How do I link two family trees together?

User16059999953659533765 · November 21, 2020

I have been building a tree for some years. I have discovered that my wife and I are present on a tree built by a cousin. How can I mere the two into one common tree?

Brett . · November 22, 2020

@MartinHarriss1 MartinHarriss1

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Martin

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I am "Moving" this 'Question' of yours, in the 'Group' being "Indexing Chat", in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, to the 'Group' being "General Question" in this Forum; so that, more members of the "Community" can answer/assist you.

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The 'Group' being "Indexing Chat", in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, more relates to the "Indexing" of Records in 'FamilySearch, rather the "Family Tree" part of 'FamilySearch'.

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Brett

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Brett . · November 22, 2020

@MartinHarriss1 MartinHarriss1

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Martin

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FYI

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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), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

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Now ...

That said ...

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Provided, of course, that other family members and extended relatives have their OWN 'FamilySearch' Account, just like you ...

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As you; and, other family members and extended relatives, are "Living" Users/Patrons ...

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You; and, other family members and extended relatives, WILL have to "Added" SEPERATELY (and, 'Yes' as DUPLICATES) the "Living" individuals/persons that connect/link you together in your respective 'FamilySearch' Accounts ...

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Basically, you; and, other family members and extended relatives, have to "Build" a "Bridge" of the "Living" individuals/persons that connect/link you together in your respective 'FamilySearch' Accounts ...

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Once, you have built that bridge; then, when you come to your FIRST Common "Deceased" Ancestor your "Ancestral" lines will connect/link together into one ...

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Let me explain ...

[ Please bear with me ... I am very verbose ... that is my 'Style' ... ]

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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), 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 like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "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/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

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"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - 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 can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' with another "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', regardless of who the User/Patron was that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron who initially created them - they are "Public".

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If fact, you can ONLY see "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".

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No other User/Patron can see ANY "Living" individuals/persons that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces" of the User/Patron who created them.

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We CANNOT even see the ACTUAL Record in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc) if they are "Living"; and, they have their own 'FamilySearch' Account.

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Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:

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▬ You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.

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▬ You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them with any other "Living" individual/person residing in the "Private Spaces" of another User//Patron.

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There is CURRENTLY no mechanism in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons in their own "Private Spaces" with/between other/another User(s)/Patron(s).

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There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws within the many various Countries and Unions throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.

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"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is used in many Countries and Unions throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws throughout the World.

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Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.

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Another factor is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed' into the Programme that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

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'Yes', these "Living" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.

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I know that there are "Duplicates" of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.

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Here are some "Knowledge Articles" in 'FamilySearch' in regard to "Private Spaces" and "Living" individuals/persons:

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What is a private space in Family Tree?

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Understanding-Private-Spaces&lang=en

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Who can see my living relatives in Family Tree?

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Who-can-see-my-living-relatives-1381815101424&lang=en_US

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Here is a good place to start, with how things work in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' (and, other programmes as well):

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Introducing The Family History Guide