") everyday (if you like; and, have the time), to see if there has been any wayward/adverse "Changes" that need to addressed/fixed. That way you can keep on top of any wayward/adverse "Changes". I check mine just about every day, sometimes twice a day.
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All that said ...
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The basic premise of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' being a SINGLE "One" World "Tree" built on an "Open Edit" Platform, is NOT about to change.
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Just DO NOT despair ...
'Hang in there' ...
Just keep changing it back to what you believe it should be ...
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But, just remember, you can also be wrong - not always; but, sometimes.
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I hope this helps.
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Brett
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Brett,
WOW, that’s the short answer? 😄
Thank you. I haven’t contacted anyone directly, but I did put a collaboration note on William Stiffey addressing both. No one has responded. I searched other trees and did general searches here and everywhere that I could, but I don’t see any documentation to support their theory. Her youngest daughter’s death certificate has mother’s maiden name as Sophia Nicely, born in Ligonier. I knew her given name was Saphrona, Sophrona, or Sophronia and she later went by Sophia. I found a 17 year old Saphrona Nicely on the 1850 census in Ligonier. Her own death certificate also says she was born there. Her sons marriage record shows the name Sophrona Stiffey. I’d like to get more documentation, but I’m pretty sure I’m correct, or I wouldn’t have added her.
A lot of documentation is inconsistent, but at least some of it supports the name Nicely. Nothing that I’ve seen has Mardis. There was a 15 year old Sophiah Mardis in a nearby a County in 1850, but nothing connects her to this family. It’s frustrating.
Thanks again.
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Dennis,
Thank you for responding. The ID is M79V-53N. I’ve searched the other trees and none of them have any documentation other than the 1850 census. It doesn’t connect Sophiah Mardis to the Stiffey family, but this just seems to persist.
thanks.
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the "short answer" was just the first line.
the rest was the "long answer" :-)
let us know what happens as you contact other submitters on this subject.
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@Ron Deitrick its also a great idea if you upload your documentation to memories, stories etc. you can even add it as a source in the person screen. That may help to prevent other diseases from making unnecessary changes 😊 unfortunately, like @Brett . said, it happens often here
but the benefits of using FSFT far outweigh the negatives 
like @Dennis J Yancey said, just have to persevere 😊Good Luck! Ps... if you haven’t yet explored the solutions gallery i highly recommend it for everyone! There are so many wonderful features there that can be super helpful in many situations! 0 -
Keep in mind - its not like the system mandates people to only enter items that they have solid proof on (even though in some ways that might be nice)
and not all users have the same genealogical standards for what is acceptable for input. FS FT is not to be considered a database of relationships and facts that all have concrete evidence to back them up. (Though certainly the intent and hope is for accurate data).
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