Attention: This site does not support the current version of your web browser. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser

Skip main navigation
FamilySearch
  • Overview
  • Tree
  • Find
  • Following
  • My Contributions
  • Private People
  • Records
  • Images
  • Family Tree
  • Genealogies
  • Catalog
  • Books
  • Research Wiki
  • Cemeteries
  • Overview
  • Gallery
  • People
  • Find
  • Overview
  • Opportunities
  • Your Impact
  • Indexing
  • All Activities
  • Together App
  • Surname Origins
  • All About Me
  • Compare-a-Face
  • Famous Relatives
  • Record My Story
  • Picture My Heritage
Sign In Create Account
Sign In Create Account
  • Overview
  • Tree
  • Find
  • Following
  • My Contributions
  • Private People
  • Records
  • Images
  • Family Tree
  • Genealogies
  • Catalog
  • Books
  • Research Wiki
  • Cemeteries
  • Overview
  • Gallery
  • People
  • Find
  • Overview
  • Opportunities
  • Your Impact
  • Indexing
  • All Activities
  • Together App
  • Surname Origins
  • All About Me
  • Compare-a-Face
  • Famous Relatives
  • Record My Story
  • Picture My Heritage
Skip to contentHome
  • Community Home
  • Ask a Question
  • Community News
  • Groups
  • Sign In
  • Register
  • Home› Welcome to the FamilySearch Community!› Ask a Question› Family Tree

    Finding many errors on family tree

    Pamela Lee_2
    Pamela Lee_2 ✭
    August 19, 2021 edited September 3, 2021 in Family Tree

    I find many errors on Family Tree. These are unsourced entries and if there are sources they do not support the entry. Someone seems to be adding to family trees without being related or checking sources. This makes the family trees highly unreliable. I suggest that the only family trees that are entered by users with knowledge of the family be entered . I wouldn't want to start a tree , or upload a gedcom and have someone else add incorrect and unsourced information.

    Tagged:
    • correcting errors
    • Dealing with incorrect changes
    • No sources
    2

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Comments

    • cesarnarcisotinocoperez1
      cesarnarcisotinocoperez1 ✭✭✭
      August 19, 2021

      Hola Pamela Lee_2 Ve este articulo de conocimiento si le puede ayudar.

      ¿Cómo cambio la información esencial en el Árbol Geneológico?Puede corregir la información esencial de una persona (nombre, sexo, nacimiento, bautismo, defunción y entierro) en el Árbol Genealógico

      Si no puede le sugiero se diriga al centro de ayuda Comunidad FamilySearch.

      0
    • Brett .
      Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
      August 19, 2021

      Translation

      Spanish to English

      ------------------

      Hi Pamela Lee_2 See this knowledge article if it can help you.

      How do I change the essential information in the Family Tree? You can correct the essential information of a person (name, sex, birth, baptism, death and burial) in the Family Tree

      If you can't, I suggest you go to the FamilySearch Community Help Center.

      ------------------

      Brett

      0
    • Brett .
      Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
      August 19, 2021

      @Pamela Lee_2

      Pamela

      Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

      I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

      'Yes', you are correct ...

      But, such is part of the the 'nature' of; being, part of; and, participating in, "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      Please be aware ...

      That "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', is Built, on a "Open Edit" Platform, hence, why any "Registered" User/Patron CAN both, "Add"; and, "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      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'.

      "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).

      We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.

      We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      And, most importantly ...

      We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      Plus ...

      We ALL make MISTAKES.

      NONE of US are PREFECT.

      Really ...

      None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.

      That is exactly why, many Users/Patrons, ALSO maintain their own PRIVATE "Database(s)" (ie. Copies) of their "Ancestral" Lines , on '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).

      And ...

      Please DO NOT upload a GEDCOM File in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      Upload the GEDCOM Files in the "Genealogies" Part of 'FamilySearch', that is fine; but, please NOT into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      Many well established and documented (eg. "Sourced") individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' have been RUINED, by the upload, a GEDCOM File, into "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      The "Hours" (sometimes "Days"; or, even, "Weekes") of work, by other Users/Patrons, that can be needed to CORRECT the DAMAGE done by the upload of a GEDCOM File can be disheartening.

      But ,,,

      That Said ...

      Despite all that ...

      There are still, some very good, well established and documented (eg. "Sourced") individuals/persons; and, "Ancestral" Lines, in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.

      Just my thoughts.

      Brett

      ps: NOTHING is PERFECT.

      1
    • CDBurk
      CDBurk ✭✭✭✭
      August 19, 2021

      Hi @Pamela Lee_2. You make some excellent points about others changing information in the FamilySearch Family Tree. This is often done without providing reasons or sources to validate changes. While this can be frustrating, please remember that at FamilySearch, users do not create their own personal family tree. Each users can create their personal pedigree [their own direct and collateral line ancestors] that is part of the World-wide Family Tree as explained in the following knowledge article about the purpose of Family Tree.

      Purpose of family tree • FamilySearch

      https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-is-the-purpose-of-familysearch-and-family-tree
      Our purpose is to help families work together to make connections and discover their heritage.

      While we often believe we have the most current and complete information about our own ancestors, it is important to remember that our ancestors often had siblings, children, or even spouses that we may not have been aware of. Because of this, many rich memories, experiences, and additional information can be added to the Family Tree pages we create for our ancestors when someone learns they share our heritage because they are also related to our ancestors.

      When we find incorrect or questionable entries, we can communicate with those who are contributors as described in the above article. As we work with others, if there is a need to report problems they create, please consider the ideas in this additional article which is found in our Help Center.

      Report problems • FamilySearch

      https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-report-changes-or-problems-made-by-other-contributors
      Not all changes require a report. Learn how to handle inconsistencies and other issues created by other contributors.

      Our emphasis at FamilySearch is to bring families, especially extended families, together as they share what they know about their family. We hope you will reach out to the specific individuals who have made incorrect changes in a respectful way in a spirit of fellowship as you work together to update information. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

      1
    • Dennis J Yancey
      Dennis J Yancey ✭✭✭✭✭
      August 19, 2021

      Check out this video:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRSRZ9amlM

      the whole underlying principle and paradigm of FamilySearch is a collaborative tree that we all work on.

      People do not have private family tree's on Family Tree.

      it is a work in progress - as we see items that are not yet sourced - we have the opportunity to add sources for them - or if we believe the item is in error - we can correct it.

      FamilySearch is what it is - because of people going in each day - improving, adding, sourcing, clarifying , merging - each day with the conscious synergistic effort of many it becomes better as we all add source and / or correct errors.

      0
    • Pamela Lee_2
      Pamela Lee_2 ✭
      September 2, 2021

      If anyone can post anything that is unsourced or incorrectly sourced on family tree, then it is not useful at all. I do not understand why someone posts to a tree without source or does not see that the source referenced is clearly incorrect. It makes false the narrative of a synergistic effort of a worldwide family tree because the pedigree is totally incorrect when random entries are made

      0
    • dontiknowyou
      dontiknowyou ✭✭✭✭✭
      September 3, 2021

      Family Tree is a work in progress. As James Tanner explains in the video Dennis recommended, Family Tree is not the problem. Wrong trees are the problem, and there are wrong trees everywhere. Family Tree reveals the problem and is the solution to the problem.

      0
    • betsyemhuff1960
      betsyemhuff1960 ✭✭
      September 3, 2021

      @Pamela Lee_2

      I totally agree with you about that people who aren’t related shouldn’t be adding stuff to the tree. They should have some knowledge about the family before adding stuff or changing stuff. It has happened to me, and to this day I don’t know how they are related. All I ask is for them to message me making changes. I have family information here at home, and they don’t!

      About a week ago, I had a mess with a cousin of my Dad’s, and another cousin of mine helped me get it straightened out which I greatly appreciated!

      In closing, I say if you aren’t related to the family, before making changes to the tree, please message a person first to see what types of information they have, and let that person make the change.

      Good luck with your research!

      2
    This discussion has been closed.
    Clear
    No Groups Found

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Quick Links

    • Community Code of Conduct
    • Contact Us
    • Free Research Consultation
    • Get More Help
    • My Bookmarks0
    • My Discussions
    • My Drafts0
    • My Groups
    • Suggest an Idea

    Categories

    • All Categories
    • 42.7K Ask a Question
    • 3.3K General Questions
    • 568 FamilySearch Center
    • 6.7K Get Involved/Indexing
    • 640 FamilySearch Account
    • 6.5K Family Tree
    • 5.1K Search
    • 993 Memories
    • 2 Suggest an Idea
    • 473 Other Languages
    • 62 Community News
    • Groups
    • About
    • Volunteer
    • Blog
    • Site Map
    • DNA
    • Solutions Gallery
    • Mobile Apps
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Preferences

    FamilySearch Terms of Use | Privacy Notice

    © 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints logo

    Change Language

    Recently used languages

    This is an embed external element. It can be deleted using the delete key or the backspace key. To view the full element, press the preview button below.